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The Trump-endorsed “Make America Healthy Again [ [link removed] ]” (MAHA) agenda has officially taken root in North Carolina, ushering in a bold wave of legislation focused on medical freedom, food quality, and patient choice. While the broader MAHA vision began as a niche movement among public health skeptics and vaccine critics, it has since galvanized a cross-section of conservatives, independents, and even some skeptics of Trump himself.
With growing national traction—and fresh momentum following an awareness campaign—the MAHA agenda is now being championed by North Carolina legislators, including House Representative Jonathan Almond, a first-term Republican motivated by personal tragedy.
Almond’s two children suffered documented vaccine injuries, catalyzing his mission to fight for parental rights and push back against institutional overreach in medicine and public health.
As of this spring, three core legislative pillars reflect MAHA’s expansion in North Carolina:
The MAHA Agenda: Three Pillars of Reform
Medical Freedom and Vaccine Choice
HB380 [ [link removed] ], “Conscientious Objections to Vaccine Mandates,” broadens legal vaccine exemptions beyond the traditional religious and medical categories. It introduces a new “conscientious objection” standard, allowing any parent—or college student over 18—to refuse vaccines based on deeply held personal beliefs, regardless of religious affiliation.
This legislative shift not only empowers families but also rewrites North Carolina’s parental rights law by explicitly affirming a parent's right to make medical decisions free from bureaucratic interference.
This matters in light of a recent case involving forced vaccination by a public school, which was recently heard in North Carolina’s Supreme Court. The case centers on allegations that, in 2021, 14-year-old Tanner Smith was administered a COVID-19 vaccine at a Greensboro school clinic without his consent and parental approval. Chief Justice Paul Newby, writing for the majority, stated that the PREP Act's immunity does not extend to constitutional violations, such as the right of parents to make medical decisions for their children and an individual's right to bodily integrity.
The law would also come with new reporting requirements: all schools and childcare centers must now report the number of children using conscientious exemptions, adding a new layer of transparency to the public health data system.
Over-the-Counter Access to Ivermectin
Almond's proposed “Ivermectin Access Act [ [link removed] ]” would authorize pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription under a statewide standing order. This reform mirrors recent actions in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Idaho, where conservative legislatures acted to bypass what they call “pharmaceutical gatekeeping.”
Ivermectin, a Nobel Prize-winning drug, became a lightning rod during COVID for those seeking low-cost, early treatment options outside the CDC playbook. Now approved by the FDA for COVID treatment, Ivermectin remains controversial—primarily because it's cheap, generic, and can’t be patented. That makes it a direct threat to the pharmaceutical industry’s preferred model of expensive, patented treatments.
Supporters argue the bill expands rural health access, curbs monopolistic pricing, and restores public trust in treatment options that were politicized during the pandemic. But don’t expect Big Pharma to roll over quietly: industry lobbyists are expected to mount stiff opposition, particularly given the bill’s implications for revenue and regulatory control.
The Healthy Schools Act
Almond’s third major bill targets the food served to North Carolina’s children. The Healthy Schools Act [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ]bans ultra-processed foods in all public K-12, charter, and lab schools. Out go artificial dyes, emulsifiers, and endocrine-disrupting preservatives. In their place: fresh, minimally processed, locally sourced ingredients.
The bill creates a public reporting system for school food standards and pressures districts to prioritize nutrition over convenience or cost-cutting. It’s a clear shot at both federal food vendors and education bureaucracies that critics say have normalized feeding “chemical junk” to kids for decades.
Beyond the lunch tray, the bill could be a boon for North Carolina’s farming economy. By encouraging schools to buy from local producers it opens new markets for small and mid-size farmers, especially in rural counties desperate for economic revitalization. This approach could also stimulate regional food hubs, processors, and distribution networks—a full-circle benefit for both health and local industry.
MAHA Agenda Shows National Momentum
The MAHA platform’s growing appeal isn’t just anecdotal. According to recent polling [ [link removed] ]:
Initial Support: 54% of voters backed MAHA principles when first introduced.
Post-Awareness Support: That number rose to 65% once respondents were informed about rising chronic disease rates and the goals of the MAHA Commission.
Party breakdowns reveal further insights:
Republicans: 90% support
Independents: 62% support
Democrats: 42% support
Perhaps most telling: 34% of voters who disapprove of Trump still support the MAHA agenda once they understand its focus on medical choice, wellness, and food quality. That level of crossover appeal could prove politically potent, especially in swing states like North Carolina.
Political Crossroads: Primaries, Pharma, and Parental Rights
Rep. Almond's legislative push has resonated with North Carolina’s conservative and libertarian voters—many of whom are deeply skeptical of federal agencies, pharmaceutical monopolies, and the politicization of science. The bills have also energized grassroots parent coalitions and MAHA-aligned activists who say public institutions have trampled parental authority and prioritized profit over public health.
But there are obstacles ahead. May 8 marks the legislative crossover deadline, when bills must advance from one chamber to the other to remain viable. Lobbyists for the pharmaceutical and food manufacturing industries are expected to mount aggressive campaigns behind the scenes, particularly targeting Republicans on the fence.
Medical freedom activists are already warning GOP legislators: Vote against MAHA bills, and you may face a primary challenger. Many Republican voters see these reforms not as fringe, but as a moral imperative to protect their children, their bodies, and their rights.
Conclusion
The MAHA agenda is no longer a side note in conservative politics—it’s a new front in the battle over health, freedom, and the role of government in our lives. With North Carolina emerging as a key testing ground, the outcome of this legislative session could ripple far beyond the Tar Heel State.
The clock is ticking. And for lawmakers, voters, and families alike, the choice is clear: stand with the special interests, or stand for the people.

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