Sen. Kennedy files bill in North Carolina Senate establishing statewide awareness initiatives

A new bill filed by Sen. Kennedy seeks to establish initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness of consumer finance risks and health and civil rights issues across North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 625 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Protect NC Prosperity & Health.’

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

In essence, the bill establishes two statewide initiatives in North Carolina, one focused on consumer finance awareness and another on health and civil rights awareness, both set for a two-year duration. The Department of Justice will lead efforts to educate the public on financial risks such as phishing and pyramid schemes, while the Department of Health and Human Services will address health topics including reproductive and racial health issues. Each department is tasked with developing a website and toolkit to assist local communities in launching their own initiatives. While the initiatives can contract third-party expertise, state funds cannot be used for any advocacy related to new or existing laws. The bill intends for funding to be appropriated in the 2025-26 fiscal year and requires progress reports by Sept. 1, 2026. The act takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Woodson Bradley proposed the most bills (60) 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.

Garrett graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007 with a BSBA.

Garrett, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 27th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Trudy Wade.