Despite North Carolina legislators kicking off the first week of the legislative session last week, only a few bills were filed, and no committees met. Legislative leaders took some time to work on the state budget behind closed doors. 

If you haven’t already, or would like to reach out to your legislators again this week, please don’t forget about the three action alerts NASW-NC shared last week to help you contact your legislators. 

1. Expand Medicaid: Contact your legislators and ask them to pass Medicaid Expansion this short session.
2. Telehealth: Last session, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 149 Improving Access to Care Through Telehealth. Learn more about how this legislation would maintain current telehealth flexibilities and ask your North Carolina Senator to pass this important legislation so Governor Cooper can sign it into law. Take action here!
3. School Social Work: The State Board of Education voted to approve $15 million to hire more school social workers and consider masters pay as part of their legislative priorities. Now legislators need to include this funding request as part of the final state budget. Learn more and advocate here to ensure this funding is approved by legislators.