Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · Senate Aug 11, 2026

SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026.

SB 445 automatically adopts federal temporary waivers or modifications issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under specific Social Security Act sections (1135 or 1812(f)) for North Carolina hospitals during declared emergencies. This means hospitals in disaster zones no longer need separate state approval to implement federal rule changes, directly affecting hospitals operating under such declarations. Key provisions include automatically waiving state hospital regulations to align with federal waivers and allowing temporary increases in bed capacity without additional state review. The bill streamlines emergency hospital operations by eliminating bureaucratic delays in applying federally authorized relief measures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAutomates federal waiver adoption for NC hospitals in disasters, removing state approval barriers to maintain healthcare access during emergencies, directly supporting hospital operations under crisis conditions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

failed · North Carolina · House Aug 6, 2026

HB 832: Education Omnibus.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates up to $350,000 annually for school safety and mental health programs, expanding state funding for essential services under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands school safety grant funding for mental health programs (CALM, trauma therapy) up to $350k annually, directly advancing student well-being and safety in educational settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly allocates $350k for mental health services (suicide prevention, trauma therapies) in schools, directly advancing mental health care under healthcare topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · North Carolina · House Jul 1, 2026

HB 1083: Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act.

This bill creates a voluntary program allowing businesses in North Carolina to contribute to portable benefit accounts for their independent contractors. The plan enables hiring parties to fund benefits such as health insurance, retirement, and disability through a third-party administrator, which helps contractors maintain coverage when moving between jobs. To encourage participation, the legislation allows businesses to deduct contributions as business expenses and permits contractors to exclude those amounts from their taxable income. Additionally, the bill includes a $100,000 appropriation to fund public education about the program, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a voluntary program allowing businesses to contribute to portable benefit accounts for independent contractors, explicitly enabling funding for health insurance coverage.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands worker benefits by creating a voluntary program for portable benefits for independent contractors, strengthening their access to health, retirement, and disability coverage.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · North Carolina · House Jul 1, 2026

HB 1200: Tax-Free Family Essentials Act.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes state sales tax on essential family items, providing direct tax relief and reducing the financial burden on households.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes sales tax on essential health and hygiene items, improving affordability and access for families.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 536: Physical Therapy Practice Act Modifications.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes regulatory board to maintain physical therapy standards, ensuring quality care and professional oversight within healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · North Carolina · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 316: Lower Healthcare Costs.

SB 316 requires North Carolina hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for common medical services, including full charges, negotiated rates, and reimbursements from Medicaid, Medicare, and major insurers. Beginning in 2015, these facilities must submit quarterly reports to the state health department on the 100 most frequent inpatient diagnoses (DRGs) and common surgical/imaging procedures. The data will be made publicly available online, enabling patients and employers to compare costs and make informed healthcare decisions. This bill directly affects healthcare providers by mandating transparency but does not alter insurance coverage or set price limits. Its key mechanism is standardized reporting of pricing data to foster competition and affordability in the healthcare market.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospital price transparency for common services, improving patient access to cost information and aligning with patient rights and healthcare affordability goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 696: Medicaid and HHS Adjust./Other Critical Needs.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires accurate provider qualification disclosure, preventing patient deception and protecting consumer rights in healthcare advertising.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 9, 2025

SB 479: SCRIPT Act.

SB 479, the SCRIPT Act, requires health insurers in North Carolina to allow patients to choose any participating pharmacy without restrictions. It prohibits insurers from imposing unequal copayments, financial penalties, or incentives that steer patients toward specific pharmacies. The bill directly affects insurers offering prescription drug coverage, independent pharmacies (defined as groups of 10 or fewer under common ownership), and patients seeking pharmacy services. Key provisions ensure equal treatment for all pharmacies in a plan and prevent insurers from limiting patient choice based on financial incentives.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to allow patient pharmacy choice without restrictions or financial penalties, directly protecting patient rights and improving access to prescription drugs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 77: School Contracted Health Services.

SB 77 allows parents of students with disabilities to choose their preferred nurse for school-based nursing services required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP), provided specific conditions are met. The bill requires schools to assign the parent's chosen nurse if that nurse previously provided care to the student, the nursing agency agrees to contract under standard terms, and the rate matches other contracted nurses. This directly affects families of students needing nursing services under IEPs and ensures schools honor parent preferences without altering their obligation to provide a free appropriate public education. The policy applies starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables parent choice in nursing services for IEP students, enhancing educational access and support for children with disabilities within school health services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables parent choice in school nursing services for IEP students, improving access to continuity of care and patient-centered healthcare access within education settings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 576: Department of Health and Human Services Revisions.

HB 576 makes technical revisions to North Carolina's laws governing the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It designates DHHS as the agency managing school nurse funds, requiring school nurses to focus solely on health services (like health education and emergency response) rather than instructional duties. The bill extends until June 2028 the temporary use of the federal health insurance marketplace for determining Medicaid eligibility, and clarifies that Medicaid coverage for people released from prison continues for up to 12 months post-release. It also updates Medicaid provider screening rules to align with federal standards, particularly for Indian Health Program providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends federal health insurance marketplace for Medicaid eligibility until 2028, ensuring continued coverage access; designates DHHS to manage school nurse health services focus.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare