HB 975 allows North Carolina emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to carry pepper spray openly or concealed while on duty, subject to mandatory training (up to law enforcement standards), provider approval, and a ban on use during patient transport in ambulances. It also exempts EMS personnel from needing a veterinary license to provide emergency medical care to injured police K-9 units or certified search and rescue dogs at emergency scenes. The bill grants limited immunity for EMS personnel acting in good faith during such care, but not for gross negligence or intentional misconduct. These provisions take effect on July 1, 2025, for pepper spray use and 30 days after enactment for animal care exemptions.
HB 959 requires North Carolina public schools to adopt internet safety policies by January 2026, limiting student access to age-appropriate content and blocking social media except for teacher-directed educational use. It mandates annual social media literacy instruction in all grades, covering mental health impacts, misinformation, online safety, and identifying cyberbullying. The bill also establishes rules for wireless device use during class, prohibiting personal device use except for educational purposes, medical needs, or special education plans. These provisions directly affect all K-12 public schools and students across North Carolina, with policies to be implemented starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
HB 537 creates a legal presumption of death for individuals missing for at least 90 days during a declared disaster (state or federal), simplifying legal processes for families. It requires the Office of Vital Records to process birth and death certificate amendment requests within 30 days of receiving complete applications. The bill also prohibits Office of Vital Records staff from teleworking unless during a declared emergency, to maintain processing timelines. These changes directly affect families of missing persons in disaster zones and individuals needing vital record corrections.
SB 391 revises North Carolina's Department of Transportation (DOT) laws with four key changes. It requires commercial driver training schools to follow public school standards for learner's permit courses (affecting driving schools and students), clarifies that a co-owner's death doesn't trigger auto dealer license renewal issues (affecting dealers), and revises DOT cash balance requirements to maintain 7.5% monthly cash reserves while targeting 15-20% long-term (affecting DOT fund management). It also removes reporting obligations for the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (affecting the Turnpike Authority). The bill bundles these administrative and regulatory updates without new funding or major program changes.
HB 226 removes three specific property parcels (identified by tax numbers) from the City of Greensboro's corporate limits. This change means those properties will no longer be subject to Greensboro municipal taxes for tax years beginning July 1, 2025, and later. The bill preserves the city's right to collect existing tax liens and special assessments for properties removed as of January 1, 2025. The law becomes effective June 30, 2025.
HB 173 freezes Wake County municipalities' ability to expand extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) beyond their 2025 boundaries until 2028, directly affecting local governments in Wake County. It removes one specific property parcel (tax ID 966773980500000) from Asheville's city limits, effective June 2025, while preserving existing tax liens. The bill also revises rules for commercial development moratoria, requiring four hearings (two in-person in affected areas) and detailed justifications for any 60-day moratorium, which cannot be renewed. These changes apply to all North Carolina municipalities adopting commercial development moratoria after the bill's effective date.
This bill confirms Governor's reappointment of Kenneth L. Goodman of Richmond County to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, a position handling workers' compensation and workplace safety oversight. It formally approves Goodman's term, which began May 1, 2025, and expires April 30, 2031, as required by state law (G.S. 97-77(a1)). The resolution follows standard legislative confirmation procedures for gubernatorial appointments to this commission. This is a procedural measure with no new policy changes, solely affirming an existing appointment.
HB 309 creates a separate Transylvania Rural Development Authority with nine appointed members (residents of Transylvania County) to operate independently from the county government. It establishes governance rules, including member appointment terms, conflict-of-interest restrictions, and requirements for public meetings. The bill also updates the charter of the Town of Boiling Springs to revise its incorporation language. These changes apply only to Transylvania County and the Town of Boiling Springs, with no new funding or policy changes beyond structural reorganization.
This procedural bill appoints specific individuals to fill unexpired terms on boards of North Carolina's public universities and community colleges, based on recommendations from the Senate President Pro Tempore and House Speaker. It names 34 appointees (e.g., William "Brian" Allen to UNC Chapel Hill's board, Darrell McLean to N.C. A&T's board) for institutions like Western Carolina University and Alamance Community College. All appointments take effect immediately and expire between 2026-2029, with some filling vacancies left by prior appointees. The bill does not create new policy but formalizes existing recommendations for board positions.
HB 568 modifies North Carolina's labor laws primarily to streamline safety inspections and administrative processes. It restricts subpoenas against Department of Labor staff during safety investigations (except in enforcement cases or with written consent), limits public hearings for adopting federal safety standards identical to federal rules, and requires medical examiners to share workplace injury reports with the Labor Commissioner within 30 days. The bill also clarifies that safety inspection documents remain admissible in court without witness testimony unless reliability is in question. These changes affect the Department of Labor, employers, and workers' safety investigators by altering how evidence is handled and shared in workplace safety cases.
HB 1012 redirects over $64 million in existing state funds to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene and wildfires in Western North Carolina. It transfers $25 million from the Environmental Quality budget for water infrastructure repairs, $12.5 million for school closures, $5 million for university facility repairs, and $2.25 million for election operations in impacted areas. The bill applies to counties designated under federal disaster declarations for Hurricane Helene (per Section 1.4) and addresses wildfire recovery efforts hampered by the storm (per Section 1.5). These funds are drawn from unspent allocations in existing state programs, not new taxes.
HB 576 makes technical revisions to North Carolina's laws governing the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It designates DHHS as the agency managing school nurse funds, requiring school nurses to focus solely on health services (like health education and emergency response) rather than instructional duties. The bill extends until June 2028 the temporary use of the federal health insurance marketplace for determining Medicaid eligibility, and clarifies that Medicaid coverage for people released from prison continues for up to 12 months post-release. It also updates Medicaid provider screening rules to align with federal standards, particularly for Indian Health Program providers.
