Legislation introduced by State Rep. Lindsey Prather in the North Carolina House seeks to boost mental health support and improve collaboration within the justice system, the North Carolina State House reports.
Filed on April 23 as HB 1044 during the 2025 regular session, the measure is officially titled the ‘Justice in Mental Health Act.’
Below is our summary drawn from the actual bill language, including explanations for clarity.
The bill would expand mental health and justice services in North Carolina by funding new beds at state psychiatric hospitals, increasing staff, and supporting community-based treatment coordinated with courts. It instructs court and health agencies to develop behavioral health guidance and training for judges, enhance rehabilitative paths in the legal system, and update the legal definition for dangerousness to others, with changes taking effect Dec. 1, 2026. Funding outlined in the bill includes hundreds of millions of dollars for crisis care, recovery court programs, hospital upgrades and workforce incentives. It also raises the cap on state safekeeper beds from 200 to 500, adds funds for prison system improvements, and mandates regular reporting on outcomes, with most elements effective July 1, 2026, or upon enactment.
Among the four sponsors, Marcia Morey submitted the highest number of bills—40—during the 2025 regular session.
North Carolina bills follow a multi-stage approval process before becoming law. A representative must file a bill, after which it is assigned to a committee. The legislation must be read three times in each legislative chamber. If one chamber amends a bill previously passed by the other, both must ultimately agree on the final language. Once approved, the bill is sent to the governor, who then has 10 days (or up to 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or allow it to become law without a signature.
For further details on bills and other measures, visit this resource.
Prather is a 2008 University of North Carolina Asheville graduate with a Bachelor of Arts.
A member of the Democratic Party, Prather was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to serve the 115th House district, succeeding John Ager.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsey Prather, Marcia Morey, Mary Belk, and Renée A. Price | HB 1044 | 04/23/2026 | Justice in Mental Health Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Gloristine Brown, Maria Cervania, and Tracy Clark | HB 1045 | 04/23/2026 | Fair Wages in Health Care Act/Funds. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Zack Hawkins | HB 1017 | 04/21/2026 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 941 | 04/10/2025 | Expand & Enhance the Teaching Fellows Program. |
| Lindsey Prather, Jordan Lopez, Marcia Morey, and Tim Longest | HB 970 | 04/10/2025 | Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 863 | 04/09/2025 | Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1(b). |
| Lindsey Prather, Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Julie von Haefen | HB 807 | 04/07/2025 | Strong Public Schools for a Strong NC. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Phil Rubin | HB 815 | 04/07/2025 | Voucher School Accountability Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cecil Brockman, Cynthia Ball, and Phil Rubin | HB 816 | 04/07/2025 | Voucher School Transparency Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Beth Helfrich, Brandon Lofton, and Julie von Haefen | HB 651 | 04/01/2025 | Reduce Parent Copays/Child Care Subsidy/Funds. |
| Lindsey Prather, Allen Buansi, and Maria Cervania | HB 667 | 04/01/2025 | Reduce Barriers to College Completion. |
| Lindsey Prather, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 689 | 04/01/2025 | Expanding Workforce and Education Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, Eric Ager, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 599 | 03/31/2025 | Award NC Forest Service Pay Increase. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 531 | 03/26/2025 | Addressing NC’s Teacher Crisis/NTSP. |
| Lindsey Prather, Becky Carney, Carolyn G. Logan, and James Roberson | HB 550 | 03/26/2025 | Modify Mileage and Per Diem. |
| Lindsey Prather, Dante Pittman, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 507 | 03/25/2025 | The Children First Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Carla D. Cunningham, Julie von Haefen, and Renée A. Price | HB 500 | 03/24/2025 | NC Adopt ERA. |
| Lindsey Prather, Bryan Cohn, Robert T. Reives, II, and Vernetta Alston | HB 503 | 03/24/2025 | Don’t Tread on Me Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Beth Helfrich, Bryan Cohn, and Dante Pittman | HB 473 | 03/20/2025 | Right to IVF. |
| Lindsey Prather, Beth Helfrich, Julia Greenfield, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 474 | 03/20/2025 | Right to Use Contraception. |
| Lindsey Prather, Amos L. Quick, III, Cynthia Ball, and Julie von Haefen | HB 445 | 03/18/2025 | Fairness & Transparency in Education Salaries. |
| Lindsey Prather, Donny Lambeth, Julia C. Howard, and Pricey Harrison | HB 410 | 03/17/2025 | NCIOM Study/Medical Aid in Dying. |
| Lindsey Prather, Cynthia Ball, Julie von Haefen, and Zack Hawkins | HB 420 | 03/17/2025 | Sound Basic Education for Every Child. |
| Lindsey Prather, Beth Helfrich, Marcia Morey, and Pricey Harrison | HB 322 | 03/06/2025 | Make General Assembly Records Public. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 228 | 02/26/2025 | City of Asheville/Funds for Study. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 238 | 02/26/2025 | Reimburse Buncombe Co. for Cost of Study. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 194 | 02/25/2025 | SchCalFlex/Asheville/Open Cal. |
| Lindsey Prather, Allen Buansi, Gloristine Brown, and Tim Longest | HB 181 | 02/24/2025 | Tax Relief for Working Families Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Brian Turner, and Eric Ager | HB 104 | 02/11/2025 | SchCalFlex/Buncombe/Open Cal. |
| Lindsey Prather, Eric Ager, Mitchell S. Setzer, and Pricey Harrison | HB 84 | 02/10/2025 | The Pollinator Protection Act. |
| Lindsey Prather, Marcia Morey, Pricey Harrison, and Zack Hawkins | HB 20 | 01/29/2025 | Fair Maps Act. |
