Rep. Von Haefen files bill in North Carolina House to redirect funds for maternal and infant health programs

A new bill filed by State Rep. Julie von Haefen in the North Carolina House aims to redirect state funds to support maternal and infant health programs, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 1120 on April 29 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Financial Effectiveness and Transparency Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill cuts $6.75 million in recurring state funds from the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year and redirects the same amount to the Department of Health and Human Services to expand evidence-based maternal and infant health programs, including Healthy Beginnings, Safe Sleep NC and Nurse-Family Partnership. The bill requires crisis pregnancy centers receiving state funds to submit detailed annual reports on their revenue sources, expenses, staffing and client services, and requires state agencies to provide these documents to the public on request with health information redacted. It also requires crisis pregnancy centers to give clients free copies of their records within 10 business days. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Von Haefen proposed the most bills (36) 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.

Haefen graduated from Ohio University in 1992 with a BA and again in 1995 from Case Western Reserve University with a JD.

Haefen, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 36th House district, replacing previous state representative Nelson Dollar.