North Carolina HB 1045: Emergency Assistance for Commercial Fishermen.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1045

Short Title: Fair Wages in Health Care Act/Funds. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives G. Brown, Clark, Cervania, and Prather (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 28, 2026
*H1045-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH OCCUPATIONAL MINIMUM WAGES FOR CERTAIN DIRECT 2
CARE AND HEALTH CARE SUPPORT WORKERS AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS 3
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR 4
IMPLEMENTATION. 5
Whereas, North Carolina depends on home care aides, direct support professionals, 6
certified nursing assistants, psychiatric aides, and licensed practical nurses to deliver essential 7
daily care to older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals receiving behavioral health 8
services; and 9
Whereas, persistent vacancies and high turnover in these occupations undermine 10
continuity of care, strain families and providers, and increase the risk of avoidable 11
institutionalization and hospitalization; and 12
Whereas, low wages are a leading cause of recruitment and retention problems in 13
direct care and health care support occupations; and 14
Whereas, establishing clear statewide wage floors for these occupations will help 15
stabilize the workforce and protect access to care for vulnerable North Carolinians; and 16
Whereas, strengthening the direct care workforce promotes the health, safety, and 17
welfare of the people of this State; Now, therefore, 18
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 19
SECTION 1.(a) This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Fair Wages in 20
Health Care Act." 21
SECTION 1.(b) The General Assembly finds that: 22
(1) North Carolina relies on home care aides, direct support professionals, 23
certified nursing assistants, psychiatric aides, and licensed practical nurses to 24
deliver essential daily care for older adults, people with disabilities, and 25
individuals receiving behavioral health services. 26
(2) These occupations provide hands-on, safety-critical services that protect the 27
health and welfare of vulnerable residents and support the continuity of care 28
in home, community, and facility settings. 29
(3) Persistent workforce shortages and high turnover in these occupations 30
jeopardize access to care, increase avoidable hospitalizations and 31
institutionalization risk, and strain families, providers, and public systems. 32
(4) Compensation is a material driver of recruitment and retention in these 33
occupations; establishing clear, statewide minimum wage floors for specified 34
direct care roles promotes workforce stability and continuity of care. 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1045-First Edition
(5) A stable, adequately compensated direct care workforce advances the public 1
interest by strengthening public health and safety, supporting individuals' 2
ability to remain in the least restrictive setting appropriate, and improving the 3
reliability of services across the State. 4
SECTION 1.(c) It is the purpose of this act to establish occupational minimum wages 5
for specified direct care and health care support occupations in order to improve recruitment and 6
retention, reduce turnover, and protect the health, safety, and welfare of North Carolina residents 7
who depend on these services. 8
SECTION 2. Article 2A of Chapter 95 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 9
a new section to read: 10
"§ 95-25.3B. Minimum wage for certain direct care occupations. 11
(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 12
(1) Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). – An individual listed on the Nurse Aide 13
I Registry or Nurse Aide II Registry maintained under State law. 14
(2) Direct support professional (DSP). – An employee whose primary job duties 15
consist of providing direct, hands-on assistance, supervision, habilitation, or 16
support services to an individual with an intellectual or developmental 17
disability in a home- or community-based setting, including under a Medicaid 18
waiver, regardless of job title. 19
(3) Home care aide. – An employee whose primary job duties consist of providing 20
in-home personal care services, assistance with activities of daily living, or 21
home management services to an individual in the individual's residence, 22
regardless of job title. 23
(4) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). – An individual licensed to practice as a 24
licensed practical nurse under Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General 25
Statutes. 26
(5) Psychiatric aide or technician (psych aide). – An employee whose primary job 27
duties consist of providing direct, hands-on care, supervision, safety 28
monitoring, or behavioral support to individuals receiving psychiatric or 29
mental health services in a 24-hour facility or inpatient setting, regardless of 30
job title. 31
(b) Occupational Mini