A new bill filed by State Rep. Mitchell S. Setzer in the North Carolina House seeks to strengthen protections for long-term care residents by expanding the ombudsman program, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 343 on March 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill appropriates $380,000 in recurring funds for the 2025-26 fiscal year and $397,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year from the General Fund to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services. The funds are designated to create four full-time ombudsman positions within the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The aim is to enhance protections for residents of long-term care facilities by aligning the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program with national standards. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Larry W. Potts proposed the most bills (18) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Setzer graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1987 with a BA.
Setzer, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 1999 to represent the state’s 89th House district, replacing previous state representative Robert Brawley.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Carla D. Cunningham, Larry W. Potts, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 343 | 03/10/2025 | Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Chris Humphrey, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 356 | 03/10/2025 | Permitted Trade Practices/Insurance Rebates.-AB |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Chris Humphrey, Dean Arp, and Jonathan L. Almond | HB 357 | 03/10/2025 | Continuing Care Retirement Communities Act.-AB |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Chris Humphrey, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 358 | 03/10/2025 | Maintain NAIC Accreditation of DOI.-AB |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jeffrey C. McNeely, and Todd Carver | HB 304 | 03/05/2025 | Allow Flex. for Trades HS in Iredell Co. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jeff Zenger, and Sam Watford | HB 247 | 02/27/2025 | Underground Safety Revisions. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Cody Huneycutt, and Pricey Harrison | HB 120 | 02/13/2025 | Expand Project C.A.R.E./Funds. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Carla D. Cunningham, Cody Huneycutt, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 121 | 02/13/2025 | SchCalFlex/Statewide/Open Cal. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Eric Ager, Lindsey Prather, and Pricey Harrison | HB 84 | 02/10/2025 | The Pollinator Protection Act. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Brian Echevarria, Mark Brody, and Mike Clampitt | HB 64 | 02/05/2025 | Const. Amend. – Gubernatorial Clemency. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Stephen M. Ross, and Todd Carver | HB 43 | 02/04/2025 | Designate State Balloon Rally. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Harry Warren, Julia C. Howard, and Mark Brody | HB 48 | 02/04/2025 | Increase UI Max Benefit/2025 UI Tax Credit. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, and Larry W. Potts | HB 54 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for NC APSE. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, and Larry W. Potts | HB 55 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for the IGNITE Program. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer and Cody Huneycutt | HB 25 | 01/29/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Stanly & Catawba. |
