HB 752 establishes two new funds to support transportation infrastructure: a $50 million Rail Fund for railroad upgrades, connections, and equipment, and an Airport Fund for airport capital improvements and flight incentives. The Rail Fund prioritizes projects that boost economic growth, with 60% of annual allocations reserved for matching federal grants and 30% for planning. The Airport Fund limits 80% of funds to capital projects (like runway upgrades), 17% to attract strategic flights, and up to 20% to safety improvements. Both funds require competitive allocation based on projected job creation and economic impact, with annual reports to lawmakers. This bill directly affects rail operators, airports, and industries relying on transportation networks across North Carolina.
HB 7, the NC REACH Act, requires all students graduating with a baccalaureate degree from a UNC system university or an associate degree from a North Carolina community college to complete at least three credit hours of coursework in American history or government. This coursework must include reading key documents like the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, plus a final exam worth 20% of the grade. Students may qualify for exemptions through AP/IB/Cambridge scores, dual enrollment, or prior equivalent coursework. The bill ensures these requirements do not increase total graduation credit hours or conflict with accreditation standards, with annual compliance reports due to the legislature starting in 2026.
SB 506 increases funding for North Carolina's Advanced Teaching Roles (ATR) program, which provides salary supplements to teachers in specialized roles. It allocates an additional $16.2 million for 2025-2026 and $20.1 million for 2026-2027 (totaling $27.1M and $31M annually) to fund these supplements, plus $1 million more for program expansion. The bill directs the Department of Public Instruction to distribute these funds to public school districts participating in the ATR program, as outlined in state law (G.S. 115C-310.13). This funding increase directly affects eligible teachers in participating schools by boosting their salary supplements. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, pending legislative approval.
HB 629 extends the deadline for North Carolina's Primary Care Payment Reform Task Force from May 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026. The task force studies primary care spending across Medicaid, the State Health Plan, and commercial insurance to evaluate system adequacy, define primary care services, and identify data collection methods. This extension allows the task force additional time to complete its analysis and submit reports to legislative committees, directly affecting state agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services responsible for implementing the study.
HB 656 splits North Carolina's District Court District 43 into two new districts (43A and 43B) and similarly divides Defender District 43 into 43A and 43B. District 43A covers Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties (with 7 judges), while 43B covers only Haywood and Jackson counties (with 4 judges). The bill appropriates funds for new judicial and public defender staff, including one district court judge, a chief public defender, and three assistant public defenders for District 43B, effective July 2026 for funding and January 2027 for the court structure. This procedural bill directly affects counties in western North Carolina by creating more localized court and public defender services.
HB 625 creates a new parole pathway for North Carolina inmates serving life sentences without parole, allowing potential release after 20 years if they complete specific requirements. Inmates must earn a high school equivalent or college degree, complete vocational training, and work through correctional programs. Those who qualify would serve a 5-year parole term, with violations risking return to prison and a 5-year parole ban. The law applies retroactively to inmates already serving 20+ years by August 1, 2025, and becomes effective on that date.
HB 642 appropriates $35 million from the state General Fund for Scotland County's wastewater treatment plant improvements during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are designated for specific upgrades to the county's wastewater infrastructure, directly benefiting Scotland County residents and local water management systems. The bill establishes a one-time, nonrecurring appropriation with no new regulatory requirements. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, after passing its first reading in the House.
HB 623 allocates $500,000 in state funds to the City of Greensboro for two specific purposes. $250,000 covers security, law enforcement, and transportation for Greensboro’s role as a training camp host for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The remaining $250,000 supports expenses for the 2025 North Carolina Folk Festival. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and directly affects Greensboro’s event planning and budgeting for these two events.
HB 630 restores a sales tax refund program for North Carolina's public school districts. It allows local school administrative units to receive annual refunds for sales tax paid on direct purchases of tangible property and services (like supplies or equipment), excluding items such as electricity, telecom, or food. The refund amount is capped at $13.3 million per year for all districts combined. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and adjusts state funding to reflect the restored refund program.
HB 639 requires all University of North Carolina (UNC) educator preparation programs to give first priority in admissions to applicants who qualify as North Carolina residents for tuition purposes under state law. This directly affects UNC schools offering teacher training programs and prospective in-state students applying to those programs starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. The bill mandates that programs follow the state's standardized residency determination process to verify applicant status. It does not change tuition rates but alters admission priority based solely on residency eligibility.
HB 651 reduces parent cost-sharing for subsidized child care in North Carolina by lowering the copayment rate from 10% to 7% of gross family income. This change directly affects families enrolled in state-subsidized child care programs who pay a portion of their care costs. The bill appropriates $25 million annually from the General Fund for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to fund this reduction, effective July 1, 2025. It also specifies adjusted copayment rates for blended-rate and part-time care scenarios.
HB 643 clarifies North Carolina's firearm storage law (G.S. 14-315.1) to explicitly include both loaded and unloaded firearms stored near ammunition. It directly affects households with minors by requiring owners to store firearms - whether loaded or unloaded - in a way that prevents unsupervised minor access, addressing a court case where an unloaded gun next to ammo led to a teen's accidental death. The bill amends the statute to specify that storage "in a condition that the firearm can be discharged" covers scenarios where firearms are accessible with ammunition, aligning with the law's intent to prevent harm. The change takes effect December 1, 2025, for offenses committed on or after that date.
