Bill > H473

This bill establishes a legal right to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) in North Carolina, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), and provides clear legal protections for patients and healthcare providers. The bill defines key terms like ART, healthcare providers, and healthcare services, and explicitly protects the right of patients to access ART and healthcare providers to offer ART-related services and information. Importantly, the bill clarifies that a fertilized human egg or embryo existing outside a human body is not considered a human being under state law, which could have significant implications for reproductive rights. Additionally, the bill appropriates $500,000 in state funds (matched by $913,000 in federal funds) to increase Medicaid maternal support services through the Baby Love Program, with these funds allocated for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The bill will become effective immediately upon becoming law, with the Medicaid funding specifically taking effect on July 1, 2025, and the bill ensures that existing health and safety laws governing healthcare facilities remain enforceable.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H473