This bill directs the North Carolina Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to create statewide education programs focused on consumer finance safety and public health awareness. The state will fund the development of dedicated websites and toolkits by September 2026 to help local communities launch their own awareness campaigns regarding fraud, identity theft, reproductive health, LGBTQIA+ issues, and racial health disparities. A total of $7 million in recurring funds is allocated to support these initiatives, which are explicitly restricted to explaining existing laws and resources rather than advocating for new legislation. The Department of Justice will receive $3 million, while the Department of Health and Human Services will receive $4 million, with both agencies required to submit progress reports by September 2027.
SB 85 requires body piercing establishments (excluding medical professionals like doctors performing piercings as part of their practice) to obtain annual permits from the state health department. To get a permit, businesses must pass health department inspections covering sanitation of premises, equipment, and procedures. The Commission for Public Health will create specific rules for permit requirements, including hygiene standards, which will determine the permit process. The bill takes effect once these rules are adopted, but no rules exist yet as the bill is still in early legislative stages.
SB 384 requires North Carolina's Commission for Public Health to establish safe limits for specific toxic chemicals in drinking water by October 2025. It targets chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium, and 1,4-Dioxane - known or suspected carcinogens - mandating limits based on scientific evidence and ensuring they do not exceed federal EPA standards. The law also requires annual reviews of new research to update these limits as needed. This directly affects all North Carolina residents who rely on public water systems, with special consideration for children, infants, and pregnant people.
SB 324, the 2025 Safe Drinking Water Act, requires North Carolina's Commission for Public Health to establish safe limits for harmful chemicals in drinking water by October 2025. It directly affects all North Carolina residents by mandating maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for specific toxins like PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium, and 1,4-Dioxane - chemicals linked to cancer or serious health risks. The bill directs the Commission to base these limits on scientific evidence from other states and federal agencies, ensuring protections for vulnerable groups like children and pregnant people, while aligning with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. The law also requires annual reviews to update these limits as new health science becomes available.
HB 231 establishes North Carolina's participation in the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, allowing licensed social workers from participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses in each state. The bill directly affects licensed social workers seeking to provide services in multiple states, particularly those serving military families or addressing workforce shortages. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses among member states, accountability for social workers practicing where clients are located, and streamlined processes for disciplinary information sharing. This reduces duplicate licensing requirements while maintaining state authority to protect public health and safety through existing licensure systems.
HB 842 clarifies that North Carolina public schools may conduct vision, hearing, dental, and developmental screenings for students without requiring parental consent, but must notify parents at the start of each school year about all screenings offered and provide results for their child. This bill directly affects parents of students in public schools across North Carolina, particularly for kindergarten through third grade as noted in the bill text. Key provisions require schools to provide written notice of screenings and results to parents (instead of seeking consent for each screening), while maintaining existing requirements for other health services that do require consent. The law updates school health screening procedures under North Carolina General Statutes § 115C-76.46.
HB 197 appropriates $25 million annually for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years to North Carolina's local health departments (LHDs) for communicable disease programs. The funding aims to address a 70% staff shortage in LHDs by enabling them to retain existing staff, hire additional public health professionals (including nurses), and expand essential services. Funds are allocated with half distributed equally among LHDs based on the number of counties served, and half distributed based on the percentage of state population each LHD serves. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, to support North Carolina's response to diseases like avian flu and mpox.
SB 82 establishes a multi-state compact (the "Solemn Covenant of States") to create a commission that awards prizes for scientifically validated disease cures. It would require at least six states to join before forming the commission, which would review and fund cures, then make them widely available at prices covering only manufacturing and distribution costs. Non-participating states would pay royalties based on estimated public health savings, with funds used to cover prize costs and refunded to joining states. The bill directly affects participating states' taxpayers through public health expense calculations and the commission's pricing rules.
SB 373 (Vaccination Schedule Variance/Minors) prohibits healthcare providers (including doctors, physician assistants, and nurses) from refusing to treat minors or their parents/guardians solely because they choose to delay or vary from the CDC's recommended vaccination schedule. The bill ensures minors cannot be discriminated against for this reason, while clarifying that mandatory vaccination requirements under state law (G.S. 130A-152) still apply. Violations would be considered unprofessional conduct by licensing boards. The law requires the Medical Board and Nursing Board to adopt implementing rules, with the main provision effective October 1, 2025.
