Blogs & News

In this week's update:

• HB 231 -Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact passes NC House! 
• NC Senate leader seeks to ban DEI in colleges, limit campus bias investigations
• HB 612-Foster Care in NC Act 
• NC Court of Appeals rules in favor of Jefferson Griffin 
• NASW-NC Social Work Advocacy Guide 
• Nc Budget and Tax Center Advocacy Day 
• Moms Demand Action 2025 Advocacy Day
• NCGA Bills to Watch 
• NASW-NC Clinical Institute 

HB 231 -Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact passes NC House! 

The Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Bill (HB231) was heard on the House Floor on Tuesday, April 1, for its final vote in the House, and it passed unanimously with a floor vote of 116-0. The week prior, NASW-NC staff had been at the General Assembly ensuring that HB 231 passed favorably in both the House Finance Committee and the House Rules Committee. 

The North Carolina legislation (SB155 and HB231) would allow licensed clinical social workers to apply to provide their services across multiple states. A comprehensive data system would also be created so the public could be kept safe and informed regarding a social worker’s current license status and any adverse actions associated with a licensed clinical social worker.

NASW-NC's top priority for the 2025 legislative session is the passage of the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact. NASW-NC has been the driving force behind this bill, and was the only organization in North Carolina to work to introduce the bill in both chambers of the NC General Assembly.

NASW-NC has worked tirelessly for the last two years to secure the 40 primary and co-sponsors in both the Senate and House of Representatives for the Social Work Licensure Compact.  NASW-NC would like to thank all of HB 231's sponsors and co-sponsors for their leadership and support in getting this bill passed.⁠

HB 231 has been referred to the NC Senate. NASW-NC will continue to monitor and advocate for the bill’s passage. NASW-NC will also continue to advocate for SB 155 - the companion bill of HB 231 to be heard in Senate Finance Committee and eventually in a floor vote in the NC Senate.

NASW-NC is also working to advance HB 523 – School Social Workers/Master’s Pay. This is the second 2025 NASW-NC Legislative Agenda priority item that has been introduced as a bill in the House. This bill will most likely be voted through House Education and referred to Appropriations, where it will be included in the House Budget. We are working on getting support in the Senate.

NASW-NC is the ONLY organization lobbying and advocating for the entire Social Work Profession at the North Carolina Legislature. The NASW-NC lobbying team would not exist without the incredible support of NASW-NC membership. If you are already a member of NASW-NC, THANK YOU. Our members are the only reason that we have been able to do this work! 

NASW-NC is not federally funded; we are not state funded. We are funded by the members of NASW and will not exist to advocate for you and the social work profession without YOU!  We are able to do more if we have a large voice and robust membership. If you are not yet a member, please join NASW and join us in our advocacy efforts.

Follow updates on the Social Work Compact in the NC General Assembly here. 

NC Senate leader seeks to ban DEI in colleges, limit campus bias investigations

Add North Carolina schools and universities to the growing list of places where Republican state lawmakers want to ban diversity, equity and inclusion policies — using a new bill that cleared its first committee hurdle Wednesday.

The UNC System has already taken steps to limit DEI policies. Last year, the system's Board of Governors cut its DEI policy and replaced it with one that emphasizes the importance of administrative neutrality. And earlier this year, the system said it is no longer requiring students to take DEI courses as a condition for graduation.

A bill filed by Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, would require the UNC System Board of Governors to adopt a policy that explicitly bans the promotion of DEI policies on campus, including in the classroom.

Colleges would still be allowed to investigate some allegations of hateful comments, under the newest version of the bill, but they'd be banned from "reporting or investigating offensive or unwanted speech that is protected by the First Amendment, including satire or speech labeled as microaggression."

"We've seen, across the country, students divided against students and trying to report conversations," Sen. Brad Overcash, R-Gaston, said to explain the ban.

The bill received broad opposition from Black lawmakers Wednesday, who raised concerns that the bill would hamper research and other work at Historically Black Colleges and Universities — or that it would lead to the end of financial aid for certain students or programs.

Read more: WRAL.com 

HB 612- Fostering Care in NC Act 

Nearly half of the 120 members of the N.C. House have already signed on in support of a new bipartisan bill introduced this week that seeks to improve the state’s foster care system. That level of support from lawmakers, in addition to more than 80 organizations across the state that are backing the bill, makes Rep. Allen Chesser, one of its primary sponsors, optimistic that the coalition behind this foster care bill is broad enough and strong enough to move it through the legislature this session.

(At a news conference on Wednesday, organizers provided a list of stakeholder groups on board with HB 612- Fostering Care in NC Act. — including the NCDHHS, NC Child, Disability Rights NC, National Association of Social Workers-NC, Blue Cross Blue Shield and AmeriHealth. )

Chesser said the goal with House Bill 612 is to “overcome some of the political obstacles that we have faced in the past and actually move the needle for the children who need it the most, and that is the children who are in foster care.”

Among other things, the bill would expand the authority of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to monitor the performance of county social services departments and review any open or closed child welfare cases.

It would also put in place parameters for identifying and evaluating conflicts of interest when a report of abuse, neglect or dependency involves social services employees, their relatives, or county officials.

Chesser’s fellow primary sponsors on the bill are House Rules Committee Chairman John Bell and GOP Rep. Donnie Loftis of Gastonia and Democratic Rep. Vernetta Alston of Durham.

Alston noted during Wednesday’s press conference that the bill has a number of Democratic cosponsors as well. She said she expects it to “continue to grow momentum” as more lawmakers are educated about what’s in the bill and what it would do.

House Speaker Destin Hall, meanwhile, said he’s spoken with Chesser about the bill and agrees there’s a “real need” to make improvements to the foster care system. “Anything that we can do to make it easier for folks to be foster parents, while also making sure that we have good folks doing that, we’re putting kids in good homes, I think it’s a worthy cause that we ought to look at, and I think that bill has a chance,” Hall told reporters after session. [Source]

NC Court of Appeals rules in favor of Jefferson Griffin 

In a new ruling Friday, the NC Court of Appeals gave favor to Republican Jefferson Griffin, the candidate of the state Supreme Court, overturning the February ruling from the Wake County Superior Court.

The primary reason behind the ruling, in a vote that went 2-1 in favor of the Plaintiff, is because of the amount of incomplete voter registration votes that were cast in November.

Over 65,000 voters have 15 days to prove that their votes were eligible. According to the Opinion of the Court, if the deadline is not met, the votes will be tossed out.

“Upon receipt of the order of remand from the Superior Court, the Board shall immediately require the county boards to provide notice to these challenged voters of their ability to cure their registrations, and upon verification, their votes may be counted,” the court document said.

The court also concluded that “never residents” voters are not eligible to vote in North Carolina, non-federal elections, and went on to say “the votes cast by these purported voters are not to be included in the final count in the 2024 election for Seat 6.”

Griffin first filed an appeal the day after votes were counted in the general election where he lost the state Supreme Court seat to Democrat Allison Riggs by 625 votes. He argued that the Board of Elections, who he later filed a lawsuit against, did not properly check all voter registrations when they counted the votes.

Dissent from Judge Hampson argues that voters up for debate did everything they were instructed to do. “Their ballots were accepted. Their ballots were counted. The results were canvassed. None of these challenged voters was given any reason to believe their vote would not be counted on Election Day or included in the final tallies.”

The dissent went on to say this sets an Unconstitutional precedent for altering other elections against voters’ wills. “Changing the rules by which these lawful voters took part in our electoral process after the election to discard their otherwise valid votes in an attempt to alter the outcome of only one race among many on the ballot is directly counter to law, equity, and the Constitution.”

Reaction has spanned across the state from leaders on the court’s decision.

“North Carolina Democrats WILL fight this decision. But make no mistake, the statewide court of appeals bench has cowered to political pressure and corruption from their own party. The NCGOP and RNC are trying to steal an election and test the waters for future election denial,” said Anderson Clayton, Chair of the NC Democratic Party, on Twitter.

“This decision ultimately will be appealed to the North Carolina Supreme Court now. Where Republicans maintain a 5-2 majority. (And since Justice Riggs recused herself, it’s a 5-1 majority.) NC voters will see just how corrupt the State Supreme Court when they rule on this case,” her tweet said.

See the full appeals court decision here

(Source: CBS17.com)
 

NASW-NC Social Work Advocacy Guide 

Social work has always been a profession of compassion + action. Rooted in justice, dignity, and the unwavering belief in human worth, we are called to challenge oppressive systems, dismantle barriers to equity, and advocate for those whose voices have been silenced. In this moment—one of uncertainty, division, and urgent need—our profession must stand firm in our core values and rise to the work ahead. Social workers are uniquely prepared for this moment in history, as we understand that the systems and environments surrounding individuals and families are rooted in systemic oppression, disproportionate poverty, and targeted injustices. We know how to navigate unjust policies, combat systemic racism, and provide and lead critical care and healing interventions. Please find support and guidance in the NASW-NC Social Work Advocacy Guide - Social Work Core Values as a Foundation for Action: Reclaiming Our Power, Advancing Justice.
 

NC Budget and Tax Center Advocacy Day 

Our state budget matters for almost every aspect of our daily lives — from the air we breathe and water we drink, to the quality of our kids' education — and yet some powerful lawmakers are intentionally leaving you out of the process.  

Join the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center on April 15 in Raleigh for a day of advocacy to take the budget back to the people. We will be requesting meetings with legislative leadership to demand a more transparent and equitable budget process, and joining together to discuss how we can organize to ensure future budgets fund the services and programs our state needs so every North Carolinian — from Boone to Wilmington and all parts between — has what they need to thrive. 

Please RSVP here, and we'll be in touch with more details as the date approaches.

When: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 9:30 AM -  2:30 PM

Where: Halifax Mall, 300 N Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27603

Moms Demand Action 2025 Advocacy Day

Join Moms and Student Demand action volunteers and other gun safety advocates from across the state to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that keeps our communities safe, and to oppose bills that do not. We'll hear from great speakers, review our priorities, and meet with lawmakers.

Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Time: 9am–3pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Click HERE to RSVP. 

NCGA Bills to Watch 

SB 155 (HB 231): The Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact works to increase access to social workers and this bill would add North Carolina into a compact where social workers from other states who meet requirements within the bill can serve North Carolinians.  Click Here for how you can support passage of the Social Work Compact. 

HB523: School Social Workers/Master's Pay.  This bill will restore master's level pay for school social workers. 

HB171: Equality on State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI. This bill will eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and prohibit public funding for DEI initiatives in state and local government.

SB227: Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education. This bill will ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) content and programs in public education.

SB558: Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education Higher Ed. This bill will ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) content and programs in public colleges, universities and community colleges.
 

HB318:The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Acts strengthens House Bill 10—enacted during the 2023-24 legislative session—which requires state, county, and local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE before releasing illegal migrants arrested for violent offenses.

SB 50: Freedom to Carry Act.  Permits any US citizen at least 18 years old to carry a concealed handgun in North Carolina. 

SB516: Women's Safety and Protection Act. “Bathroom bill” - This bill will make it illegal for people to use restrooms that do not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. It will also take away the ability for people to change their sex on their driver’s license even after sex reassignment surgery has been completed.

Voter Voice Bill Tracker

NASW-NC has created a page to keep members up to date with legislative developments regarding the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, restoring master’s level pay for school social workers, and other bills related to the social work profession.

NASW-NC is currently keeping an eye on more than 100 bills that, if passed, may impact the social work profession and the populations we serve. You can view all of the bills NASW-NC is tracking at the NC General Assembly HERE. 

2025 NASW-NC Clinical Institute 

The Clinical Social Work Institute is one of NASW-NC's flagship conferences, offering 1.5-hour workshops for both advanced and beginning clinical social workers. Past attendees have shared that the workshops offered are an enhancement to their practice and areas of specialization. The conference welcomes Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) from across North Carolina, with others joining in from other states and a few from other countries. 

May 12,-13, 2025
Virtual 
Up to 31 hours of CE Live and Recorded 

Registration Fees:
Members $125
Not yet a member? $250
 

REGISTER HERE TODAY 

Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.

Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.

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