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Policy Action

Legislation and budgeting at the state level greatly affect the outcomes of children. Action for Children is committed to ensuring that children remain a high priority in our state by lobbying on specific bills that affect children and advocating for adequate funding for children's programs and services.

To effect policy change, Action for Children conducts comprehensive policy campaigns, from education and engaging the public to media advocacy to lobbying at the General Assembly on specific pieces of legislation. We are dedicated to bringing you concise and timely legislative information on children's issues during each legislative session, including weekly legislative and policy updates, Action Alerts, comprehensive state budget analyses, and up-to-date listings of child-focused bills.

Current Session Information

The 2012 "short" session of the N.C. General Assembly will convene May 16, 2012.

NC Child Advocate Conference Calls will be held every Friday during the short session.

North Carolinians have long recognized the importance of protecting the public assets that drive our state’s prosperity. The investments lawmakers and citizens have made in the health, safety, education and financial security of our children are among the most important of those assets. Now, a recession is stressing North Carolina’s families and children, and policymakers need to focus on what is most important when making funding decisions. Further large cuts to children’s services would undermine the health and safety of our children, jeopardizing our past investments and future prosperity. The public policy recommendations made below, combined with a balanced approach to the budget crisis, are essential to ensure positive outcomes for North Carolina’s children and families.

Legislative Agenda: Action for Children's 2012 Legislative Agenda for Children

Previous Session Information

The 2011 "long" session of the N.C. General Assembly convened on January 26, 2011.

NC Child Advocate Conference Calls were held every Friday during session at 11 a.m., from February 4 through June 17. Conference calls will recommence next session (May 2012).

North Carolinians have long recognized the importance of protecting the public assets that drive our state’s prosperity. The investments lawmakers and citizens have made in the health, safety, education and financial security of our children are among the most important of those assets. Now, a recession is stressing North Carolina’s families and children, and policymakers need to focus on what is most important when making funding decisions. Further large cuts to children’s services would undermine the health and safety of our children, jeopardizing our past investments and future prosperity. The public policy recommendations made below, combined with a balanced approach to the budget crisis, are essential to ensure positive outcomes for North Carolina’s children and families.

Legislative Agenda:  Action for Children 2011 Legislative Agenda for Children

End of Session Summary: Despite the difficult session and bad budget for children, Action for Children was able to achieve several items on the Legislative Agenda. Click for more details.

2011-2013 Budget:

  • The Governor released her 2011-13 budget proposal on February 17.
  • The House subcommittees released their budget on April 12.
  • The final proposed House budget was released on April 26 and passed by the full House on May 4.
  • The Senate released its draft budget on May 24. A second Senate draft budget was released on May 31.
  • The final House/Senate joint budget was sent to the Governor on Saturday, June 4. She vetoed the budget proposal on Sunday, June 12. The House and Senate will overrode the Governor's veto the week of June 13, putting the new budget in place.

Click below for line-by-line comparisons of child-focused sections of the House budget proposal vs. the draft Senate budget (5/24/11) vs. the Final Budget.

Bill Tracking:

  • See below for tracking lists of all bills filed in each of Action for Children's issue areas: Health, Safety, Education and Economic Security. Bill tracking lists were updated for the final time on June 20, after session ended.
  • Also see below lists of What Passed and What Didn't Pass in 2011. Please note that bills that did not pass may have been included in the budget, or may still be viable next session (2012). Bills that have a fiscal implication or that passed one chamber or the other will be viable to keep moving in 2012.
  • What Passed in 2011
  • What Didn't Pass in 2011
Health
6.21.2011
Health bills - Final list
Education
6.21.2011
Education bills - Final list
Safety
6.21.2011
Safety bills - Final list
Economic Security
6.21.2011
Economic Security bills - Final list
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