HB 692 requires all North Carolina public schools to install at least two automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) per school building - one in a state-identified location and one in athletic facilities - and provide annual training for school staff in AED use and CPR. The bill directly affects public school personnel, students, and school districts by mandating specific installation, maintenance, and training protocols through new rules from the State Board of Education. Key provisions include requiring schools to coordinate with emergency medical systems, maintain AEDs properly, and develop policies aligned with state guidelines. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, using existing school funding for implementation.
HB 724 establishes the NC-Federal Alignment for Critical Technologies Task Force (NC-FACT) within North Carolina's Department of Commerce. The task force, composed of state agency staff and potentially partners from UNC institutions or the private sector, must study ways to improve collaboration between state, federal, and private entities in science and technology. It is required to develop economic strategies focused on attracting out-of-state investment and streamline resources for tech industries, then submit annual reports with actionable recommendations to the legislature by April 1 each year. The bill creates a study group with specific research duties and reporting requirements but does not enact direct funding or regulatory changes.
HB 704 establishes the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Commission within North Carolina’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The commission, composed of nine members appointed by the Governor and General Assembly, advises on preserving, promoting, and interpreting AAPI history, arts, and culture through programs, school education, and statewide collaboration. It receives $250,000 annually from 2025-2027 to fund operations, including a director and associate director. The bill directly affects the department and AAPI communities by creating a formal structure to advance cultural preservation and awareness. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
HB 706 changes how North Carolina allocates public school capital funds by eliminating the use of the Department of Commerce's economic development tier designations. Instead, it requires funding to be based on either a county's adjusted property value (with specific matching percentages) or HUD-designated poverty areas. The bill affects all public K-12 schools, community colleges, and UNC institutions receiving state education funds, prohibiting agencies from using Commerce's economic tiers for allocation starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It also repeals prior sections allowing tier-based funding and mandates equal per-school allocations for certain cooperative high schools. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, for new grant applications.
HB 686, the Safe Cosmetics Act, prohibits the sale or distribution of cosmetic products in North Carolina containing specific restricted substances - such as PFAS, heavy metals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and asbestos - as intentionally added chemicals, nonfunctional by-products, or nonfunctional contaminants above measurable limits. The bill defines "practical quantification limit" as the lowest reliably measurable concentration and requires manufacturers to provide a compliance certificate if the Board of Agriculture suspects violations. It directly affects cosmetic manufacturers and retailers selling products in North Carolina, mandating adherence to these chemical restrictions starting January 1, 2026. The law aims to reduce consumer exposure to chemicals linked to health concerns by banning them in cosmetics above specified thresholds.
HB 684 establishes North Carolina's first formal environmental justice framework to address disproportionate health and environmental risks faced by BIPOC, low-income, and marginalized communities. The bill defines key terms like "communities of color" (40%+ nonwhite residents or 10% higher than county/state) and "disproportionate impact" to guide state agencies. It requires all state agencies to identify and reduce environmental health disparities by considering environmental justice in decision-making, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits like clean air, green spaces, and renewable energy. The law aims to create consistent standards for addressing pollution burdens and health inequities across North Carolina.
HB 738 restores specific definitions for wetland protections in North Carolina by repealing prior legislative changes and reinstating the 2010 North Carolina Wetland Assessment Manual definitions. It explicitly defines "isolated wetlands" to include those confirmed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before June 2020 and wetlands classified as basins or bogs under the state's 2010 manual (excluding man-made stormwater features). The bill also clarifies that "wetlands" include waters meeting federal definitions (33 C.F.R. § 328.3 and 40 C.F.R. § 230.3) and the reinstated isolated wetland category. This directly affects developers, landowners, and local governments by determining which projects require wetland permits under state law. The policy change reinstates pre-2020 regulatory boundaries without creating new restrictions.
HB 739 allocates $61.3 million in nonrecurring state funds for specific projects in Wilson and Nash counties, primarily benefiting Wilson County entities and two towns. The bill directs funds for water infrastructure in Lucama, sewer projects in Stantonsburg, volunteer fire departments, school construction, a new courthouse, sheriff's training, Narcan in schools/libraries, housing authority projects, a transit program, and a new police building in Sharpsburg. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, with all funding designated for immediate, concrete local needs without new policy requirements.
HB 744 establishes a three-year fertility preservation pilot program (2025-2032) using $2.25 million annually to help cancer patients who face financial barriers to fertility treatments. It directly affects individuals diagnosed with cancer or undergoing cancer treatment who are uninsured, have limited insurance coverage for fertility services, or would pay over $1,000 out-of-pocket, including those with household incomes below 300% of the federal poverty level. The program covers up to $12,000 for egg preservation/storage (women), $1,500 for sperm preservation (men), and $26,000 for IVF/IUI procedures, administered by three designated North Carolina medical centers. Grantees must report annually on services provided and program effectiveness, with funds expiring June 30, 2032.
HB 749 appropriates $9,818,000 in one-time state funds to the City of Greensboro for public safety projects. The bill directs $9 million to construct a new fire station serving the north side of Piedmont Triad International Airport and $818,000 to relocate, enhance, and operate the Greensboro Police Department's Real Time Intelligence Center. These funds are allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects Greensboro's fire and police services by funding specific infrastructure and technology upgrades.
HB 750 appropriates $2.5 million annually (2025-2027) to fund grants for nonprofit community health centers in North Carolina. These grants enable centers to purchase and distribute long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as IUDs or implants, specifically for underserved, uninsured, or low-income patients. LARCs are defined as FDA-approved, temporary contraceptive methods requiring no daily user action (e.g., pills) and a prescription. The bill establishes a competitive grant process administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, targeting expanded access to these contraceptives without altering existing patient eligibility rules.
HB 745, the Fair Competition Study Act, requires North Carolina's Public Utilities Commission to study ways to improve competition in the state's energy market. The study will assess current electricity provider structures, evaluate regional market options like energy imbalance markets or transmission organizations, and analyze impacts on customer costs, environmental goals, and vulnerable communities. The Commission must complete the study within one year and report findings to lawmakers, with the goal of informing potential future policy changes. This bill does not change current energy laws but directs a review to guide future decisions.
