SB 631 allocates $10.4 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and $14.1 million for 2026-2027 to increase salaries for juvenile justice staff in North Carolina. It directly affects Youth Counselor Technicians, Youth Services Behavioral Specialists, Youth Counselors, and Juvenile Court Counselors within the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The bill establishes new annual salary schedules for these roles, including specific pay rates based on experience levels for the 2025-2027 biennium. Additionally, $3.9 million is specifically designated to address existing pay gaps ("salary compression") among these staff members. The funding is intended to support workforce retention and recruitment within the juvenile justice system.
SB 620, the STRONG Act of 2025, targets North Carolina's fentanyl crisis through several key measures. It significantly increases prison terms and fines for drug trafficking, especially for fentanyl, heroin, or carfentanil (e.g., 28+ grams carries a minimum 225-month sentence), and adds 60 months to sentences for offenses near schools or parks (Section 3.3). The bill appropriates $10 million for the State Bureau of Investigation's Drug Task Force (Section 4.1) and expands the Controlled Substances Reporting System. It also funds opioid prevention/treatment programs and creates a tax credit for businesses hiring staff trained in substance use disorder (Section 4.2). These provisions directly affect traffickers, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and eligible businesses.
SB 549 creates two new paid leave programs for North Carolina state employees, public school staff, and community college workers. It provides at least 56 hours of paid leave for pregnancy loss (including miscarriage, failed adoption, or surrogacy) and up to three consecutive workdays of paid bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, etc.). The leave is in addition to existing sick/vacation time, requires a minimum service period that can be aggregated across state agencies and schools, and has no cash value upon termination. Funding of $1.8 million for pregnancy loss and $2 million for bereavement is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal years 2025-2027, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 534 allocates $237.5 million in one-time state funding from the Capital and Infrastructure Fund for capital projects at two North Carolina universities. Specifically, it provides $125 million to North Carolina A&T State University for an Agricultural Research Classroom and $112.5 million to Winston-Salem State University for a Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Complex. The funding is designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and becomes effective July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects the operations and infrastructure development of these two public universities.
SB 638, the "Fair Maps Act," proposes a constitutional amendment to replace North Carolina’s current legislative redistricting process with an independent commission. It would establish the North Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts after each federal census, removing direct control from the General Assembly and governor. The law requires districts to have equal population, remain contiguous, avoid splitting counties, and preserve communities of interest (like shared cultural or geographic ties). If approved by voters in 2026, this change would take effect for the 2030 census-based redistricting cycle.
SB 628, the Safe Schools Transparency Act, requires North Carolina public schools to immediately notify parents or guardians about credible threats targeting their child, the school campus, weapons, or requiring law enforcement action. Schools must provide notifications via multiple methods (text, email, phone, or website) within one hour of law enforcement confirmation, including threat details and response actions. Failure to notify can result in school funding reductions ($5,000 per violation), administrative penalties, or termination for responsible staff, with repeated failures triggering corrective plans or additional training. Additionally, schools must publish annual safety reports online detailing threats, lockdowns, security measures, and safety policies for parent review.
SB 627 allows North Carolina small businesses with annual gross receipts under $10 million to reduce their state income tax by deducting funds deposited into a special capital improvement account. Businesses can deduct up to 5% of their adjusted gross income (capped at $1 million), 2% (up to $2 million), or 1% (up to $3 million) for qualifying property improvements like upgrades that add value, extend property life by 10+ years, or adapt property for new business uses. Funds must be deposited into a federally insured bank account and used solely for these improvements; unused funds must be added back to taxable income. The bill takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and directly affects small businesses making eligible capital investments.
SB 636, the School Psychologist Omnibus, increases compensation for North Carolina school psychologists and creates programs to boost recruitment and training. It provides a $650 monthly salary supplement for all school psychologists, plus a 12% supplement for those with a nationally certified credential, funded by $8.1 million. The bill also allocates $1.7 million for grants to school districts offering up to $5,000 signing bonuses to recruit psychologists, $5 million for internship stipends, and $5 million for a virtual training program at Appalachian State University, plus $1.6 million to expand university training programs at five UNC schools. These changes, effective July 2025, directly affect school psychologists, public school districts, and university training programs to address staffing shortages.
SB 634, "Kayla's Act: Protecting Domestic Violence Victims," allows domestic violence victims to testify remotely in court to reduce trauma from facing their abuser. It directly affects victims in criminal cases involving domestic violence (as defined under North Carolina law), including assault, stalking, or violations of protection orders. The bill requires prosecutors to notify the defense 15 business days before remote testimony, with the defense needing to object in writing 5 days prior to prevent it. If the defense objects, a judge may still allow remote testimony if the victim would suffer serious emotional distress from testifying in person or if their communication would be impaired. The law also sets specific standards for how remote testimony must be conducted, including real-time audio/video and safeguards for cross-examination.
SB 625 creates two statewide awareness initiatives: one by the Department of Justice (Section 1) to educate North Carolinians about consumer finance risks like identity theft and fraud, and another by the Department of Health and Human Services (Section 2) to address health and civil rights topics including reproductive, LGBTQIA+, gender, and racial health issues. Both initiatives require developing public websites, local community toolkits, and state-coordinated outreach by July 2025, with reports due in September 2026. The bill prohibits using state funds for advocacy or lobbying on new laws, restricting the initiatives to explaining existing resources and laws. These programs directly affect residents through public education and local communities through customizable toolkits for community-led campaigns.
SB 618, the Lasting Economic and Academic Prosperity (LEAP) Act, establishes a state-funded endowment program to support early childhood development and child care initiatives in North Carolina. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) to use private donations (called "excluded amounts") and state funds held in a LEAP Reserve to generate investment income, which will supplement existing early childhood programs. The bill requires strict accounting to separate these funds, mandates annual reporting on spending and income to lawmakers, and appropriates $450,000 for fundraising in 2025-2026, with annual 5% increases for eight years. This directly affects North Carolina children by stabilizing early childhood program funding and incentivizes private donors through state matching.
SB 593, the "Grant Our Kids Care Act," allocates $30 million annually (2025-2027) for a pilot program to help licensed child care providers in North Carolina. It provides grants covering 75% of child care tuition for full-time staff (earning ≤85% of state median income) who have children under age five, with providers covering the remaining 25%. The program aims to expand licensed child care capacity by helping staff afford care for their own children, prioritizing counties with high unmet demand. It requires participating programs to create new slots without displacing existing children and mandates annual progress reports to the legislature.
