North Carolina SB 348: Home Comfort Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 348

Short Title: Home Comfort Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Theodros, Robinson, and Applewhite (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 20, 2025
*S348-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 2
SERVICES, DIVISION OF AGING, TO ESTABLISH A HOME MODIFICATION 3
GRANT PROGRAM AND TO EXPAND STATE-FUNDED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES 4
TO HELP SENIORS SAFELY AGE IN PLACE WITH COMFORT AND DIGNITY. 5
Whereas, North Carolina's population of senior citizens is growing, necessitating 6
expanded home-based care and State-funded financial assistance to enable them to age in place 7
comfortably at home; and 8
Whereas, assisting senior citizens with necessary home modifications and in-home 9
support services will promote greater independence and safety, which are linked to a higher 10
quality of life; and 11
Whereas, Article XI, Section 4 of the North Carolina Constitution establishes the 12
State's duty to provide for the welfare of its most vulnerable citizens; Now, therefore, 13
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 14
15
PART I. TITLE 16
SECTION 1.1. This act shall be known as "The Home Comfort Act." 17
18
PART II. DEFINITIONS 19
SECTION 2.1. The following definitions apply in this act: 20
(1) Department. – The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of 21
Aging. 22
(2) Eligible senior. – A resident of North Carolina who is 65 years of age or older 23
with a household income at or below two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the 24
federal poverty level. 25
26
PART III. HOME MODIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM 27
SECTION 3.1.(a) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General 28
Fund to the Department the sum of seven million dollars ($7,000,000) in recurring funds for each 29
year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to establish and administer a Home Modification Grant 30
Program (Program). The purpose of the Program is to provide State-funded financial assistance 31
to eligible seniors to make essential home modifications to a primary residence to improve 32
accessibility and safety, including, but not limited to, all of the following: 33
(1) Installation of wheelchair ramps. 34
(2) Bathroom safety improvements, such as grab bars and walk-in showers. 35
(3) Widening of doorways for mobility assistance. 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 348-First Edition
(4) Stairlifts and handrail installations. 1
SECTION 3.1.(b) The Department shall establish an application process and 2
eligibility criteria for participation in the Program. In addition, the Department shall make the 3
final decision about the amount of financial assistance to award to each eligible senior and the 4
specific essential home modifications approved, subject to all of the following requirements: 5
(1) Each recipient of financial assistance under the Program shall meet at least all 6
of the following criteria: 7
a. Is 65 years of age or older. 8
b. Has a household income at or below two hundred fifty percent (250%) 9
of the federal poverty level. 10
(2) No single household may receive more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in 11
financial assistance. 12
(3) In selecting eligible seniors for financial assistance, the Department shall give 13
priority to eligible seniors residing in rural and underserved communities. 14
(4) Program participants are required to engage contractors who hold a valid 15
North Carolina general contractor's license to perform the essential home 16
modifications funded by the Program, and the Department shall give priority 17
to contractors who are certified aging-in-place specialists or Americans With 18
Disabilities Act-certified contractors. 19
SECTION 3.1.(c) The Department may use up to five percent (5%) of the funds 20
authorized by this section for each fiscal year for administrative purposes associated with 21
administering the Program. 22
SECTION 3.2. The Department shall begin accepting applications for the Program 23
on or before January 1, 2026. 24
25
PART IV. SUPPORTIVE IN-HOME SERVICES 26
SECTION 4.1. Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated to the Department the 27
sum of forty-two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($42,250,000) in recurring funds for 28
each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to be allocated and used for all of the following: 29
(1) To provide increased funding for existing programs that aid eligible seniors 30
with their daily activities, personal care, and household maintenance. 31
(2) To provide State-funded financial assistance to eligible seniors for home 32
health agency services. As used in this section, a home health agency is an 33
agency certified to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for 34
providing nursing care, therapy, medical social services, and home health aide 35
services. 36
(3) To provide grants to Area Agencies on Aging, county departments of social 37