NC Healthy Pregnancy Act (H505) Summary

• Establishes protections against pregnancy-related discrimination for employees at employers with 15 or more employees, employment agencies, labor organizations, and covered governmental entities in North Carolina.

• Requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related limitations, including physical workplace modifications, adjusted job duties, flexible scheduling, private lactation spaces, accessible parking, and modified work equipment or dress codes.

• Prohibits discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, and employment terms based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; also prohibits retaliation against employees who request accommodations or assert their rights under the law.

• Mandates employers post notices of pregnancy discrimination protections in conspicuous locations and provide individual notice to new employees at hire, existing employees within 120 days, and any employee who notifies the employer of pregnancy within 10 days.

• Allows aggrieved pregnant persons to bring civil actions in superior court for declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and back pay (limited to three years prior to filing); permits courts to award reasonable attorneys' fees with a three-year statute of limitations.