Healthcare

in committee · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 964: Expanded Acc. to Doulas and Midwives/BC Lic.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid coverage for doula services and funds midwifery licensing, directly strengthening healthcare access and public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 1098: Rural Commuter Microtransit Pilot Grant.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a new grant program to fund rural public transportation, directly increasing government spending for essential services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds microtransit for medical appointments, improving patient access to healthcare services.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates a grant program to fund rural public transit and commuter services, directly expanding transportation access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Public Transit Roads & Highways Tags Rural Communities

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 911: Protect Children Born from Fertility Care Act.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights by clarifying parental consent and ensuring legal equality for children conceived via fertility care.85% confidence

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 799: Restore State Emp/Teacher Retiree Med Benefit.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2M to fund medical benefits for retirees, directly strengthening budget allocation for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects and restores medical benefits for retired teachers, directly supporting educators and preventing benefit cuts.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects medical benefits for retired teachers and state employees and appropriates $2M to fund these healthcare costs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects retired state employees and teachers from losing medical benefits, expanding worker benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 855: Community-Based Pharmacy Protections.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $100,000 from the state's general fund to support enforcement of community pharmacy protections.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands legal definition of independent pharmacies and allocates $100k to enforce rules, protecting community-based pharmacy access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Prescription Drugs

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in committee · North Carolina · House May 4, 2026

HB 1138: Aging With Dignity Act.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves long-term care access for older adults by prioritizing home-based services and protecting patient rights to remain in integrated settings.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill prioritizes home-based services over institutional care, supporting aging in place and maintaining housing stability for older adults.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Mental Health Tags Seniors

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 825: School-Based Complaint/SROs.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a grant program to fund increased salary costs for school resource officers, directly advancing the budget topic.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates training on mental health, racial equity, and de-escalation, and requires administrator signatures for delinquency complaints, enhancing police accountability and reform.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates training for school resource officers in mental health and equity, creating grants to cover salary costs, thereby enhancing student safety and supporting educators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health training for school officers and creates grants to cover associated costs, directly supporting mental health services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement School Safety School Transportation Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 860: Nonprofit Fundraising Sales Tax Exemption.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands sales tax exemptions for nonprofits and adds exemptions for essential hygiene products, directly reducing tax burdens and supporting fiscal relief.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands sales tax exemptions for nonprofits and specifically adds tax-free status for prescribed hygiene products like diapers and incontinence underpads, aiding patient access and reducing costs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Medicaid

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 961: Hospital Authority Commissioner Reforms.

This bill reformulates the composition of hospital authority boards in North Carolina to ensure greater public and elected official representation. It mandates that each board include at least four public members and four elected officials, while also requiring that board meetings follow specific open meeting laws. To prevent all members from leaving at once, the law establishes a staggered term system where initial terms range from one to two years before standardizing to three years. Additionally, the state provides $50,000 in funding to assist hospital authorities with the transition to these new requirements by December 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens hospital governance by increasing public and elected representation, improving accountability and oversight of health services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 910: Expanding Insurance Coverage/Fertility Care.

SB 910 requires health insurance plans in North Carolina that cover pregnancy-related benefits to also cover infertility care for diagnosed individuals. The bill mandates specific coverage limits, including at least four oocyte retrievals, unlimited embryo transfers, and unlimited cycles of intrauterine and intracervical insemination. It also requires insurance to cover fertility preservation services, such as egg or embryo freezing, when a person has a medical condition that could impair their future fertility. This legislation directly affects insurance providers and individuals seeking assisted reproductive technologies or fertility preservation in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for infertility care and fertility preservation, expanding access to reproductive health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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