A new bill filed by State Sen. Alexander seeks to enhance the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program by funding additional staff and operational expenses to support aging services, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 362 on March 20 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill appropriates $1 million annually from the General Fund for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging, to enhance the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Specifically, $145,000 in 2025-26 and $106,750 in 2026-27 will cover operational expenses, including equipment, supplies, and transportation. In addition, $855,000 in 2025-26 and $893,250 in 2026-27 will fund nine new full-time Regional Ombudsman positions to align North Carolina with national standards. These positions will support Area Agencies on Aging most in need. The bill mandates a study, in collaboration with various stakeholders, to recommend statutory changes to strengthen the program and its volunteer system. The act is effective July 1, 2025.
Alexander proposed another 15 bills 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.
Alexander graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA.
Alexander, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 44th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Vickie Sawyer.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| W. Ted Alexander | SB 362 | 03/20/2025 | Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 359 | 03/20/2025 | Retirement Death Benefits Rewrite.-AB |
| W. Ted Alexander, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Jim Burgin | SB 361 | 03/20/2025 | Protecting First Responders Act. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 363 | 03/20/2025 | DST Technical Corrections/Admin. Changes 2025.-AB |
| W. Ted Alexander and Todd Johnson | SB 364 | 03/20/2025 | Shorter Separation for Retired ADAs and APDs. |
| W. Ted Alexander | SB 365 | 03/20/2025 | Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Amy S. Galey, and Carl Ford | SB 344 | 03/19/2025 | Pooled Trust Transfers/Public Benefits Elig. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Brad Overcash, and Mark Hollo | SB 329 | 03/18/2025 | Recognizing South Fork Passage State Trail. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Amy S. Galey, and Warren Daniel | SB 249 | 03/06/2025 | Exempt./Campaign Sales/Other Political Groups. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Eddie D. Settle, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 164 | 02/25/2025 | Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 135 | 02/24/2025 | Expand Homestead Exclusion Inc. Elig. Limit. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Carl Ford, and Eddie D. Settle | SB 123 | 02/21/2025 | Flags at Every School. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 91 | 02/12/2025 | Newborn Safety Devices. |
| W. Ted Alexander, Bobby Hanig, and Carl Ford | SB 92 | 02/12/2025 | Released Time Education Act. |
| W. Ted Alexander | SB 79 | 02/11/2025 | Boiling Springs Charter Revisions. |
| W. Ted Alexander | SB 46 | 02/04/2025 | Lincoln/Catawba Common Boundary Line. |
