North Carolina Public Health Law

Annual Legislative Summaries

Each year, School of Government faculty and professional staff members produce summaries of legislation of interest to local and state government officials. These summaries appear in a variety of formats and cover a range of subjects. Summaries from 2009-2013 are available here. Summaries from 2008 and earlier years were published in NC Legislation.

    On-Demand Webinars

Each summer shortly after the General Assembly adjourns, the UNC School of Government holds webinars reviewing new legislation of importance to local governments. The webinars may be purchased for on-demand viewing. Direct links to webinars covering public health legislation are listed here. 

• 2014 Local Government Legislative Review

NC Legislation: Health Chapters (2009-current)

Each edition of NC Legislation includes a chapter summarizing new state health laws. Here are direct links to summaries of public health legislation from recent years:

• 2014 Public Health Legislation
• 2013 Public Health Legislation
• 2012 Public Health Legislation
• 2011 Public Health Legislation
• 2010 Public Health Legislation
• 2009 Public Health Legislation

NC Legislation: Health Chapters (2002-2008)

 Below are links to electronic versions of NC Legislation Health chapters. The School of Government copyright applies to these chapters. To further investigate bills referred to in these chapters, explore the North Carolina General Assembly Web site.

• 2008 Health Legislation
• 2007 Health Legislation
• 2006 Health Legislation
• 2005 Health Legislation
• 2004 Health Legislation
• 2003 Health Legislation
• 2002 Health Legislation

Summaries of Selected Session Laws Affecting Public Health

Organization and Governance of Local Public Health & Other Human Services Agencies: Summary of S.L. 2012-126 (H 438), by Jill Moore (July 2012)

• This is a narrative summary of 2012's House Bill 438, the legislation that permits boards of county commissioners to create consolidated human services agencies, and/or to directly assume the powers and duties of the governing board for the local public health agency. 

Health Law Bulletin No. 90: Smoking in Public Places: Recent Changes in State Law, by Aimee N. Wall (May 2009)

• This bulletin discusses the history of the evolution of smoking laws in North Carolina, the smoking prohibitions that apply now and after new legislation goes into effect, and the expanded authority of local governments to regulate smoking within their jurisdictions.

Health Law Bulletin No. 85: 2006 Legislation Affecting Environmental Health, by Aimee N. Wall (October 2006)

• Summarizes legislation enacted by the 2006 North Carolina General Assembly in key fields of environmental health practice, including drinking water, on-site wastewater, food and lodging, and childhood lead poisoning.

Health Law Bulletin No. 83: 2005 Legislation Affecting Public Health, by Jill Moore (March 2006)

• This issue of the Health Law Bulletin summarizes the bills, budget special provisions, and appropriations from the 2005 legislative session that affected public health in North Carolina.

Outline Summary: 2004 Public Health Preparedness & Response Act

• This outline summarizes SL 2004-80, which amended NC public health laws pertaining to communicable disease and bioterrorism, due process for persons subject to certain isolation or quarantine orders, and confidentiality of local health department records.

Health Law Bulletin No. 79: New North Carolina Bioterrorism Law, by Jill Moore (February 2003)

• This issue of the Health Law Bulletin summarizes the Public Health Bioterrorism Act of 2002 (SL 2002-179). To order a paper copy, visit the School of Government’s webstore or call the Publication Sales Office at 919-966-4119.