North Carolina Budget Delivers Major Wins for Heart Health
July 9, 2026
On July 7, Governor Josh Stein signed North Carolina’s state budget into law.
Smart Heart Act Funding Strengthens School Preparedness
We’re excited to celebrate a major victory for students and families across the state. After more than a year of advocacy from survivors, families, educators, health care professionals, community leaders, and volunteers, lawmakers included the Smart Heart Act in the state budget along with $4 million to help schools purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs). This investment marks a critical step toward protecting students, staff, and school communities. It will help schools prepare for cardiac emergencies and improve their ability to respond when every second counts.
Budget Investments Support Healthier Communities
In addition to funding the Smart Heart Act, the state budget includes investments in several key priorities that support healthier communities across North Carolina:
- Healthy Food Prescription Program – Includes $5 million to work with health plans to provide healthy food prescriptions, allowing health care providers to connect eligible individuals with nutritious foods that help prevent and manage chronic disease.
- SUN Bucks – Provides funding for the SUN Bucks program, which gives eligible families $120 per child to help purchase food during the summer months when school is out of session, reducing food insecurity and supporting child health.
- Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program – Includes $9 million for Medicaid 1115 waiver services that connect beneficiaries with essential resources such as food, housing, and transportation that impact health.
- Healthy School Meals for All – Retains Community Eligibility provisions, which allow high-need schools to provide free meals to all students. The budget also allows students to eat breakfast in the classroom, increasing access to healthy meals and supporting student health, well-being and academic success.
Advocates Made These Victories Possible
These accomplishments demonstrate what is possible when advocates can achieve when they work together to champion policies that improve health and save lives. We are grateful to everyone who helped make these victories possible and look forward to building on this momentum.