NC House Democrats Signal Medicaid, Rural Access as 2027 Priorities
Incoming North Carolina House Speaker Robert Reives (D-Sanford) told reporters that health care affordability, rural access and federal Medicaid changes will be priorities for the incoming Democratic majority, which is poised to control the House for the first time in 15 years with 71 of 120 seats. Reives cited rising medical costs, declining rural provider access, and long travel distances for maternity care as concerns, and criticized the state's past delay in expanding Medicaid, which took effect in December 2023 and has since added more than 700,000 enrollees. Republicans are expected to retain a narrow Senate majority, meaning legislation will require cross-chamber cooperation. Reives said the caucus has not yet settled on a specific legislative agenda and plans to gather input from 22 new members before the 2027 session.