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Last Action

Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-02-26

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill appropriates $25 million per year for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to local health departments in North Carolina to support communicable disease response and prevention efforts. The funds will be distributed equally among counties (50%) and based on population served (50%), and can be used to hire staff, retain employees, and expand public health programs.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that local health departments face severe staffing shortages (estimated 70% shortage) that limit their ability to respond to disease outbreaks like avian flu, tuberculosis, and emerging threats.
• •The funding would enable hiring of critical public health nurses and disease investigators, improve emergency preparedness, and ensure essential public health services reach all communities across North Carolina.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may question whether this level of spending is fiscally sustainable during a tight budget period, argue that the funds should be targeted more specifically to high-need areas rather than divided equally by county, or contend that existing resources should be better managed before requesting new appropriations.
• •Some may also debate whether $25 million annually is sufficient to address the stated 70% staffing shortage or whether it represents an efficient use of general funds.