HB 832 revises North Carolina's school safety grant program to expand eligible uses of funds for training aimed at improving student well-being and safety. It allows public school units to fund evidence-based programs including suicide prevention training (CALM), trauma-focused therapies (like cognitive behavioral therapy), violence prevention, and peer mentoring facilitation. The bill specifically permits up to $350,000 in annual funding for these expanded services, directly affecting school staff, counselors, and students in North Carolina public schools. This change modifies existing grant rules without creating new funding or altering overall program structure.
HB 1200, known as the Tax-Free Family Essentials Act, removes the state sales tax on specific items including diapers, baby wipes, over-the-counter children's medication, prenatal vitamins, and feminine hygiene products. The bill directly affects families purchasing these goods by exempting them from the tax, while also clarifying the legal definitions of these items to ensure consistent application. These tax exemptions will take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply to all sales occurring on or after that date.
HB 349 updates North Carolina's requirements for healthcare powers of attorney (POA) and advance health care directives (like living wills). It clarifies witness and notary rules to prevent conflicts of interest (e.g., prohibiting facility staff from witnessing), standardizes forms for easier use, and allows electronic filing of directives with the Secretary of State’s registry. The bill directly affects residents planning ahead for medical decisions, ensuring their chosen agents or instructions are legally recognized. Key changes include revised witness eligibility criteria, simplified form language, and a new online filing option to improve accessibility. The bill does not alter medical care standards but streamlines the legal process for end-of-life planning.
HB 565 ("Check Yes, Save Lives") allows North Carolina taxpayers to register as organ donors by checking a box on their state income tax return, starting with tax returns for 2026 and later. This directly affects all North Carolina taxpayers who file income tax returns, providing a simple, automatic way to enroll in the organ donation program during annual tax filing. The bill amends tax and organ donation statutes to add income tax return enrollment as a valid method for making an anatomical gift (under Section 130A-412.7(1a)), while keeping existing options like driver's license or wills. It requires coordination between the Department of Revenue and Motor Vehicles to update the Organ Donor Registry, ensuring the tax-based enrollment is properly recorded. The policy change streamlines donor registration without altering the existing organ donation process or eligibility.
HB 536 modifies North Carolina's Physical Therapy Practice Act by establishing a new Board of Examiners to regulate the profession. The Board will consist of eight members (including a medical doctor, four physical therapists, two physical therapist assistants, and a public member) appointed to oversee licensing, discipline, and continuing education requirements for physical therapists and assistants. The bill clarifies that physical therapy practice excludes surgery, chiropractic, or medical diagnosis, and specifies that the Board may investigate complaints confidentially while making disciplinary decisions public. This legislation directly affects licensed physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and the public by setting standards for practice, licensure, and professional conduct in North Carolina.
HB 1115 updates North Carolina laws regarding advance health care planning documents, such as health care powers of attorney and living wills, to align with recent recommendations from the General Statutes Commission. The bill primarily affects individuals creating these documents by simplifying the requirements for signing them and allowing multiple types of advance directives to be combined into a single document. Key provisions include clarifying how different documents interact, defining terms like 'life-prolonging measures' and 'mental health treatment,' and ensuring that the laws remain consistent with other state statutes.
House Bill 433 allows licensed registered nurses (RNs) to serve as school nurses in North Carolina public schools. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring a four-year degree for school nurse employment. It specifies that RNs with at least two years of experience in a hospital or health clinic can work as school nurses without needing additional certifications or licenses. These qualified registered nurses will be paid under the certified school nurse pay scale.
HB 727 modifies the licensure process for marriage and family therapists and therapy associates in North Carolina. It streamlines the process for professionals licensed in other states to obtain a North Carolina license through reciprocity, making it mandatory for qualified applicants. The bill adjusts experience requirements and expands acceptable examination options to include California's clinical examination. Additionally, it clarifies that all applicants, including those applying via reciprocity, must undergo criminal history record checks. These changes aim to facilitate licensing for out-of-state therapists while maintaining regulatory oversight.
HB 696, the Health Care Practitioner Transparency Act, requires health care providers in North Carolina to clearly state their license type, certification, or registration in all advertisements and public representations. It prohibits deceptive claims about qualifications and bans unlicensed individuals from using medical titles like "doctor," "surgeon," or specialty terms (e.g., "cardiologist") to mislead patients. The law applies to licensed professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists, etc.) who advertise services, but exempts those in non-patient settings without direct care interactions. Violations could lead to disciplinary action by their licensing board, with daily noncompliance treated as separate offenses. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 693 establishes the "Interstate Massage Compact" to create a multistate licensing pathway for massage therapists across participating states. It directly affects licensed massage therapists seeking to practice in multiple states and the public receiving those services. Key mechanisms include creating an Interstate Commission to administer the compact, enabling therapists to hold a single "multistate license" valid in all member states, requiring background checks and continuing competence, and allowing states to share disciplinary information and hold licensees accountable. The compact aims to improve public access to safe massage therapy while reducing regulatory burdens for therapists, particularly aiding military members and their spouses relocating between states.
