North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina S316: Lower Healthcare Costs.
Status: In committee, May 6, 2026
What the bill says
An act lowering healthcare costs and increasing price transparency.
From the amended text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT LOWERING HEALTHCARE COSTS AND INCREASING PRICE TRANSPARENCY. Whereas, rising healthcare costs place a significant financial burden on individuals, families, employers, and taxpayers, greatly contribute to inflation, and make it increasingly difficult for residents to access essential healthcare services; and Whereas, North Carolina has intolerably high healthcare costs, with recent studies ranking the State 50th out of 50 in the United States; and Whereas, skyrocketing healthcare costs have resulted in over 40 percent of Americans reporting some type of healthcare debt, according to one study; and Whereas, many patients face unexpected medical bills due to a lack of disclosure about out-of-network providers and a general lack of transparency in healthcare pricing, resulting in financial strain and hardship; and Whereas, employers are burdened with the increasing costs of providing health insurance for employees, leading to higher premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses; and Whereas, patients and employers are often unable to compare the costs of medical services due to a lack of clear and accessible pricing information, hindering their ability to make informed decisions; and Whereas, the absence of price transparency in the healthcare system leads to market inefficiencies, less awareness of price difference, less competition, and higher prices, with consumers often unable to identify the most cost-effective providers; and Whereas, transparency in healthcare pricing allows …
Sponsors
- Burgin, Jim (R, 12) · primary sponsor
- Galey, Amy S. (R, 25) · primary sponsor
- Sawrey, Benton G. (R, 10) · primary sponsor
- Alexander, W. Ted (R, 44)
- Barnes, Lisa S. (R, 11)
- Berger, Phil (R, 26)
- Brinson, Bob (R, 3)
- Corbin, Kevin (R, 50)
- Daniel, Warren (R, 46)
- Ford, Carl (R, 33)
- Hanig, Bobby (R, 1)
- Hise, Ralph (R, 47)
Latest actions
- : Re-ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- : Withdrawn From Com
- : Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- : Passed 1st Reading
- : Regular Message Received From Senate
- : Regular Message Sent To House
- : Engrossed
- : Passed 3rd Reading
- : Passed 2nd Reading
- : Amend Adopted A1
Votes
- Lower Healthcare Costs. Second Reading (March 27, 2025): 44 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Lower Healthcare Costs. Amendment 1 (March 27, 2025): 46 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: HOSPITALS, COUNCIL OF STATE, PATIENT RIGHTS, DHHS, HEALTH SERVICES, DENTISTS & DENTISTRY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PUBLIC
Common questions
- What is S316?
- S316 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Lower Healthcare Costs.
- What does S316 do?
- In its own words: An act lowering healthcare costs and increasing price transparency.
- What is the status of S316?
- In committee as of May 6, 2026. Latest action: Re-ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (May 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored S316?
- Burgin, Jim (R, 12), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S316?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S316
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.