Sen. Murdock files bill in North Carolina Senate on tuition waivers for EMS mental health workers

A new bill filed by State Sen. Murdock seeks to support specialized training for mental health clinicians and peer support specialists working with emergency medical services and first responders, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 585 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Local Govts/Mental Health/ CC Tuition Waiver.’

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

In essence, this bill allows certain mental health clinicians and peer support specialists working in municipal and county emergency medical services (EMS) or rescue and lifesaving departments to receive a waiver of tuition and registration fees when attending community college. Specifically, it applies to those involved in embedding mental health clinicians in 911 call centers to assist with calls for service and pairing these clinicians, along with peer support specialists and other trained professionals, with first responders. The aim is to support the specialized training needs of these departments. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Murdock proposed another 73 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.

Murdock graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA.

Murdock, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2020 to represent the state’s 20th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Mickey Michaux.