Healthcare

died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 923: Funds for Brenner Children's Hospital.

This bill directs $250,000 in nonrecurring state funds to the City of Winston-Salem for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The money is intended to support a rural maternal health program at Brenner Children's Hospital. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $250,000 in state funds to support a rural maternal health program, directly advancing public health services and funding essential programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $250,000 to fund a rural maternal health program, directly increasing healthcare resources and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 780: Modernize Medicaid Primary Care Rates.

This bill proposes raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers in North Carolina to match the rates paid by Medicare. To fund these increases, the state would allocate $48 million from its General Fund starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes would take effect on July 1, 2026, and would apply to primary care services as defined by a specific state task force report.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates $48M from the General Fund to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, directly funding essential public health services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care and allocates $48M to fund these improvements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid Medicare Primary Care

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 783: School Mental Health Support Act.

This bill creates a $50 million grant program to help North Carolina public schools hire mental health professionals like counselors and social workers, with funding prioritized for schools serving students with limited access to care. It also establishes a loan repayment program that offers eligible school mental health workers up to $15,000 annually to pay down their student loans, provided they work in high-need areas and graduated from a UNC system institution. The legislation requires the state to report annually on how these funds are used and to ensure grants supplement rather than replace existing resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $50M for mental health professionals and offers loan repayment to educators, directly strengthening school resources and student support.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $50M in grants and loan repayment to expand mental health services in schools, directly strengthening healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1018: The HEAL Act.

SB 1018, known as the HEAL Act, establishes a funding program in North Carolina to support three-year research studies on psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin. The bill directs up to five competitive grants of at least one million dollars each to federal or academic institutions located in the state, focusing on treating trauma-related mental health conditions in specific groups such as military veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. To oversee this initiative, the legislation creates a Breakthrough Therapies Task Force composed of state officials, medical experts, tribal representatives, and legislators to assess the potential use of these medicines and recommend future regulations. All funded research must be conducted within North Carolina, adhere to federal laws, and include measurements of pain levels alongside mental health outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes funding for research on psychedelic treatments for trauma-related mental health conditions, directly supporting mental health services and patient access.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill funds research into psychedelic treatments for trauma-related conditions specifically including military veterans.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 1099: Funding Vocational Rehabilitation.

This bill allocates $7.5 million in state funds to help counties support people participating in local judicially managed accountability and recovery courts. The money will be given out through a competitive grant process to pay for job training, transportation, and other employment-related costs like tools or childcare. These services must be tailored to each participant's individual recovery and treatment plans and can be provided by community colleges, workforce boards, or other approved organizations. Counties are limited to receiving up to $150,000 per year unless they request an exception based on specific needs, and officials will report on how the funds are used and the results achieved.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $7.5M in state funds to support vocational rehabilitation and recovery courts, directly increasing funding for public services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds vocational rehabilitation for participants in judicial accountability courts, directly advancing criminal justice reform and reducing recidivism.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $7.5M to fund job training and support services for individuals in recovery courts, directly strengthening vocational rehabilitation and mental health support systems.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill allocates funds for job training, transportation, and employment costs to help participants secure employment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Workforce Development

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 987: Lower Healthcare Costs.

This bill creates a special fund to protect North Carolina state employees from having their take-home pay reduced if their health insurance premiums rise. To achieve this, the state will transfer $150 million from scholarship reserves to the new fund, which will be used to supplement employee compensation and maintain their net income. The State Treasurer, in consultation with the Office of State Human Resources, will manage the fund and establish rules for its administration. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies specifically to participants in the North Carolina State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $150M from scholarship reserves to protect state employees' take-home pay, directly advancing budget appropriations and funding essential personnel benefits.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a fund to protect state employees from health insurance premium increases, effectively shielding them from reduced take-home pay due to healthcare costs.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates a fund to protect state employees from pay reductions due to rising health insurance premiums, directly supporting worker compensation and benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 912: Menopause Omnibus.

This North Carolina bill aims to improve menopause care by funding research, expanding insurance coverage, and protecting workers from discrimination related to menopausal symptoms. It directs the state health department to evaluate current medical knowledge, collect data on symptom prevalence, and create a strategic plan to address gaps in care, particularly for underserved populations. The legislation also incentivizes doctors to receive extra continuing education credits for studying menopause and mandates that Medicaid and private health insurers cover necessary treatments like hormone therapy and behavioral health services. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to prevent employment discrimination based on menopause and allocates five million dollars to fund these initiatives and public awareness campaigns.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands insurance coverage, funds research, and protects workers from discrimination regarding menopausal symptoms.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly protects workers from discrimination related to menopausal symptoms and expands insurance coverage, strengthening workplace rights and benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health Employment Discrimination

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1072: Constitutional Amendments - Cannabis.

This bill proposes two separate constitutional amendments to North Carolina that would legalize the possession of limited amounts of cannabis for personal use and for medical purposes by patients with qualifying conditions. If passed by voters in the November 2026 election, these changes would remove criminal penalties for these specific activities while requiring the state legislature to create detailed laws governing their implementation. The amendments do not take effect immediately upon passage by the General Assembly but instead go directly to the public for a vote, with the results determining whether the new rules become part of the state constitution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes criminal penalties for cannabis possession, directly advancing criminal justice reform and reducing the scope of criminalization.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill legalizes cannabis for medical purposes, expanding patient access to alternative medicine and protecting patient rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 838: The Frontline Mental Health Support Act.

This bill creates the Frontline Mental Health Support Program in North Carolina to offer confidential counseling to public school teachers and first responders who face occupational stress. Eligible employees, including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, can access up to 12 licensed therapy sessions per year through in-person or telehealth options. The legislation appropriates $13 million in recurring funds starting in 2026-2027 to establish the program and expand the behavioral health workforce via grants to providers. It also mandates that participation cannot be used as grounds for any adverse employment actions and requires a report on the program's implementation by 2028.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds mental health support for law enforcement, reducing occupational stress and promoting officer well-being.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $13M to provide mental health counseling for teachers, directly supporting educator well-being and retention.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates $13M to fund mental health counseling for teachers and first responders, expanding access to care.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds mental health counseling for workers, expanding benefits and protecting employee well-being.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Student Health Mental Health Telehealth

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 896: Increase Medicaid PCS and PDN Rates.

This North Carolina bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care services and private duty nursing starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation allocates $120.8 million in state funds to raise the payment for personal care services to $7.50 per 15-minute increment, while also increasing the rate for private duty nursing to $16.25 per 15-minute increment. These higher rates are intended to cover additional federal matching funds, ensuring that providers receive more money for each hour of care delivered to eligible beneficiaries. The changes apply to various programs including the State Plan Personal Care Services Program and Community Alternatives Programs for children and adults.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $120.8M to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, directly funding essential home health care services and strengthening the state budget for social support.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care and nursing, directly strengthening healthcare funding and provider compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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