H 1081

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
  SESSION 2025
 H  1
  HOUSE BILL 1081
 Short Title:   Funds for Veterans/HBOT.  (Public)
 Sponsors:      Representatives Cairns, Campbell, Reeder, and Chesser (Primary Sponsors).
  For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
 Referred to:   Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
  April 30, 2026
1A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR HYPERBARIC OXYGEN
3     THERAPY TREATMENT FOR NORTH CAROLINA VETERANS SUFFERING FROM
4     TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
5     (PTSD).
6Whereas, North Carolina is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the
7 nation; and
8Whereas, veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic
9 stress disorder (PTSD) experience elevated risk of depression, functional impairment, and
10 suicide; and
11Whereas, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a recognized medical treatment and has been
12 authorized for use in treating veterans with TBI and PTSD pursuant to S.L. 2019-175; and
13Whereas, prior State-funded pilot programs providing access to hyperbaric oxygen
14 therapy for veterans have demonstrated measurable improvements in veteran health outcomes
15 and quality of life; and
16Whereas, ensuring access to evidence-informed, nonpharmacologic treatment options
17 for veterans is in the best interests of the State of North Carolina; Now, therefore,
18 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
19SECTION 1. Program Established. – Within the funds made available pursuant to
20 Section 2 of this act, HBOT 4 HEROES, a nonprofit corporation, shall provide hyperbaric oxygen
21 therapy to eligible veterans who are residents of North Carolina and have a diagnosis of traumatic
22 brain injury (TBI) or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at no cost to the veteran. Treatment
23 shall be delivered through a structured program that includes clinical intake, treatment delivery,
24 and pre- and post-treatment outcome assessments. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment
25 provided to a veteran pursuant to this section shall be provided in accordance with Part 5 of
26 Article 6 of Chapter 122C of the General Statutes.
27SECTION 2. Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the
28 Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental
29 Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS), the sum of three million dollars
30 ($3,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to
31 HBOT 4 HEROES to provide an estimated 15,000 hyperbaric oxygen treatments, serving
32 approximately 350 veterans in accordance with this act. These funds shall be used solely for
33 direct treatment services, program administration, and required reporting. The funds appropriated
34 by this section shall not revert but shall remain available until expended.
  *H1081-v-1*
General Assembly Of North Carolina  Session 2025
1SECTION 3. Report. – By June 30, 2027, HBOT 4 HEROES shall submit a report
2 to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal
3 Research Division on the provision of hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment to veterans, including
4 the number of veterans served, the counties of residence of those veterans, aggregate outcomes,
5 and an accounting of State funds.
6SECTION 4. Effective Date. – This act is effective July 1, 2026.
Page 2  House Bill 1081-First Edition