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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ch. SL 2025-242025-06-26

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill allows North Carolina seniors age 65 and older to transfer assets into pooled special needs trusts without being penalized through loss of Medicaid or State-County Special Assistance benefits, as long as the transferred funds are used to provide goods and services to the senior within their lifetime and at fair market value.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill helps seniors protect their assets while maintaining eligibility for critical public benefits they depend on.
• •It enables families to plan for long-term care and disability services without facing financial penalties, and allows pooled trusts—which serve people with special needs—to function as intended without creating barriers to benefit eligibility.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may contend that allowing asset transfers without triggering benefit penalties could reduce the program's financial sustainability by allowing wealthier individuals to access means-tested benefits they might otherwise be ineligible for.
• •Some may also question whether this creates an unfair advantage for seniors who can afford to establish trusts compared to those without such resources.