Healthcare

in committee · North Carolina · House May 4, 2026

HB 1141: Protecting Medicaid and Autism Services.

HB 1141 allocates over one billion dollars in state funding to adjust Medicaid payments for North Carolina starting in 2025, ensuring the program can cover rising costs and new services. The bill also permits Medicaid managed care plans to create exclusive networks of providers specifically for research-based behavioral health treatments, while requiring all other essential services to remain available to all providers in the area. Additionally, the legislation removes specific rules that could cause people enrolled in Medicaid expansion to lose their coverage, thereby stabilizing access to care for this population.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates over $1B in state funding to Medicaid and expands behavioral health services, directly advancing the budget topic.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates over $1B to Medicaid, ensures coverage of rising costs, and expands access to behavioral health treatments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 899: School Mental Health Support Act.

This bill establishes two main programs to improve mental health support in North Carolina public schools. First, it creates a grant program that provides $50 million to school districts to hire mental health professionals, prioritizing areas with students who have limited access to care. Second, it launches a loan repayment program offering $50 million to encourage mental health workers who graduated from UNC system schools to work in high-need areas by paying off up to 20% of their student debt over five years. The legislation includes reporting requirements to track how funds are used and to recommend future improvements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $50M in grants and loan repayment funds to hire mental health professionals, directly strengthening student support services in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $50M in grants and loan repayment funds to hire mental health professionals and improve access to care in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 852: NC Health Benefits Exchange Implementation.

This bill authorizes the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance to create and run a state-operated health insurance marketplace. It grants the commissioner the power to set rules, manage policies, and apply for federal funding to establish this exchange, while also allowing for the creation of an advisory committee to guide the process. The legislation clarifies that other state agencies cannot enter into contracts or commit resources for a federally facilitated exchange unless the General Assembly specifically approves it, reserving the state's right to decide its level of involvement. Additionally, the bill appropriates $100,000 in recurring funds starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the initial setup and ongoing operations of the new state-run system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes a state-operated health insurance marketplace to expand access and coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

passed · North Carolina · Senate Jun 16, 2026

SB 978: Healthcare Competition Reforms.

This bill creates a new review process in North Carolina to oversee major transactions involving hospitals, aiming to preserve competition in healthcare services. It requires hospital entities and acquiring parties to notify the State Auditor, Attorney General, and State Treasurer before selling or transferring control of at least 50% of a hospital's assets, provided the deal involves $5 million or more. These officials must jointly review the proposed transaction within a set timeframe and can object if they determine it would harm competition, though they may also choose to take no action. The law applies to licensed hospitals and their affiliated organizations, including holding companies and subsidiaries, but excludes routine business activities unless specifically waived by the reviewing officials. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to protect healthcare workers as whistleblowers and limits CEO compensation for non-profit hospitals that receive state funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a review process to preserve competition and protect patient rights in healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 793: Right to IVF.

This North Carolina bill establishes a legal right for patients to access assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, and protects healthcare providers from state interference when offering these services. The legislation explicitly states that fertilized eggs or embryos outside the human body are not considered human beings under state law, while also maintaining existing health and safety regulations for medical facilities. Additionally, the bill appropriates $500,000 in state funds to increase financial support for the Medicaid Maternal Support Services program, known as the Baby Love Program, starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $500,000 to fund the program, directly advancing the budget topic.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes legal rights for IVF access and protects providers from interference, directly advancing reproductive healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House May 5, 2026

HB 1206: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act/Funds.

HB 1206 establishes the North Carolina Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to protect employees from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The law requires private employers with 15 or more employees, as well as state and local government entities, to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees who have communicated their limitations, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Key provisions prohibit denying employment opportunities, forcing specific accommodations without consultation, or taking adverse action against workers who request or use these accommodations. The bill also outlines enforcement mechanisms, allowing aggrieved employees to file civil lawsuits for remedies such as back pay, compensatory damages, and reinstatement, with a three-year statute of limitations for filing claims.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects pregnant workers from discrimination and mandates reasonable accommodations, directly supporting access to necessary healthcare and medical conditions.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes protections against pregnancy discrimination and mandates reasonable accommodations for employees.95% confidence

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 997: Nursing Fellows and Curric. Support Funds/WSSU.

This bill establishes the Nursing Fellows Program at Winston-Salem State University to support students pursuing degrees in nursing or nursing education. The legislation creates a trust fund that provides forgivable loans to high-achieving students who commit to working as nurses or instructors within North Carolina after graduation. Funds from the trust are used to cover tuition and fees, with loan amounts increasing for those who plan to become nursing instructors. The program includes provisions for mentoring, administrative costs, and extracurricular activities to enhance student success.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes a funding program to support nursing students and instructors through forgivable loans, enhancing educational access and professional training.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes funding for nursing education and creates a loan program to increase the number of nurses in North Carolina, directly strengthening healthcare workforce capacity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

passed · North Carolina · House Jul 1, 2026

HB 1083: Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act.

This bill creates a voluntary program allowing businesses in North Carolina to contribute to portable benefit accounts for their independent contractors. The plan enables hiring parties to fund benefits such as health insurance, retirement, and disability through a third-party administrator, which helps contractors maintain coverage when moving between jobs. To encourage participation, the legislation allows businesses to deduct contributions as business expenses and permits contractors to exclude those amounts from their taxable income. Additionally, the bill includes a $100,000 appropriation to fund public education about the program, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a voluntary program allowing businesses to contribute to portable benefit accounts for independent contractors, explicitly enabling funding for health insurance coverage.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands worker benefits by creating a voluntary program for portable benefits for independent contractors, strengthening their access to health, retirement, and disability coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Gig Economy

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 976: Reduce Healthcare Costs and Protect Patients.

This bill aims to lower healthcare expenses and shield patients from unexpected financial burdens by establishing new rules for insurance plans and medical billing. It directly affects individuals with health insurance, hospitals, and insurance companies operating in North Carolina. Key provisions include capping annual out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000, prohibiting surprise billing for nonemergency care at in-network facilities, and delaying the reporting of unpaid medical bills to credit agencies until 180 days past due. Additionally, the legislation requires hospitals to publicly report negotiated prices for common medical procedures and mandates that emergency ground ambulance services be covered under standard health benefit packages.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill caps out-of-pocket costs and bans surprise billing, directly protecting patient rights and reducing financial burdens.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1076: The Innovations Waitlist Reduction Act.

This bill expands access to North Carolina's Innovations waiver for families with children who have significant medical needs by adding 6,635 new slots and funding them with $240 million starting in 2026. It also modifies the Opportunity Scholarship Program to prioritize students from lower-income households by capping eligibility at 200% of the federal free lunch income threshold and adjusting grant amounts based on family income levels. To support these changes, the legislation reduces the overall scholarship fund by $240 million while simultaneously directing substantial recurring funding to the program's reserve for the next 15 years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $240M to expand medical access and modifies scholarships to prioritize lower-income families, directly increasing funding for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands access to education waivers and scholarships, adds funding slots, and prioritizes lower-income students.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid waiver slots and funds them with $240M, directly increasing access and funding for health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid Student Health Medicaid

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