Rep. Balkcom files bill in North Carolina House to limit NGO liability

A new bill filed by State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom in the North Carolina House seeks to limit liability for NGOs and contractors collaborating with the Department of Health and Human Services, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 547 on March 26 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Children’s Services Protection Act.’

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

In essence, this bill seeks to limit the liability of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nongovernmental independent contractors that provide health, human, and welfare services in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services and related agencies. NGOs can be held liable only for their own negligence, not for mistakes by the public agencies they contract with, and any attempts to impose liability on NGOs for such errors would be void. Nongovernmental independent contractors have liability restricted to their contracted duties and will be indemnified by the state for damages exceeding legal limits. Acts and omissions after Oct. 1, 2025, are covered.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Allen Chesser proposed the most bills (28) 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.

Balkcom graduated from Blue Ridge Community College in 2016 with an AA.

Balkcom, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 117th House district, replacing previous state representative Timothy Moffitt.