2025 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Senate Budget, Protect Medicaid, and More!

In this week's update:

• NC Senate budget eliminates hundreds of vacant jobs and some filled positions
• Take Action Now to Protect Medicaid!
• NC House Committee Approves Bill to Explore Medicaid Sustainability
• NC Supreme Court Voter challenge update
• 2025 Aging Advocacy Day
• NCDHHS Seeks Feedback on Medicaid Managed Care Plans
• Social Work Compact Passes NC House
• NCGA Bills to Watch
• NASW-NC Clinical Institute

NC Senate Budget Eliminates Hundreds of Vacant Jobs and Some Filled Positions

Click Here to read NASW-NC press release on NC Senate Budget proposal.

The North Carolina Senate’s budget proposal includes sweeping cuts to mostly vacant state jobs, but also eliminates some entire offices along with employee positions.

In all, the budget eliminates 850 vacant jobs over two years, leaving more than 14,000 open jobs. Click here to read the budget bill and here to read the accompanying committee report that details each spending item.

The Senate budget committee reviewed its budget proposal Tuesday, putting the $32.6 billion plan on track for approval by the end of the week.

The state House will draw up its own budget. The chambers then compromise on a budget that will go to Gov. Josh Stein.

Republican senators found millions in savings by eliminating jobs. Budget writers said they looked to cut jobs that have been vacant for months or years.

“We have this money that’s been sitting there,” said Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson). So they decided to “take the money and put it to use somewhere else.”

State agency leaders for years have stressed their inability to fill jobs featuring salaries that are not competitive with the private sector.

Sen. Val Applewhite (D-Cumberland) questioned making wholesale jobs cuts without a study to determine whether agencies need the positions and just haven’t been able to fill them.

“These numbers sound arbitrary,” she said. “How have we identified what the appropriate number is to do the work?” she said later. “How were the cuts made? Was it random, or was it a workload issue?”

It’s also difficult for job seekers to apply for state jobs.  

Staci Meyer, director of the Office of State Human Resources, told legislators this year that state hiring practices need to be modernized.

The Senate budget proposal includes a provision allowing job applicants to upload resumes or website profiles, with the information to be imported into state job application forms.

The provision also makes it easier for state agencies to make temporary employees permanent.

Read more HERE.

Take Action Now to Protect Medicaid!

April is Medicaid Awareness Month, a time when we recognize the contributions Medicaid has made to the health and well-being of tens of millions of Americans since its inception as a federal/state health insurance program in 1965. Today, Medicaid helps cover medical costs for nearly 72 million Americans, including health care costs for over 30% of individuals with disabilities, over 60% of nursing home residents, and nearly 17 million adults over age 50.

Of note, there is a measure in Congress that calls for cuts to Medicaid of up to $880 billion over a decade that could end all that. Should those cuts ultimately be passed, millions of American children and families could lose access to health care for everything from emergency room visits to treatment for asthma to skilled nursing home care. Preventative health care screenings would become much harder to access, resulting in delayed diagnoses of cancers and other serious conditions and an increase in preventable deaths. Rural hospitals would risk having to close altogether, shutting off an essential lifeline to health care for millions of families in rural communities. Low-income, vulnerable, and marginalized communities across the country would see an increase in health disparities and poorer health outcomes. Further, mental and behavioral health care, critical services provided by clinical social workers, would become even harder to access for the millions of Americans suffering with depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other conditions.

American families deserve better. Please join NASW in our fight for the Medicaid program and for the health and well-being all Americans deserve. Contact your members of Congress today and tell them to vote against any proposed cuts to the Medicaid program. A personalized message goes a long way with members of Congress, so please add information to our editable email.

ACT NOW!

NC House Committee Approves Bill to Explore Medicaid Sustainability

On Tuesday, the NC House Health Committee approved a bill (H.B. 113) that would establish a joint legislative committee to explore Medicaid sustainability in North Carolina. This could be particularly important if Congress makes changes to the federal Medicaid payment structure that reduces the federal funding states receive for Medicaid and other healthcare programs. The bill now goes to the House Rules Committee.

(Source: NC Center for Nonprofits)

NC Supreme Court Voter Challenge Update

The NC Supreme Court issued a mixed ruling that rejected Griffin’s attempt to invalidate the ballots of some 60,000 North Carolina voters who he wrongly claimed were not properly registered. The decision orders those ballots to be counted. That’s an important win for the people of North Carolina.

However, this deeply flawed court decision still jeopardizes the lawful ballots of potentially thousands of military and overseas voters unjustly challenged by Griffin as he tries to reverse his election defeat. That is outrageous!

The NC Supreme Court’s ruling would require some military and overseas voters unfairly handpicked by Griffin to “cure” their ballot by providing photo ID or a Photo ID Exception Form – otherwise their vote could be thrown away. These voters will have only 30 days from when the Board of Elections reaches out to them to submit their ID, even though the law did not require any military and overseas voters from North Carolina to provide a photo ID when they cast their absentee ballots in the 2024 election.

The ruling could also throw out the ballots of hundreds of voters who are U.S. citizens – specifically, the children of North Carolinians living overseas because of commitments like military service or missionary work. A law unanimously passed by the legislature more than a decade ago made clear that the children of North Carolinians living overseas have a right to vote in our state’s elections. But the NC Supreme Court majority ignored precedent and ordered their ballots thrown out anyway.

Let’s be clear: these military and overseas voters did absolutely nothing wrong. They each followed the law and they don’t deserve Griffin’s discriminatory attack on their constitutional freedom to vote.

This week, a federal court told the State Board of Elections to move forward with contacting specific overseas and military voters – even while the federal court considers whether the state court got the law right. The Board of Elections has determined that the only military and overseas voters required to “fix” their ballot are from Guilford County. Separately, the State Board identified about 265 voters who allegedly never resided in the state. If it’s found to be true that these voters are “never residents,” their votes may be thrown out. It’s important to know that none of these voters have been contacted by the Board of Elections yet, so their 30-day window to respond has not yet begun. We will keep you updated!

Make no mistake, this fight is not over! We and our partners will continue to stand up to protect every voter’s rights. We must not allow a single eligible ballot to be thrown away.

Here’s some inspiring news: On Monday, a brave group of North Carolina military and overseas voters targeted by Jefferson Griffin filed a lawsuit in federal court against Griffin’s unconstitutional attack on their rights. We stand with these voters!

While we continue to await final resolution in the courts, here’s what concerned North Carolinians can do right now:

• If your vote is challenged by Griffin, call or text the NC voter assistance hotline 888-OUR-VOTE (888-687-8683) to be connected with an election attorney who can help.
• Follow updates at this link from the State Board of Elections with information for voters challenged by Griffin.
• Regardless of whether you're a North Carolinian whose vote has been challenged, join The People v. Griffin movement by filling in your name and email at ccnc.me/WeMatter. You’ll find ways to fight back, and we’ll update you on the latest volunteer opportunities and mobilizing events.

(Source: Common Cause North Carolina) 

2025 Aging Advocacy Day

Wednesday, May 7 | NC General Assembly

This advocacy rally is hosted by AARP North Carolina, NC Coalition on Aging and Friends for Residents in Long Term Care and provides the opportunity to make your voice heard. You will have the opportunity to meet with lawmakers and observe the legislature in action.

Click above to register for this important event. Plan to arrive in Raleigh at 8:30 a.m. on May 7 for a group rally at the State Library of North Carolina (auditorium) that is located at 109 E. Jones Street and adjacent to the Legislative Building. The program will begin at 8:45 a.m. Public parking is available across the street from the library.

If your schedule allows following the 2025 Advocacy Day on May 7, join the Celebrate Older Americans Month event at the NC State Farmers Market from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Click Here to Register!

NCDHHS Seeks Feedback on Medicaid Managed Care Plans

NCDHHS is asking for feedback on how to improve services for beneficiaries, providers, health systems and plans under the Managed Care System. Since the 2023 Medicaid launch in North Carolina, NCDHHS has gathered valuable insights from stakeholders and has shared that information in a paper called Improving Member Health Through Managed Care Program Enhancements: North Carolina’s Approach to Standard Plan Re-Procurement.

The paper and a summary are available on the NC Medicaid Policy Papers webpage.

NCDHHS seeks public feedback on this paper by Wednesday, May 7, 2025, by one of three methods:

• Email: Medicaid.NCEngagement@dhhs.nc.gov with the subject line “Managed Care Program Enhancements Feedback”
• U.S. Mail: Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, 1950 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1950  
• Drop-off: Department of Health and Human Services, Dorothea Dix Campus, Adams Building, 101 Blair Dr., Raleigh NC

Social Work Compact Passes NC House

The Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill (HB231) was heard on the House Floor on Tuesday, April 1, for its final vote in the House, and it passed unanimously with a floor vote of 116-0. The week prior, NASW-NC staff had been at the General Assembly ensuring that HB 231 passed favorably in both the House Finance Committee and the House Rules Committee.

The North Carolina legislation (SB155 and HB231) would allow licensed clinical social workers to apply to provide their services across multiple states. A comprehensive data system would also be created so the public could be kept safe and informed regarding a social worker’s current license status and any adverse actions associated with a licensed clinical social worker.

NASW-NC's top priority for the 2025 legislative session is the passage of the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact. NASW-NC has been the driving force behind this bill, and was the only organization in North Carolina to work to introduce the bill in both chambers of the NC General Assembly.

NASW-NC has worked tirelessly for the last two years to secure the 40 primary and co-sponsors in both the Senate and House of Representatives for the Social Work Licensure Compact.  NASW-NC would like to thank all of HB 231's sponsors and co-sponsors for their leadership and support in getting this bill passed.⁠

HB 231 has been referred to the NC Senate. NASW-NC will continue to monitor and advocate for the bill’s passage. NASW-NC will also continue to advocate for SB 155 - the companion bill of HB 231 to be heard in Senate Finance Committee and eventually in a floor vote in the NC Senate.

NASW-NC is also working to advance HB 523 – School Social Workers/Master’s Pay. This is the second 2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda priority item that has been introduced as a bill in the House. This bill will most likely be voted through House Education and referred to Appropriations, where it will be included in the House Budget. We are working on getting support in the Senate.

NASW-NC is the ONLY organization lobbying and advocating for the entire Social Work Profession at the North Carolina Legislature. The NASW-NC lobbying team would not exist without the incredible support of NASW-NC membership. If you are already a member of NASW-NC, THANK YOU. Our members are the only reason that we have been able to do this work!

NASW-NC is not federally funded; we are not state funded. We are funded by the members of NASW and will not exist to advocate for you and the social work profession without YOU!  We are able to do more if we have a large voice and robust membership. If you are not yet a member, please join NASW and join us in our advocacy efforts.

Follow updates on the Social Work Compact in the NC General Assembly here.

NCGA Bills to Watch

SB 155 (HB 231): The Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact works to increase access to social workers and this bill would add North Carolina into a compact where social workers from other states who meet requirements within the bill can serve North Carolinians.  Click Here for how you can support passage of the Social Work Compact.

HB523: School Social Workers/Master's Pay.  This bill will restore master's level pay for school social workers.

HB171: Equality on State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI. This bill will eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and prohibit public funding for DEI initiatives in state and local government.

SB558: Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education Higher Ed. This bill will ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) content and programs in public colleges, universities and community colleges.

HB318: The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Acts strengthens House Bill 10—enacted during the 2023-24 legislative session—which requires state, county, and local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE before releasing illegal migrants arrested for violent offenses.

HB636: Promoting Wholesome Content in Schools  This bill bans books in public school libraries.

HB979: Update Volunteer System/LTC Ombudsman Program. An act updating and strengthening the systems of volunteers supporting the State of NC Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

HB939: School Chaplains. This will allow public schools to hire chaplains.

Voter Voice Bill Tracker

NASW-NC has created a page to keep members up to date with legislative developments regarding the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, restoring master’s level pay for school social workers, and other bills related to the social work profession.

NASW-NC is currently keeping an eye on more than 100 bills that, if passed, may impact the social work profession and the populations we serve. You can view all of the bills NASW-NC is tracking at the NC General Assembly here.

2025 NASW-NC Clinical Institute

The Clinical Social Work Institute is one of NASW-NC's flagship conferences, offering 1.5-hour workshops for both advanced and beginning clinical social workers. Past attendees have shared that the workshops offered are an enhancement to their practice and areas of specialization. The conference welcomes Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) from across North Carolina, with others joining in from other states and a few from other countries.

May 12,-13, 2025
Virtual
Up to 31 hours of CE Live and Recorded

Registration Fees:
Members $125
Not yet a member? $250

REGISTER HERE TODAY!

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 membership here.

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