North Carolina HB 1127: UNC Student Lease Hold Harmless.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1127

Short Title: Affordable Maternal Access & Cancer Care Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Belk, Clark, G. Brown, and Prather (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 30, 2026
*H1127-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ENACTING THE AFFORDABLE MATERNAL ACCESS AND CANCER CARE 2
ACT TO ESTABLISH AND FUND A MATERNAL CARE ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM 3
AND A PROSTATE CANCER CONTROL PROGRAM; AND TO PROVIDE HEALTH 4
COVERAGE PARITY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL AND DIAGNOSTIC BREAST IMAGING. 5
Whereas, North Carolina continues to face preventable disparities in maternal health 6
outcomes, including higher rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among 7
marginalized and underserved populations; and 8
Whereas, community-based, culturally respectful, evidence-based supports can 9
improve maternal health outcomes by addressing both clinical needs and social determinants of 10
health before, during, and after pregnancy; and 11
Whereas, uninsured and underinsured men with elevated prostate cancer risk often 12
face delayed screening and follow-up, resulting in later detection and worse outcomes; and 13
Whereas, patients should not face greater financial barriers to medically necessary 14
diagnostic or supplemental breast imaging than they face for screening mammography; and 15
Whereas, improving early detection, access to care, and continuity of care promotes 16
better health outcomes and advances the public interest in a healthier North Carolina; Now, 17
therefore, 18
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 19
20
PART I. MATERNAL CARE ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM 21
SECTION 1.1.(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 22
(1) Culturally respectful congruent. – Sensitive to and respectful of the preferred 23
cultural values, beliefs, world view, and practices of the patient, and aware 24
that cultural differences between patients and health care providers or other 25
service providers must be proactively addressed to ensure that patients receive 26
equitable, high-quality services that meet their needs. 27
(2) Department. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human 28
Services. 29
(3) Postpartum. – The one-year period beginning on the last day of a woman's 30
pregnancy. 31
SECTION 1.1.(b) Establishment of Grant Program. – The Department shall 32
establish and administer a Maternal Care Access Grant Program to award competitive grants to 33
eligible entities to establish or expand programs for the prevention of maternal mortality and 34
severe maternal morbidity among marginalized and underserved populations. The Department 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1127-First Edition
shall establish eligibility requirements for program participation which shall, at a minimum, 1
require that applicants be organizations led by individuals from communities that have 2
historically experienced disparities in accessing health and human services. 3
SECTION 1.1.(c) Outreach and Application Assistance. – Beginning July 1, 2026, 4
the Department shall (i) conduct outreach to encourage eligible applicants to apply for grants 5
under this program and (ii) provide application assistance to eligible applicants on best practices 6
for applying for grants under this program. In conducting the outreach required by this section, 7
the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet the following 8
criteria: 9
(1) Are based in, and provide support for, communities with high rates of adverse 10
maternal health outcomes and significant racial and ethnic disparities in 11
maternal health outcomes. 12
(2) Are led by women from marginalized and underserved populations. 13
(3) Offer programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices 14
for improving maternal health outcomes for marginalized and underserved 15
populations. 16
SECTION 1.1.(d) Grant Awards. – In awarding grants under this section, the 17
Department shall, to the extent possible, award grants to recipients to reflect different areas of 18
the State. The Department shall not award a single grant for less than ten thousand dollars 19
($10,000) or more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per grant recipient. In selecting grant 20
recipients, the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet all of 21
the following criteria: 22
(1) Meet all of the criteria specified in subdivisions (1) through (3) of subsection 23
(c) of this section. 24
(2) Offer programs and resources designed in consultation with and intended for 25
marginalized and underserved populations. 26
(3) Offer programs and resources in the communities in which they are located 27
that include any of the following activities: 28
a. Promoting maternal mental h