NC legislators outline priorities for life sciences industry at NCLifeSci forum

The annual NCLifeSci Legislative Forum and Luncheon held Nov. 14 at the NC Biotechnology Center provided a valuable opportunity for North Carolina's thriving life sciences industry to engage directly with the leaders of the NC General Assembly’s Life Sciences Caucus.  

All four caucus co-chairs — Sen. Paul Newton, Sen. Mike Woodard, Rep. Donna White and Rep. Robert Reives — attended. 

The event was sponsored by Chubb, Frontier Scientific Solutions, Novartis and PhRMA.  

Newton, who is the Senate majority leader, acknowledged the strong fiscal position the state finds itself in, noting that North Carolina has substantial budget reserves that will allow it to weather the significant costs associated with recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. However, he emphasized that the state will need to be strategic in how it allocates those resources, working closely with federal partners to maximize the impact of state funding. 

"We're coming into 2025 in a position of strength," Newton said. "We have billions of dollars in reserve, and we are so fiscally sound that we can take a lot of punches. We can't afford $52 or $53 billion, but we can help get where we need to be for local government units." 

Newton said that the state has already appropriated the necessary matching funds to draw down federal FEMA dollars for recovery efforts, and he expressed confidence that additional congressional appropriations will be forthcoming, building on North Carolina's track record of securing federal support in the wake of natural disasters. 

At the same time, Newton acknowledged the competing priorities the legislature will face, including the need to continue investing in critical infrastructure like water, wastewater and transportation systems to support the growth of the life sciences industry. He pointed to a recent regulatory reform effort that unlocked $50 million in value for the housing market in Cabarrus County by adjusting outdated wastewater capacity rules. 

"It's not always all about appropriations, which are hard to get," Newton said. "We got Helene, they're going to need money. Everybody's going to be afraid to appropriate more funds for the roads. You know, a lot of money that would go to roads here, perhaps in Durham County, are going to go, maybe to support Helene, but just, please don't forget the power of regulatory reform." 

White, who chairs the House Health Policy and Health Appropriations Committees, echoed Newton's emphasis on the importance of infrastructure investments, particularly in her rapidly growing district in western Johnston County. She noted that her area has had to contend with outdated roads, water and sewer systems, requiring significant state funding to modernize. 

"Infrastructure is huge in a growing district, and I deal with it every single day," White said. "10 years ago, we still had dirt, two-lane dirt roads. We have still got a few dirt roads in Johnson County, in western Johnson County, but not so many, but so we were just trying to turn dirt roads into paved roads." 

White also highlighted the public health impacts of Hurricane Helene, noting the shortage of body bags and the ongoing forensic work required to identify victims. She emphasized the need for the legislature to remain focused on supporting the recovery efforts in the hardest-hit areas of the state. 

"We are still working on that," White said. "And as you said, Senator Newton, let's say only other thing that we've got, we'll be also voting on vouchers next week. And I think that covers it." 

Senator Mike Woodard, the ranking member on the Senate Transportation Committee, underscored the critical role that infrastructure investments will play in supporting the life sciences industry, particularly when it comes to logistics and supply chain resilience. He noted the importance of engaging with local elected officials and transportation planning organizations to ensure that the industry's needs are prioritized. 

"Your county commissioners, city and town council members have got to hear from you, as well," Woodard said. "They have to prioritize some of these road projects as they come together in the multibillion dollars that NCDOT spends. So that's real important for you all to get to know those people, support them, or get them out if they're not helping you, and talk to them about what those infrastructure needs are." 

Woodard also highlighted the state's efforts to support workforce development, emphasizing the need to engage with community colleges and K-12 schools to build a pipeline of talent for the life sciences industry. He encouraged industry leaders to share their personal stories and the impact of their work as a way to inspire the next generation of workers. 

"In the end, for a lot of our colleagues who don't study as much as we do, it's about saving lives," Woodard said. "In the end, for me, that's, that's what it's about. Just so tie these investments in your companies and your industry to the lives we're saving and taking back." 

Reives, who is the House Democratic leader, emphasized the importance of industry leaders engaging directly with legislators, both at the state and local levels, to ensure their voices are heard. He encouraged companies to share their personal stories and the real-world impact of their work, as a way to build support and understanding among policymakers. 

"There is nothing that impacts people more than hearing an actual story of why your industry matters," Reives said. "I remember we were doing an opening about three years ago now, and the company that was doing the opening, it was a very rare childhood disease that they were addressing. I remember the family was there that was talking about their child that had been saved, and that just stuck with me." 

Reives also emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation, particularly in the wake of the recent election that saw the House supermajority broken. He expressed hope that legislators would be able to put aside partisan differences and focus on the shared goal of supporting the life sciences industry and the broader economic development of the state. 

"My hope is that everybody recognizes that and says, you know, we'll put down boxing gloves just for the next couple of years and try to really focus on those things," Reives said. 

The discussion also touched on the importance of protecting intellectual property rights, with Newton vowing to "fiercely protect your patent rights in North Carolina" in the face of any federal-level efforts to undermine those protections. 

"When one of the presidential candidates, who shall remain unnamed, said, 'We'll just yank those patents,' I am on the opposite end of the spectrum," Newton said. "You earned that patent, you invested for that patent, and it might have been one home run out of 13. So I will always at the state level, which is my only purview, fiercely protect your patent rights in North Carolina." 

Joe Lanier, NCLifeSci’s lead lobbyist, emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong, positive reputation for the life sciences sector in North Carolina, and he encouraged the legislators to continue sending clear signals of support. 

"When we go to Washington, we want to make sure the life sciences industry has that same kind of profile in North Carolina and for what y'all do at the state level in terms of the signals that are sent is so important to us," Lanier said. 

The discussion also highlighted the role of the NC Biotechnology Center and the NCInnovation program in supporting the growth and development of the life sciences industry. NCLifeSci President Laura Gunter noted the center's work in convening regional partnerships and securing federal funding to bolster workforce development and infrastructure initiatives. 

The discussion concluded with a call to action for industry leaders to remain engaged and continue building relationships with state and local officials. White emphasized the importance of the life sciences caucus as a forum for collaboration and education, and she encouraged the industry to take advantage of that platform. 

"We need to all learn to not be in our little individual cages but really reach out and work with each other to keep that workforce going," White said. "Because people are moving to North Carolina. I think enough people are moving here that we shouldn't have a workforce issue. So we've just got to direct them into the education that they need to go to." 

Overall, the discussion highlighted the strong partnership between North Carolina's life sciences industry and its state legislators, as well as the shared commitment to supporting the sector's continued growth and success. By addressing key priorities like infrastructure, workforce development, and regulatory reform, the state appears poised to maintain its position as a national leader in the life sciences.