Rep. Price files bill in North Carolina House to increase APS staffing

A new bill filed by State Rep. Price seeks to boost staffing for Adult Protective Services to address rising elder abuse cases in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 391 on March 12 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘More APS Staff to Address Elder Abuse.’

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

In essence, this bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, to recruit additional Adult Protective Services (APS) workers to tackle the rising number of elder abuse cases in North Carolina. Specifically, $2.178 million is allocated for the 2025-26 fiscal year, and $4.542 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year, to increase APS staff by at least 25 workers each year. These positions will be distributed to county social services departments based on need, using factors such as the total number of APS cases, the county’s older adult population, and the volume of reported elder abuse cases. The allocated funds are designated solely for salaries, benefits, and related expenses for new APS staff and cannot replace existing funding sources. The act is effective July 1, 2025.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Price proposed the most bills (15) 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.

Prince graduated from Tufts University with a BA.

Prince, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 50th House district, replacing previous state representative Graig R. Meyer.