Public Policy Update (as of 1/27/25)

State 

General Assembly

The North Carolina legislature convened for its long session on January 8, 2025 with the main message of addressing disaster recovery in the state’s western counties. The main purpose of the day was to elect leadership.

Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), was reelected as Senate leader for another term, a role he’s held since Republicans took the majority in 2011. Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell), was elected as the new speaker of the House. He replaces Tim Moore, who's now serving in Congress. Rep. Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba) was elected speaker pro tempore.

The legislature reconvened on January 29, 2025 to begin considering legislation. In the interim, committee appointments have been made. Of particular interest to the intellectual and other development disabilities (I/DD) community are the appropriations committees. The chairs of these committees are listed below:

Senate Appropriations

• Chair: Senator Hise
• Chair: Senator Jackson
• Chair: Senator Lee

Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations

• Chair: Senator Burgin
• Chair: Senator Galey
• Chair: Senator Sawry

House Appropriations

• Senior Chair: Rep. Donny Lambeth
• Senior Chair: Rep. Dean Arp
• Senior Chair: Rep. Kyle Hall
• Senior Chair: Rep. Larry Strickland
• Chair: Rep Erin Paré
• Chair: Rep. Hugh Blackwell
• Chair: Rep. William Brisson

House Health and Human Services Appropriations

• Chair: Rep. Tim Reeder
• Chair: Rep. Larry Potts
• Chair: Rep. Donna White

Department of Health and Human Services

The new Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Devdutta “Dev” Sangvai, was sworn in on January 12, 2025. Secretary Sangvai is a family medicine physician and a professor at Duke University, and he has worked to increase access to healthcare and develop the healthcare workforce. He has already reached out to NCCDD and we are looking forward to working with him.

Policy and Services

As part of the Consent Order in the Samantha R. case, there are reporting requirements to measure progress toward improving access to community-based services for people with I/DD. To meet these requirements and to demonstrate the commitment to serve people with I/DD, Inclusion Connects has published a detailed quarterly report that highlights progress in enhancing access to services and supports for the I/DD community in North Carolina.

Federal 

Congress 

Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the government through March 14. 2025. The bill provides more than $110 billion in disaster aid as well as continued funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including funds for community health centers and extended telehealth flexibilities.

The 119th Congress started on January 3, 2025 with swearing in new members of Congress, passing their rules for how they will run Congress in the next two years, and appointing Committee members.

Congressional Republicans have indicated that they plan to address the budget and funding through budget reconciliation which is a congressional procedure that makes it easier to pass legislation related to taxes and spending. Reconciliation allows lawmakers to avoid the filibuster in the Senate. Leadership has suggested that they will use one or two reconciliation bills to address border security, defense, energy policy, and government spending. There are indications that changes and reductions to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act may be a way to pay for new priorities. Advocacy organizations will be working to protect Medicaid including how to prevent cuts to the program. Now is the time to reach out to your Congressional representatives to let them know the importance of Medicaid which provides critical support to people with disabilities and their families.

Autism CARES Act

The Autism Cares Act (CARES Act) was signed into law by President Biden on December 23, 2024. This will provide continued funding for monitoring, training, and research programs. The CARES Act will expand support research, increase public awareness, and increase capacity of training programs including the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) program. The CARES Act was sponsored in the Senate by Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Susan Collins (R-ME). In the House of Representatives, the bill was sponsored by the co-chairs of the Autism Caucus, Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX).

Think Differently Database Act

On January 4, 2025, President Biden signed the Think Differently Database Act into law. This legislation will create a national website which will include support services and resources for people with disabilities in every state. This bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Representatives Marc Molinaro (R-NY) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) in the House and Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in the Senate.

Making Air Travel Safer for People Using Wheelchairs

On December 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a final rule to ensure safe air travel for people using wheelchairs. The rule mandates better training for airline staff and others to help people with disabilities board and disembark from planes. Under this new rule, airlines have to provide “safe and dignified” assistance to people with disabilities. The rule provides new protections to travelers with disabilities whose wheelchairs are damaged by airlines. The final rule took effect January 16, 2025.