2025 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Week 4 of Long Session

In this week's update:

• Week 4: NASW-NC meets with Legislators 
• 2025 NC Social Work Advocacy Day - TOOLKIT ADDED! 
• NASW-NC Social Work Advocacy Guide 
• NASW-NC Needs to Hear From You! 
• Take Action: Stop the SAVE Act & Protect Voting Rights!
• NCGA Bills to Watch 
• Governor Josh Stein Advocates For $19 Billion In Federal Helene Recovery Funds 
• NC House Committees Approve Hurricane Helene Relief Legislation
• Superintendent Green, State Board of Education Unveil Joint Legislative Priorities
• Black History Month -Celebrating Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch
• Equality NC's Thriving Loudly Listening Tour 
• NASW-NC Ethics Conference

Week 4: NASW-NC meets with Legislators

All business at the NC General Assembly was canceled, including committee meetings for the week of February 17-21, 2025 . NASW-NC attended the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation's 2025 Legislative Breakfast.  We also attended NCFree's 2025 New NCGA Members Reception.  At both events we spoke directly with legislators regarding passage of the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill and our upcoming Advocacy Day on March 5th.  

Our #1 Legislative Priority is the passing of the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill, which we first introduced in the 2023 session.  You can learn more about the Social Work Compact HERE. We have already secured bill sponsors in both the NC House & NC Senate. We are meeting with legislators to discuss restoring masters' pay for school social workers and investment in the social work workforce. Please keep reading our weekly Advocacy Alerts & follow us on social media as we will be sharing updates throughout the legislative session on our lobbying efforts around the 2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda.   

2025 ADVOCACY DAY – REGISTRATION FULL -TOOLKIT ADDED! 

The 2025 North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Day registration is full & over-capacity for both morning orientation sessions on Wednesday, March 5th. Our wait-list is also completely full. 

We would love to be able to accommodate all the hundreds of social work students and other social workers who still wish to register, however we have reached maximum capacity inside the auditorium. Please do not email other NASW-NC staff requesting exceptions for Advocacy Day. The emails have been overwhelming. Thank you for your support and patience. 

NASW-NC's 2025 Advocacy Day is WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 in Downtown Raleigh! We will have a new location for morning orientation (sessions between 9AM-12PM) this year due to the NC History Museum being closed for renovation.  

Read More Here: 2025 NORTH CAROLINA SOCIAL WORK ADVOCACY DAY

New Location: Church on Morgan

136 E Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Church on Morgan's meeting space is like an auditorium, not with religious symbolism of any kind. An OPTIONAL contribution is available during the online registration process. NASW-NC is proud to make the North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Day free for all. We welcome your contribution to this event. All contributions will be donated to social work students from across the state to aid in their travel to Raleigh. Please consider contributing to this effort to help connect the social work profession to those who represent us and our communities at the North Carolina General Assembly.
 

• Click here to access the recording of 2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda and Advocacy 101: Advocating for Social Work webinar
• 2025 Advocacy 101 Webinar slides
• 2025 North Carolina Social Work Advocacy Day Toolkit  -Just Added! 
   

NASW-NC Social Work Advocacy Guide 

Social work has always been a profession of compassion + action. Rooted in justice, dignity, and the unwavering belief in human worth, we are called to challenge oppressive systems, dismantle barriers to equity, and advocate for those whose voices have been silenced. In this moment—one of uncertainty, division, and urgent need—our profession must stand firm in our core values and rise to the work ahead. Social workers are uniquely prepared for this moment in history, as we understand that the systems and environments surrounding individuals and families are rooted in systemic oppression, disproportionate poverty, and targeted injustices. We know how to navigate unjust policies, combat systemic racism, and provide and lead critical care and healing interventions. Please find support and guidance in the NASW-NC Social Work Advocacy Guide - Social Work Core Values as a Foundation for Action: Reclaiming Our Power, Advancing Justice.
 

NASW-NC Needs to Hear From YOU!

NASW-NC is seeking feedback from social workers and social work students in North Carolina... please click here to take the survey! It should only take 5-10 minutes to complete, and you can be entered into a drawing to win a free social work t-shirt!

The survey is open to all social workers and social work students in North Carolina, regardless of NASW membership status (current NASW members, former members, and social workers/social work students who have never been a member). All responses are appreciated. This survey helps NASW-NC determine what social workers and social work students in North Carolina need from their professional association, and will impact the work NASW-NC does over the next few years. 

Click here to take the survey!

Take Action: Stop the SAVE Act & Protect Voting Rights!

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R.22/S.128) is a dangerous voter suppression bill that would make it harder for millions of eligible Americans—especially seniors, veterans, tribal citizens, and low-income communities—to register and vote. This bill would:

🔹 Deny millions of eligible voters access to the ballot through extreme documentation requirements.
🔹 Eliminate mail and online voter registration, creating barriers for working-class and disabled voters.
🔹 Mandate flawed voter purges, leading to wrongful removals of U.S. citizens from voter rolls.
🔹 Criminalize election workers for simply doing their jobs.

We must take action now to stop this civic injustice. Here’s how you can help:

📢 Call Your Elected Officials – Demand they oppose the SAVE Act.
✉️ Send an Email – Urge Congress to vote NO. 
🐦 Spread the Word on Social Media – Share this message: The SAVE Act is voter suppression. Social workers say: #VoteNo on H.R.22/S.128!
🗳 Educate Your Community – Talk to clients, colleagues, and friends about why this bill is harmful.

As members of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), we cannot stay silent while democracy is threatened. Join us in standing up for voting rights and stopping this harmful legislation.

Read more: https://www.socialworkblog.org/advocacy/2025/02/social-workers-must-take-a-stand-save-act-is-direct-attack-on-democracy/

Take action today! Our voices matter. Our advocacy makes a difference.

(Ja'Bree Harris, MSW (He/Him) , Public Policy and Advocacy Manager, NASW )

NCGA Bills to Watch 

HB5: An Act to Protect A Person’s Right to Carry a Concealed Handgun Without a Permit

HB66: An Act to Reduce the Early Voting Period to the Second Monday Before the Election

HB72 (=S58): An Act to Limit the Attorney General’s Participation in Litigation Advancing Any Argument That Would Result in the Invalidation of Any Executive Order Issued by the President of the United States

HB76: An Act Protecting the Right to Access Assisted Reproductive Technology

HB77: An Act to Require Consideration of the Cumulative Impact of a Proposed Environmental Permitting Decision on Minority or Low-Income Communities

SB94: An Act to Repeal the Death Penalty

Governor Josh Stein Advocates For $19 Billion In Federal Helene Recovery Funds 

Today, Governor Josh Stein announced he is requesting $19 billion in federal funds for Helene recovery and rebuilding. The Governor met with Senators Tillis and Budd Thursday to advocate for critical investments in western North Carolina’s recovery. Read Governor Stein’s full statement below:  

“Hurricane Helene destroyed so much across western North Carolina – lives, homes, businesses, farms, and infrastructure -- and our state is facing nearly $60 billion in damages. Despite a focused response from federal, state, local, and private sector and nonprofit partners in the immediate aftermath, five months later, it is clear that much more help is needed to restore and rebuild western North Carolina. That’s why I am requesting $19 billion in federal funds for Helene recovery. We must support home rebuilding, restore critical infrastructure, keep businesses open, shore up local governments, and reduce impacts from future natural disasters. The state has already committed more than $1 billion in funding, and I am working with the legislature to deliver more needed resources. With continued commitment of the federal and state governments, we will enable the people of western North Carolina to come back stronger than ever before". 

Details of the Governor’s budget request can be found here.   

NC House Committees Approve Hurricane Helene Relief Legislation

This week, both the NC House of Representatives Select Committee on Helene Relief and the House Appropriations Committee approved a $500 million proposal for Hurricane Helene relief (H.B. 47). Among other things, the bill would provide:

• $10 million to the Division of Emergency Management in the NC Department of Public Safety to make grants to nonprofits that are Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs) that are providing assistance in Hurricane Helene relief and recovery.
• $10 million to the State Fire Marshall for grants to small and volunteer fire departments in western North Carolina, many of which are nonprofits.
• $150 million for home construction and repair in western North Carolina.
• $55 million to establish a grant program for local governments to expedite infrastructure repairs that impact the operation of small businesses (potentially including nonprofits) in western North Carolina. While local governments would be the recipients of these grants, the infrastructure repairs or improvements funded by the grants could benefit some nonprofits.
• A provision allowing VOADs working on Hurricane Helene relief and recovery efforts to access heavy construction equipment and motor vehicles from the state’s surplus property.

The bill does not include relief for nonprofits or small businesses that suffered economic harm from Hurricane Helene. The bill now goes to the House Rules Committee. The full House could vote on it next week, and it could move to the Senate soon after the House approves it. Lawmakers will consider additional relief later this winter or spring, and the Center will continue to advocate for future relief legislation to include support for nonprofits in western North Carolina that have suffered economic harm.

Source: NC Center for Nonprofits

Superintendent Green, State Board of Education Unveil Joint Legislative Priorities

Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green shared the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) legislative priorities and budgetary asks for North Carolina’s public schools at the February State Board of Education (SBE) meeting. During this meeting, the SBE officially adopted the NCDPI’s legislative agenda, marking the first time in several years that the two have shared a joint set of legislative priorities.

These shared priorities for the 2025-26 fiscal year align with Green’s vision for North Carolina public schools, Achieving Educational Excellence, and the six pillars he has laid out to guide this work:

• Prepare each student for their next phase of life.
• Invest in public schools by fully funding public education.
• Revere public school educators.
• Enhance parent and community support.
• Ensure safe, secure learning environments.
• Celebrate the good in public education.

Read more: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/02/20/superintendent-green-state-board-education-unveil-joint-legislative-priorities

Black History Month -Celebrating Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch

Senator Sydney Batch has assumed the role of Senate Minority Leader, making her the first woman and first Black woman to serve as Leader in the North Carolina Senate. Beyond the Senate, Sen. Batch is a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist for the NC State Bar, as well as the National Association of Counsel for Children, and a Certified Parent Coordinator. Her past awards include, but are not limited to,

• Council for Exceptional Children 2022 Child Advocacy Award
• 2022 North Carolina Advocates for Justice Legislative Award
• 2021 Prevent Child Abuse NC Legislative Leadership Award
• 2021 National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Legislator of the Year Award
• 2021 Inductee National Association of Women Business Owners Hall of Fame
   

(Source: Enlace Latino NC) - A lawyer and social worker by training, Batch says her experience working with families in crisis has deeply influenced her approach to policy-making.

“When I’m not in the legislature, my other job is helping people through some of the most difficult times in their lives — whether it’s child custody cases, divorces, or when child protective services and the Department of Social Services are involved with their families,” Batch said. “So I have a really unique ability to meet everyday people and be able to meet them where they are.”

Batch stresses the importance of involving communities from the beginning of the legislative process.

“I really want to be in a space where we’re talking to communities that are affected by the legislation in the works, and hearing what they think they need,” Batch said.

“Families and individuals know what is best for them. And sometimes in the legislature you get the situation where the legislator thinks that he knows what is best and that we should just do it, as if we are all wise and all-powerful, but that is not the case.”

Read more about Sen. Batch here.  NASW-NC is thrilled Senator Batch will be joining us at NC Social Work Advocacy Day on March 5th! 

Equality NC’s Thriving Loudly Listening Tour

In times like these, we know that community is everything. That’s why Equality North Carolina is embarking on a Statewide Listening Tour, creating a space for LGBTQ+ North Carolinians to share their experiences, voice their concerns, and connect. This is more than a conversation—it’s a commitment to listening, learning, and building power together. We want to hear from you.

Find a stop near you and register today!

NASW-NC Ethics Conference

The 2025 Ethics Conference "Innovation and Ethics: The Future of Social Work in a Tech-Driven World" will explore the intersection of technology and social work in the modern era. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the role of technology in social work is becoming increasingly significant. This conference aims to create meaningful discussions around how innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and digital platforms can enhance the delivery of social work on all levels, while also addressing the ethical challenges they present.

Key topics of focus will include the integration of technology and AI in social work practice, clinical documentation considerations with data privacy and security, and the ethical responsibilities of social workers in navigating the digital divide. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with seasoned practitioners in these areas and learn how social workers can leverage technological advancements and maintain their commitment to ethical principles, client autonomy, and social justice.

Date: Friday, March 21, 2025

Time: 8:15am - 4:00pm EST 

Location: Virtual on Zoom

6.5 Hours Ethics CE

Click Here to Register

Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.

Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.

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