Rep. Budd files bill in North Carolina House to fund mental health co-responder program

A new bill filed by State Rep. Laura Budd in the North Carolina House seeks to improve responses to mental health calls by integrating professionals with law enforcement agencies, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 504 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Pilot Co-Responder Police Program.’

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

In essence, the bill appropriates $474,680 from the General Fund for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to Mecklenburg County for a pilot co-responder program. This initiative aims to integrate mental health professionals with law enforcement to address mental health-related calls effectively. Specifically, the funds will provide for hiring a full-time mental health professional to work alongside law enforcement in each designated locality. It allocates $131,280 to the Town of Matthews and $171,700 each to the Towns of Pineville and Mint Hill. The program is set to become effective July 1, 2025.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Tricia Ann Cotham proposed the most bills (20) 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.

Budd graduated from Ohio University in 1999 with a BA and again in 2002 from Wake Forest University School of Law with a JD.

Budd, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 103rd House district, replacing previous state representative Rachel Hunt.