Senate committee takes up State Auditor agency bill
A Senate committee is scheduled to take up a bill Wednesday that would make changes to the Office of the State Auditor, including provisions tied to Medicaid provider audits.
Senate Bill 1013, titled “2026 Office of the State Auditor Agency Bill,” is listed on the Senate State and Local Government Committee agenda for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. The bill was re-referred June 15 to State and Local Government, with a sequential referral to Senate Rules if it receives a favorable report.
The proposal is sponsored by Sens. Benton Sawrey and Brent Jackson Jones, with Sen. Tim Moffitt also listed on the bill page. The bill record lists the measure as public and identifies affected statutes in Chapter 147, which governs state officers and agencies.
The bill text says it would make various changes for the Office of the State Auditor. One section would allow the auditor to enter agreements for subject-matter expertise and assistance in auditing Medicaid providers. The bill text says contingent fees paid to contractors under that provision would be calculated in the same manner and subject to the same procedural requirements as payments tied to Medicaid overpayment recovery.
The bill record also lists keywords including auditing and audits, bids and bidding, contracts, the Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid, purchasing, social services and the State Auditor.
The proposal is statewide because it concerns the authority and operations of the State Auditor’s Office, a Council of State office responsible for auditing state agencies and public funds.
The committee meeting does not mean the bill has passed. If reported favorably, the measure would move to Senate Rules, which controls whether it is scheduled for floor consideration.
Because the bill involves audit authority and Medicaid-related review work, any final version could affect how the State Auditor’s Office uses outside expertise and conducts oversight of certain public spending.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
