House Bill 513 appropriates $1 million in recurring General Fund dollars each year of the 2025-2027 biennium to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging, to strengthen the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. The funding is divided between program operations and staffing: part of the money supports equipment, supplies, and transportation, while the larger share funds nine additional full-time Regional Ombudsman positions. The bill directs that these positions be placed in Area Agencies on Aging regions most in need of additional support, as determined by the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
The stated purpose of the bill is to move North Carolina closer to national standards for long-term care ombudsman programs. It is a funding measure rather than a regulatory overhaul, and it would take effect July 1, 2025. By increasing staffing and operational resources, the bill is intended to expand advocacy and oversight for residents of long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and other care settings served by the ombudsman system.
Impact
The bill would amend state spending by creating a recurring appropriation from the General Fund to DHHS, Division of Aging, for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. It would not directly change licensing, enforcement, or resident-rights statutes, but it would materially expand the state’s capacity to investigate complaints, provide advocacy, and support residents in long-term care facilities through additional regional ombudsman staff and operating resources. The affected parties are primarily older adults and other long-term care residents, along with Area Agencies on Aging and the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Sentiment
Based on the bill’s sponsorship and the absence of recorded opposition, the overall sentiment appears supportive and policy-driven, with the bill framed as a practical investment in aging services and resident protection. The title and text emphasize strengthening an existing program and aligning North Carolina with national standards, suggesting a consensus-oriented effort to improve service capacity rather than a controversial policy change. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no evidence of formal debate or division in the available materials.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is fiscal: the bill requires a recurring $1 million annual General Fund appropriation, including ongoing salary and operating costs. Any debate would likely focus on budget priorities, whether the state should commit recurring funds, and how the nine new positions should be distributed among regions. Another possible issue is whether the staffing increase is sufficient to meet national standards, since the bill only partially addresses program capacity by adding positions and support funding rather than broader structural reforms.
JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF HEALTHY AGING FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR BETTER LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $100,000 to the Rhode Island Office Of Healthy Aging for the RI Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.)
JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF HEALTHY AGING FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR BETTER LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $100,000 to the Rhode Island Office Of Healthy Aging for the RI Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.)