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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2026-05-04

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This comprehensive bill implements changes to support North Carolinians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across multiple areas: it provides $183 million to increase direct care worker wages to at least $18/hour, adds 1,000 waiver slots and develops a 10-year plan to address service needs, updates Medicaid eligibility rules for workers with disabilities, studies new employment and community activity services, establishes rental assistance for housing, funds vocational rehabilitation services, restricts prone restraints in schools, and increases funding for special education and accessible transportation.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill addresses critical workforce shortages in disability services by raising direct care worker pay, which improves service quality and retention.
• •The bill expands access to services through additional waiver slots and housing assistance, helping more individuals with disabilities live independently in their communities.
• •Supporters also note the bill includes protections for students with disabilities in schools, improved employment supports, and funding for specialized education services, all of which they argue enhance dignity, independence, and quality of life for people with disabilities.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may raise concerns about the bill's substantial fiscal commitment of over $230 million in recurring state funds, questioning whether these expenditures are sustainable long-term or if the money could be better spent elsewhere.
• •Some may worry that increased Medicaid rates for providers don't guarantee wage increases reach direct care workers, and that feasibility studies for new services add complexity without guaranteed implementation.
• •Critics might also argue the bill creates new bureaucratic requirements and reporting obligations for schools without addressing underlying systemic issues in special education.