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

signed · North Carolina · House Aug 11, 2026

HB 562: Budget Technical Corrections Modifications.

HB 562, the Healthcare Investment Act, updates qualification standards for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse professionals in North Carolina. It allows individuals with an associate degree in human services to qualify as Associate Professionals (with less than two years of experience) or Qualified Professionals (with two years of supervised experience). The bill also creates a new pathway for Qualified Substance Abuse Prevention Professionals (QSAPPs) to qualify with an associate degree and two years of supervised experience in addiction prevention - before completing a bachelor's degree. These changes will expand the pool of eligible professionals for state-funded services under the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUpdates mental health/professional qualification standards, expanding access to services by creating new pathways for associate and substance abuse professionals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 7, 2026

HB 1104: Improve Involuntary Commitment Process and Enhance Public Safety.

This bill requires the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Information Technology, and the Administrative Office of the Courts to study the state's involuntary commitment process. The agencies must identify gaps in the current system and submit a report with recommendations by February 1, 2027. Key areas for improvement include ensuring judges receive timely clinical data, training legal officials on community-based treatment options, and updating electronic forms to capture consistent data. The legislation also aims to increase data sharing between health and court systems to support more effective legal and clinical outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates a study to identify gaps in involuntary commitment and improve clinical data sharing and training, aiming to strengthen mental health services and patient safety.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed both · North Carolina · House Jun 25, 2026

HB 349: Modify Health Care Powers of Attorney/Advance Directives.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies witness rules and standardizes healthcare directives, strengthening patient autonomy in medical decision-making without conflicts of interest.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables electronic filing of health directives via Secretary of State registry, directly supporting electronic government services under 'INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY' and 'ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT' subjects.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

signed · North Carolina · House May 12, 2026

HB 433: State Fiscal Recovery Fund/NC Pandemic Recovery Office Revisions.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves degree barriers for RNs to serve as school nurses, expanding qualified staffing options without additional costs. Directly supports school staff accessibility in education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows qualified RNs to work as school nurses without degree requirements, expanding access to school health services per bill's explicit language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed both · North Carolina · House May 12, 2026

HB 390: Medicaid Prepaid Health Plan Practices.

House Bill 390, titled "Alleviate the Dangers of Surgical Smoke," establishes new standards for surgical smoke evacuation in North Carolina. This bill requires all licensed hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to adopt and implement policies mandating the use of a smoke evacuation/filtering system during surgical procedures likely to generate surgical smoke. A smoke evacuation/filtering system is defined as equipment that captures, filters, and eliminates surgical smoke at its origin. The Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to take adverse action against facilities that violate these new requirements. This act is scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates smoke evacuation systems in hospitals to protect staff/patients from surgical smoke dangers, enhancing healthcare safety standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed both · North Carolina · House May 12, 2026

HB 727: Limit Medicaid Reimb. for Facility Fees.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines licensure for mental health professionals, improving access to therapy services by reducing barriers for out-of-state therapists and expanding exam options.92% 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 Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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