HB 1044 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Justice in Mental Health Act.

This bill aims to improve the connection between the court system and mental health services in North Carolina to reduce unnecessary jail time. It directs state agencies to create training for judges and staff on spotting mental health risks and to build a framework for sending court-involved individuals to treatment instead of detention. The legislation also updates legal standards for determining when someone is a danger to others and provides funding to support these new programs and data-sharing systems.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 23, 2026 Last action Apr 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Filed → Edition 1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated to include additional sponsors and a specific referral date, while removing the original bill number and a line item regarding evidence-informed indicators. The core policy requirements for developing a statewide framework for mental health treatment courts and defining dangerousness standards remain substantively unchanged, though the formatting of the list items was adjusted.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the revisions are primarily administrative and formatting in nature.

TECHNICAL

Added a list of primary sponsors (Representatives Price, Belk, Prather, and Morey) and a specific referral date of April 27, 2026.

Removed the original bill identifier (DRH10594-MLa-179) and a specific line item listing 'Evidence-informed indicators' as a requirement for guidance materials.

Adjusted the numbering and indentation of the list items regarding guidance materials and framework requirements to align with the new formatting style.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 27, 2026

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 32 co-sponsors