This bill creates a tax credit for North Carolina businesses that pay wages to employees to cover their health insurance premiums. To qualify, a business must employ individuals who work at least 35 hours per week and are subject to state tax withholding. Each eligible employee can generate up to a $400 tax credit for the business, but the total credits available in any given year are capped at $5 million. Applications for this credit will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and the state will track and report the number of applications and approvals by county. The provisions of this act will take effect for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
This bill establishes a grant program within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to fund community organizations focused on improving maternal health outcomes for Black women. The program provides financial awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to support initiatives that address social determinants of health, such as housing, transportation, nutrition, and access to childcare. Eligible applicants must be community-based groups led by Black women that offer evidence-based services including doula support, mental health care, and culturally respectful training for health workers. The legislation also requires the department to provide technical assistance to grant recipients and submit annual reports on fund usage and program effectiveness.
This bill expands North Carolina Medicaid coverage to include doula services during pregnancy and the postpartum period while establishing a licensing system for certified professional midwives and birth centers. To support these changes, the state will seek approval from the federal government to cover doula care, create a new council to oversee midwife licensing, and appropriate funds to reimburse doulas and assist the workforce. The legislation defines specific skills doulas must possess, such as newborn care and cultural awareness, and sets up a regulatory framework that distinguishes licensed midwives from other healthcare providers like nurses and physicians.
This bill creates a new grant program in North Carolina to fund public car and shuttle services in rural counties with low population density. Eligible recipients, such as counties and transit authorities, can use the funds to support commuter travel during peak hours or provide on-demand rides for medical appointments and grocery shopping during off-peak times. To receive funding, applicants must secure a local match of at least 50% and ensure that employers contribute a minimum of 20% for peak-hour commuter services. The program is financed by a $30 million appropriation from the Highway Fund and is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026.
SB 911, titled the Protect Children Born from Fertility Care Act, modifies North Carolina laws to clarify parental rights and establish legal remedies for specific fertility care incidents. The bill ensures that children conceived through artificial insemination are treated identically to naturally conceived children and defines clear consent requirements for parents, including provisions for situations where consent forms are missing but parental intent is evident. Additionally, it creates a civil cause of action allowing patients or their children to sue healthcare providers who knowingly used their own reproductive material without the patient's informed written consent, with a five-year statute of limitations for minors.
This bill prevents the elimination of medical benefits for retired teachers and state employees in North Carolina who began their careers on or after January 1, 2021. It achieves this by removing previous restrictions that would have ended these benefits and applies retroactively to December 31, 2020. To cover the resulting increase in healthcare costs, the legislation appropriates two million dollars from the state's general fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes are scheduled to officially take effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill expands the legal definition of an independent pharmacy in North Carolina to include community-based pharmacies owned by small groups with ten or fewer locations. The law specifically covers businesses that are not publicly traded and focus primarily on pharmacy services. Additionally, the legislation allocates $100,000 from the state's general fund to the Department of Insurance to help enforce these new rules starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
HB 1138, known as the Aging With Dignity Act, aims to improve long-term care for older North Carolinians by prioritizing home-based services over institutional care for Medicaid beneficiaries aged 55 and older. The bill mandates that institutional placement be the exception rather than the rule, requiring documented medical justification and regular reassessments to ensure individuals remain in the most integrated setting possible. It also establishes a requirement for periodic medication reviews to prevent adverse drug interactions and reduce hospitalizations, while integrating behavioral health services into geriatric care plans. Additionally, the legislation appropriates funds for strategic investments in the state's aging infrastructure and reestablishes a study commission to address the needs of the growing senior population.
This bill establishes a formal definition for school resource officers and mandates specific training for them, focusing on mental health, racial equity, and de-escalation techniques. It requires that any complaint about student delinquency filed by a school resource officer must be signed by a school administrator or social worker before it can be sent to juvenile court. To support these changes, the legislation creates a grant program to help schools cover increased salary costs associated with hiring and training officers, with funding prioritized for rural and lower-grade schools. These new requirements and funding provisions are scheduled to take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
This bill expands sales tax exemptions in North Carolina for specific nonprofit organizations and adds a new exemption for diapers and incontinence underpads prescribed by Medicaid providers. It clarifies which types of nonprofits, such as hospitals and certain 501(c)(3) groups, qualify for tax-free purchases of goods and services needed for their operations, while explicitly excluding certain utility services and liquor. The legislation also establishes a formal application process requiring nonprofits to obtain an exemption number from the state and imposes liability for back taxes if the exemption number is misused. Additionally, the bill modifies ownership rules for property used by charities and sets annual dollar limits on the total tax exemptions and refunds available to eligible entities.