Sen. Jim Burgin

Maddy summarySB 448 removes two key barriers to Medicaid eligibility for North Carolina workers with disabilities under the "Health Coverage for Workers with Disabilities" program. It eliminates the federal limits on unearned income (like Social Security benefits) and countable assets (savings) that previously disqualified people from maintaining Medicaid coverage while working. The bill requires the state to seek federal CMS approval within 90 days to remove these limits, with implementation effective after CMS approval (targeting a July 2025 effective date). This change directly affects individuals with disabilities who currently face penalties for saving money or receiving certain benefits while enrolled in Medicaid, allowing them to retain healthcare coverage without losing eligibility due to income or asset thresholds. The state will provide $165,000 annually in funding for implementation starting July 2025.

Maddy summarySB 466 ensures continuity of care for North Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries with behavioral health and intellectual disabilities (BH IDD) who use specialized "Tailored Plans." It allows these individuals to stay in the standard Medicaid fee-for-service program (Medicaid Direct) if their current healthcare providers aren't in their Tailored Plan's network, and to choose a Tailored Plan outside their geographic area if it offers better services or provider access. The bill also requires the state to submit CMS waiver amendments by July 2025 and report to lawmakers by August 2025 on promoting competition among managed care organizations to improve care quality. These changes directly affect BH IDD Medicaid participants and aim to reduce disruptions in their healthcare.

Maddy summarySB 441 revives and expands a program allowing retired teachers to return to work in high-need North Carolina schools without losing their retirement benefits. The bill requires school districts to certify these teachers to the retirement system annually and mandates monthly reports on their employment terms and pay. Retired educators rehired under this program retain their full retirement allowance, and school districts must cover employer health insurance premiums for them. This directly affects retired teachers returning to high-need schools, school districts hiring them, and the state retirement system’s benefit calculations. The program expires June 30, 2027, unless IRS status is jeopardized, triggering automatic repeal.

Maddy summarySB 464 creates a new team-based care coordination service for Medicaid recipients with substance use disorders, including screening, medication treatment, recovery support, and case management. It also changes Medicaid policy to suspend coverage during incarceration (rather than terminate it), aligning with federal law to maintain access to care upon release. The bill requires the state health department to develop this service, report costs and implementation plans by October 2025, and launch a statewide education campaign for providers. This directly affects Medicaid enrollees with substance use disorders and incarcerated individuals in North Carolina.

Maddy summarySB 374 requires businesses and individuals to obtain licenses or permits to install, inspect, repair, or service portable fire extinguishers and specific fire suppression systems (including kitchen, industrial, and engineered systems) in North Carolina. Businesses must get a firm license, while individuals must get an individual permit, both issued by the State Fire Marshal. The bill exempts routine visual inspections by fire chiefs, fire marshals, or employees of firms working on their own systems. It also mandates standardized service tags with detailed work dates and gives the State Fire Marshal authority to set installation standards and fees. This applies to systems required by state or local fire safety rules.

Maddy summarySB 366 increases Medicaid payment rates for personal care services to $7.50 per 15-minute increment and private duty nursing to $16.25 per 15-minute increment. It directly affects healthcare providers who deliver these services to Medicaid beneficiaries through programs like personal care services and private duty nursing. The bill allocates $119.2 million annually in state funds (with matching federal funds) to cover the rate increases for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 360 requires every public school in North Carolina (including traditional, charter, regional, and laboratory schools) to have at least one full-time, permanent school nurse starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill appropriates $95 million in recurring state funds to the Department of Public Instruction to cover the cost of adding these nurse positions, ensuring funding supplements existing resources without replacing them. This policy directly affects all K-12 public schools across the state by mandating nurse staffing levels and providing dedicated funding to meet that requirement. The law becomes effective July 1, 2025, with implementation beginning for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 332, the Health Care Practitioner Transparency Act, requires health care professionals (like doctors, nurses, and dentists) who advertise services to clearly state their specific license or certification type in all marketing materials (such as websites, brochures, or business cards). It prohibits using misleading titles (e.g., "cardiologist" or "surgeon") if not licensed for that specialty, and bans false claims about qualifications. The law applies to all patient-facing practitioners in advertising, with enforcement handled by licensing boards through disciplinary actions for violations. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not apply to non-patient-facing roles like administrative staff.

Maddy summaryThis North Carolina bill (SB 346) provides limited legal immunity for people who seek medical help during drug or alcohol overdoses. It protects individuals from minor charges (like possession of less than 1 gram of drugs or underage alcohol consumption) if they call 911 or assist others in calling for overdose emergencies, provided they act in good faith, provide their name, and weren’t seeking help during an active arrest. The immunity also extends to the overdose victim themselves and prevents probation/parole revocation for these covered offenses. The law applies to acts occurring on or after October 1, 2025, and does not affect evidence collection for other crimes.

Maddy summarySB 320 creates an additional retirement allowance for North Carolina state and local law enforcement officers who retire after meeting specific service and age requirements. Eligible officers with at least 30 years of service (or 55+ with 5+ years) under age 62 can choose between two calculation methods for their annual allowance: one based on their current pay rate and service, or one based on their pay rate at 30 years of service. The allowance, paid monthly from state funds, stops upon the officer’s death, reaching age 62 (for the first method), or meeting a time-based condition (for the second method). This change supplements retirement income without affecting other retirement benefits or salary increases.