A new bill filed by State Rep. Julia C. Howard in the North Carolina House seeks to provide recurring funding to support programs promoting independence for young adults with autism, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 55 on Feb. 4 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Funds for the IGNITE Program.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill appropriates $250,000 in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, for each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. The allocated funds will be directed to the Autism Society of North Carolina, a nonprofit organization, to support its IGNITE Program. The program offers activities and education groups designed to promote independence and social interaction for young adults with autism who are transitioning into adulthood. The act takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Mitchell S. Setzer, Howard, and Cody Huneycutt proposed the most bills (five) 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.
Howard graduated from Salem College in 2003 with a BA.
Howard, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 77th House district, replacing previous state representative Harry Warren.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julia C. Howard, Cody Huneycutt, Larry W. Potts, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 55 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for the IGNITE Program. |
| Julia C. Howard, Harry Warren, Mark Brody, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 48 | 02/04/2025 | Increase UI Max Benefit/2025 UI Tax Credit. |
| Julia C. Howard, Cody Huneycutt, Larry W. Potts, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 54 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for NC APSE. |
| Julia C. Howard | HB 33 | 02/03/2025 | SchCalFlex/Yadkin, Davie/CC. |
| Julia C. Howard, Cody Huneycutt, Neal Jackson, and Paul Scott | HB 37 | 02/03/2025 | Enhance Firefighter Benefits & Representation. |
