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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate2025-05-07

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill authorizes North Carolina's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to select a provider to run a statewide pilot program offering eTMS (electroencephalogram combined transcranial magnetic stimulation) treatment to veterans, first responders, and their immediate family members who have conditions like PTSD, substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and sleep disorders. The program must include peer support networks, counseling, and outcome reporting by September 2026.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill addresses serious health challenges affecting veterans and first responders, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders.
• •Proponents contend that eTMS is an innovative treatment that could improve mental health and quality of life for these populations, and that the pilot program's requirement for outcome reporting will help determine if this treatment is effective and should be expanded statewide.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may question whether eTMS has sufficient scientific evidence to warrant state funding, noting that traditional treatments like therapy and medication are more established.
• •Some may also raise concerns about the cost of establishing a statewide network, whether outcomes will justify the investment, and whether the program's scope—covering nine different conditions and immediate family members—is too broad for a pilot program to properly evaluate.