SB 133 requires North Carolina's State Board of Community Colleges to select a new learning management system (LMS) for all 58 community colleges by 2027, with proposals due by December 2025. The system must align with those used by K-12 schools and the University of North Carolina. It also updates definitions for the North Carolina Longitudinal Data System (NCLDS), clarifying what student data (like grades and enrollment) and workforce data (like employment) can be collected. The bill exempts community colleges from standard state IT procurement rules but focuses primarily on the new LMS requirement.
HB 763, the Neighbor State License Recognition Act, allows professionals licensed in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia to obtain a North Carolina license more easily if they move to the state. It applies to most licensed occupations (excluding healthcare, law, architecture, engineering, and others listed in the bill) and requires applicants to have held a current license in one of those states for at least one year, be in good standing, and meet competency standards through their home state's requirements. The bill streamlines the process by eliminating redundant exams or paperwork for qualifying applicants, while requiring licensing boards to publish clear eligibility criteria online. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet become law.
HB 357 establishes licensing and regulatory requirements for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in North Carolina. All providers (both for-profit and nonprofit) must obtain a license from the North Carolina Department of Insurance and undergo annual actuarial reviews to verify financial stability. The law directly affects CCRCs operating in the state and their residents, who often pay large upfront fees for long-term care. Key provisions include mandatory actuarial studies to ensure providers can sustain services, protecting residents from financial harm if a provider becomes insolvent.
This bill creates a new legal status called "special economic interest owner" for the estate of a deceased LLC member in North Carolina. When a member dies, their estate automatically becomes this status, granting them three specific rights: the right to receive financial distributions (economic interest), access to company records (information rights), and the ability to seek court-ordered dissolution of the LLC if needed. The law applies to all LLCs in North Carolina starting October 1, 2025, and directly affects estates of deceased members who were not otherwise managing members. It does not change liability for existing obligations under the LLC.
This bill requires North Carolina courts to treat judgments from Catawba Nation tribal courts as valid as out-of-state court orders. It clarifies that counties must have written agreements with the Catawba Nation to provide services on tribal trust lands, beyond basic public health or human services. The bill also authorizes Catawba tribal police to enforce laws within tribal boundaries under specific state statutes, aligning their authority with local law enforcement standards.
SB 600 allows North Carolina residents to register as organ and tissue donors when filing their state income tax returns. The bill amends tax law to add a simple check box on tax forms, where taxpayers can authorize donation after death (including spouse authorization), with clear instructions about the process and voluntary nature. This directly affects all NC resident taxpayers who file income tax returns, making donor registration as straightforward as completing their tax form. The law would integrate this election into the state's Organ Donor Registry, effective January 1, 2027, if enacted.
HB 928 allows physical therapists licensed in North Carolina to evaluate student athletes for concussions and provide written clearance for returning to play or practice after a head injury during school sports. It directly affects student athletes in North Carolina public schools who exhibit concussion symptoms during athletic activities. The bill amends existing law to specifically include licensed physical therapists as authorized professionals (alongside doctors and other specialists) who can assess head injuries and issue the required written clearance. This change expands the pool of qualified healthcare providers available for school concussion protocols without altering the core requirement that athletes must be cleared before returning to sports.
SB 690 updates North Carolina's licensing rules for real estate appraisers by incorporating the "Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal" (PAREA) program as an approved path to meet experience requirements. It clarifies definitions for key terms like "certified general appraiser," "licensed residential appraiser," and "comparative market analysis" to distinguish formal appraisals from broker price opinions. The bill specifically allows appraisers to use technology-based PAREA training and mentor-supervised case studies instead of traditional supervisor/trainee methods. This directly affects individuals seeking or holding real estate appraiser licenses or certifications in North Carolina. The changes aim to modernize licensing procedures while maintaining standards for valuation work.
SB 387 revises tax benefits for properties cleaned up under North Carolina's Brownfields Property Reuse Act. It establishes a 5-year tax exclusion schedule for qualifying improvements on brownfields sites: 90% exclusion in year one, decreasing to 10% in year five. This directly affects property owners who have entered brownfields agreements with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for contaminated land cleanup. The bill also adds new fees: a $2,000 application fee, a cost-recovery fee for DEQ services (paid in two installments), and penalties for non-compliance, all funding the Brownfields Implementation Account. The changes take effect for taxes in 2025 and later.
SB 472 streamlines water quality permit reviews for specific projects in North Carolina, directly affecting developers of upland basin marinas, energy/fuel infrastructure, and maintenance dredging projects funded by certain state programs. It sets strict deadlines for the Department of Environmental Quality: requiring fee notifications within 5 business days, completeness reviews within 30 days, and final decisions within 10-15 days (or automatically waiving certification if deadlines are missed). The bill also clarifies that certain man-made ditches and upland basin marinas are not subject to coastal management regulations. These changes aim to accelerate project approvals while maintaining existing water quality standards. The bill is pending review and would take effect October 1, 2025.
HB 768 clarifies exemptions from in-building emergency responder communication system requirements in North Carolina's fire code. It exempts specific small buildings: R-2 apartment buildings of Type V construction meeting egress rules, and hotels/motels under two stories with direct exterior egress from each unit. The bill also provides rules for disconnecting existing communication systems in these exempt buildings and requires the Building Code Council to adopt formal rules incorporating these changes. These provisions directly affect property owners and developers of qualifying residential buildings by reducing compliance requirements.
HB 620 adds High Point University School of Law to the list of educational institutions receiving five free copies of appellate court reports annually. It establishes a new program within the Administrative Office of the Courts to oversee local accountability and recovery courts, requiring annual reports on their operation and effectiveness. The bill also prohibits modifying court forms without clear notation of changes and removes public notice requirements for name changes when applicants are in address confidentiality programs or victims of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, keeping related records private. These changes directly affect courts, law schools, attorneys, and individuals seeking name changes.
