House passes Medicaid rebase, healthcare investments and pay package; several bills ordered to Senate

The North Carolina House completed a packed calendar Oct. 22, passing multiple budget and policy measures the chamber's leaders said were needed to stabilize services and advance the legislature's priorities.

House Bill 491 (Medicaid rebase funding) passed on second reading by a recorded vote of 111‑0 and then passed third reading; sponsors said the measure authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to use department reserves to buffer Medicaid rates and avoid provider cuts while the larger budget process continues.

Senate Bill 405 (Healthcare Investment Act), described by sponsors as a tool to provide funds and rebase numbers needed to keep Medicaid rates flat through the fiscal year, passed its second reading by recorded vote (109‑1) and was ordered to the Senate. Senate Bill 777 (general assembly appointments corrections) passed second reading 104‑7 and was enrolled.

Senate Bill 599, the state teacher and employee pay and law enforcement bonus package, was debated with several technical and benefit amendments adopted (including a retiree COLA) and passed second reading 110‑0; sponsors emphasized the raises remain contingent on enactment of a current operations appropriations act.

House Joint Resolution 10‑16 was amended to add budgetary items to the adjournment resolution and passed (amendment adopted 108‑3; final passage 106‑4), allowing the House to consider several budget‑related items during the brief session window.

Procedural motions — including a motion for the previous question invoked by Representative Bell — set debate limits at key moments. The chair announced the House would recess for rules to consider other bills and reconvene later; the day ended with the House adopting a motion to adjourn to reconvene Oct. 23 at 10:30 a.m.