This bill requires most North Carolina employers to provide earned paid sick leave to workers. Employees would earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with small businesses (10 or fewer employees) limited to 32 hours annually and other employers to 56 hours. Workers could use this time for their own illness, family medical care, or safety-related needs like domestic violence or sexual assault recovery. The law applies to most private-sector employees but excludes volunteers and certain exempt workers, directly affecting over 1.6 million North Carolinians currently without access to paid sick days.
SB 632 ("Homes for Heroes") creates a homebuyers' assistance program for North Carolina public servants (including teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel) who are first-time homebuyers. It provides up to $25,000 or 10% of a home's purchase price - covering down payments, mortgage insurance, and closing costs - using $200 million in state funds, with mortgage assistance limited to 60 months. Separately, it establishes a tax credit for volunteer firefighters and rescue workers who incur unreimbursed work expenses, capping the credit at $5,000 or the taxpayer's annual income tax liability, requiring 36 hours of annual training. The program begins July 1, 2025, and the tax credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2025.
SB 608 expands North Carolina's Work First Cash Assistance program to include pregnant women as eligible family members, increasing access for low-income households. It raises cash benefit amounts to 50% of the federal poverty level (up from 40%), increases income eligibility to 75% of federal poverty guidelines, and raises resource limits to $5,000 (with vehicle exemptions). The bill removes state-imposed time limits on assistance, keeping only federal requirements (e.g., 24-month limits for most cases), and updates definitions to clarify eligibility. These changes directly affect low-income families, particularly pregnant individuals and those with modest assets, by expanding support and reducing barriers to aid.
SB 504, the North Carolina Farmland and Military Protection Act, prohibits foreign governments designated as "adversarial" by the U.S. Department of State from purchasing, leasing, or holding interests in agricultural land or land within 75 miles of military installations in North Carolina. The bill defines agricultural land broadly (excluding small research leases under 250 acres) and specifically lists military sites like Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Any violation would void the transfer, and the law takes effect on December 1, 2025. This directly affects adversarial foreign governments seeking to acquire such land, aiming to protect food production and military security.
SB 597 requires North Carolina state agencies to evaluate the cumulative environmental impact of proposed permits on minority and low-income communities before granting approvals. This applies to mining, waste facilities, hazardous waste sites, and other projects requiring state permits, directly affecting permit applicants and state agencies like the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill mandates that agencies deny permits if they find the proposed project would have a disproportionate adverse impact on these communities, considering existing environmental burdens in the area. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, for all pending permit applications.
SB 560 establishes a state task force to address racial disparities in cases involving missing and murdered Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) women and girls. The task force, composed of state agency representatives and community members with lived experience, will develop policies to improve law enforcement responses, collect better data on missing persons, and create public awareness campaigns. It will specifically focus on ending the misclassification of cases (e.g., labeling Black girls as "runaways"), addressing systemic barriers in reporting, and developing culturally competent protocols for first responders. The task force must submit a report with recommendations within two years of the bill’s enactment.
SB 592 allocates $25 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund one-time grants for North Carolina counties and private employers to expand child care capacity. The grants cover construction, equipment, facility upgrades, and playgrounds, with recipients required to provide a 25% matching contribution. Up to 9% of the grant funds can be used for administrative costs. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, directly supporting child care providers seeking to improve facilities and services.
SB 630, the School Mental Health Support Act, creates two programs to improve student mental health services in North Carolina public schools. It appropriates $50 million for a grant program to help schools hire mental health support personnel (like counselors and psychologists), prioritizing schools serving students without insurance or with disabilities. Additionally, it allocates $50 million for a loan repayment program covering 20% of student debt annually for mental health workers (e.g., counselors, psychologists) who graduated from UNC schools and work in high-need areas. Both programs require annual reporting to legislative committees on funding distribution and outcomes. The bill directly affects public school units and mental health professionals in North Carolina.
SB 622 requires North Carolina employers to provide earned paid sick leave, directly affecting over 1.6 million private-sector workers currently without access. Employees earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with small businesses (10 or fewer employees) limited to 32 hours annually and larger employers to 56 hours. Workers can use this time for their own health needs, family care, or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The law applies to all covered employees except certain exempt workers and volunteers, aiming to ensure workers don’t lose pay for essential health-related absences.
SB 629, the "Ride Safe, Insure Smart Act," requires motocross facilities open to the public to carry liability insurance of at least $1 million per incident and $2 million total. This applies to facility owners and operators (including businesses), but excludes private, non-fee facilities and government-run locations. Operators must provide proof of insurance to the Insurance Commissioner upon request, and the Commissioner can halt operations if proof is missing. Insurance must come from an authorized North Carolina insurer and include 30 days' written notice before cancellation, suspension, or nonrenewal. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 621 reinstates a temporary sales tax exemption for school supplies in North Carolina, effective July 1, 2025. The bill reenacts G.S. 105-164.13C, which exempts qualifying items like notebooks, pens, and backpacks from state sales tax during a designated period each year. This directly affects families purchasing school supplies for children, reducing their out-of-pocket costs. The policy change is limited to tax relief for specific items and does not alter education funding or curriculum.
SB 626, the Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act, allows victims of domestic violence in North Carolina to obtain an absolute divorce without waiting the standard one-year-six-month separation period. To qualify, a victim must provide evidence (such as police reports, medical records, or domestic violence program documentation) proving the abuse and submit a statement confirming their status as a victim. The bill also abolishes outdated common-law lawsuits for "alienation of affection" (suing someone for breaking up a marriage) and "criminal conversation" (suing for adultery). These changes directly affect domestic violence survivors seeking divorce and eliminate specific legal claims that no longer align with modern family law. The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to new divorce cases filed after that date.
