Sen. Murdock files bill in North Carolina Senate to redirect pregnancy center funds

A new bill filed by State Sen. Natalie S. Murdock seeks to reallocate funding to expand evidence-based maternal and infant health initiatives while increasing oversight of crisis pregnancy centers, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 247 on March 5 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Redirect Crisis Pregnancy Center Funds.’

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

In essence, this bill redirects $6.25 million in funds appropriated to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, originally designated for crisis pregnancy centers, toward expanding evidence-based maternal and infant health programs for the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill mandates a financial audit of the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship by the state auditor, with findings due March 1, 2026. Additionally, it establishes new reporting requirements for crisis pregnancy centers receiving state financial assistance, necessitating detailed annual reports on funding, services provided, clientele, and whether they present themselves as medical facilities. This includes data on services, staff qualifications, public benefit program enrollment, and the handling of health records, ensuring compliance with privacy laws.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Murdock 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.

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.