Sen. Benton Sawrey

Maddy summarySB 613 adjusts how North Carolina awards Medicaid coverage contracts to private health plans and provider-led groups. It sets a maximum of four statewide contracts for private health plans (PHPs) and limits subsequent contracts to four regional or statewide contracts for provider-led entities (PLEs), down from a previous cap of 12. This directly affects Medicaid recipients by determining which organizations provide their coverage, and impacts PHPs and PLEs competing for state contracts. The bill specifies that PLEs must bid for contiguous regions and clarifies how contracts are awarded if fewer than four qualified bids are received.

Maddy summarySB 504, the North Carolina Farmland and Military Protection Act, prohibits foreign governments designated as "adversarial" by the U.S. Department of State from purchasing, leasing, or holding interests in agricultural land or land within 75 miles of military installations in North Carolina. The bill defines agricultural land broadly (excluding small research leases under 250 acres) and specifically lists military sites like Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Any violation would void the transfer, and the law takes effect on December 1, 2025. This directly affects adversarial foreign governments seeking to acquire such land, aiming to protect food production and military security.

Maddy summarySB 654 eliminates the requirement for audiologists in North Carolina to hold two separate licenses (a doctoral degree plus a specific license), streamlining licensure for the profession. It directly affects audiologists, audiology technicians, and assistants by removing redundant licensing barriers. The bill also requires sellers of "locked hearing aids" (hearing aids with software restricting service to specific providers) to provide written disclosures to consumers before sale, including a notice about service limitations and a detailed receipt. Sellers must retain these records for seven years. These changes aim to align licensing with current practices while increasing consumer transparency about hearing aid service restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 669 revises North Carolina's Physical Therapy Practice Act by clarifying the definition of "physical therapy" to include evaluation and treatment using exercise, massage, and rehabilitative procedures (while explicitly excluding surgery, chiropractic, and medical diagnosis). It establishes a new Board of Physical Therapy Examiners with eight members: one medical doctor, four licensed physical therapists, two licensed physical therapist assistants, and one public member appointed by the Governor. The Board will oversee licensing, enforce professional standards, conduct confidential investigations, and require continuing education to maintain licensure. These changes directly affect physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and the public by restructuring oversight of the profession.

Maddy summarySB 668 establishes a licensing system for genetic counselors in North Carolina by creating a five-member Genetic Counselors Licensure Board. The bill requires genetic counselors to obtain a license from this board to practice, defines key terms like "genetic counseling" and "genetic counselor," and sets standards for licensure, supervision of interns, and continuing education. It directly affects genetic counselors and genetic counseling interns practicing in North Carolina by mandating licensure under the new framework. The board will handle applications, renewals, disciplinary actions, and develop rules to regulate the profession. The bill does not address healthcare access or costs but focuses on professional standards and oversight.

Maddy summarySB 700 creates a new Office of Engineering and Codes within North Carolina's Department of Labor to centralize oversight of building codes, manufactured housing standards, and home inspection regulations. It transfers existing councils and boards - including the Building Code Council, Manufactured Housing Board, and Home Inspector Licensure Board - to this office, which will be led by a State Engineer appointed by the Labor Commissioner (with Senate confirmation). The State Engineer gains authority to adopt rules, enforce compliance, impose civil penalties (ranging from $100 to $1,000 per violation), and conduct investigations, while ensuring public access to most records. This bill directly affects contractors, home inspectors, manufacturers, and local governments responsible for code enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 699 would expand Medicaid coverage for personal care services to adults living in licensed adult care homes who earn more than the standard income limit for state assistance but stay below 180-200% of the federal poverty level. It specifically targets individuals who would otherwise qualify for state-funded care but exceed income thresholds, aiming to provide alternatives to nursing home placements. The bill requires North Carolina's health department to request federal approval from CMS within 90 days, ensuring new coverage is fully offset by cost savings and meets all legal requirements. Implementation would only occur if CMS approves the request and all goals in the bill are met.

Maddy summarySB 703 updates North Carolina's workers' compensation benefits for specific injuries by establishing automatic annual increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It raises maximum compensation amounts for facial/head disfigurement (from $20,000 to $56,000), bodily disfigurement (from $10,000 to $28,000), and organ loss (from $20,000 to $56,000). These increases, effective July 1, 2026, will adjust each year based on positive CPI changes from the prior year, rounded to the nearest dollar. The bill directly affects workers injured in ways covered under the schedule of injuries, ensuring compensation keeps pace with inflation.

Maddy summarySB 689 requires North Carolina's Charter Schools Review Board to approve all state rules affecting charter schools, shifting this authority from the State Board of Education. The bill exempts charter schools from reporting class rank on student transcripts and permits them to use alternative teacher evaluations aligned with state teaching standards. Low-performing charter schools must now submit improvement plans directly to the Review Board (instead of the State Board of Education), and the Board gains authority to review federal funding decisions for charter schools. Additionally, the Review Board may hire legal counsel without needing prior approval.

Maddy summarySB 694 automatically restores driver's licenses in North Carolina after 36 months for individuals whose licenses were revoked solely due to unpaid fines for minor traffic offenses (e.g., speeding tickets), removing a major barrier to employment. This change applies to people who haven’t paid court costs or fines but haven’t committed serious offenses like driving while license revoked. The bill requires the state to notify affected individuals via mail and online about license restoration and appropriates funds for a text reminder system to help prevent missed court dates. Individuals will still owe unpaid fines but no longer face license suspension for nonpayment after the 36-month period.