SB 433 reinstates longevity pay for North Carolina educators, directly affecting teachers, instructional support staff, principals, and assistant principals in public schools. It sets specific annual payment rates based on years of state service: 1.5% for 10-14 years, 2.25% for 15-19 years, 3.25% for 20-24 years, and 4.5% for 25+ years, paid as a lump sum each year. The bill appropriates $140.3 million from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund these payments. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, restoring previously cut longevity benefits.
SB 452 raises North Carolina's minimum marriage age to 18 for all individuals, eliminating exceptions that previously allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with court approval or parental consent. The bill repeals existing provisions (G.S. 51-2(a1) and G.S. 51-2.1) that permitted judicial authorization for marriages involving minors under 18, including requirements for court orders, guardian ad litem appointments, and best-interest determinations. This change directly affects minors under 18 who would have sought marriage under the previous law, removing all pathways for underage marriage except for those 18 or older. The policy shift standardizes the marriage age without exceptions, aligning North Carolina with states that prohibit marriage for individuals under 18.
This bill allows widows and widowers in North Carolina to legally hyphenate their pre-marriage surname with their late spouse's surname. It amends state law to add this option as a specific choice when changing a name after the death of a spouse, alongside existing choices like resuming a maiden name or using a prior spouse's surname. To implement this, individuals would apply to their county clerk of court with proof of the spouse's death, similar to current name change procedures. The change directly affects widows and widowers seeking a formal, legally recognized hyphenated surname combining their pre-marital and deceased spouse's last names.
SB 453 limits nonrefundable "due diligence" fees in home sales to 1% of the purchase price, preventing sellers from requiring higher amounts as a condition of accepting offers. Any contract clause exceeding this amount is void, and sellers who enforce it may face legal costs and attorney fees. The bill also allocates $10 million to the North Carolina Housing Coalition to fund homebuyer education programs statewide. These provisions directly affect homebuyers and sellers in residential transactions, aiming to reduce upfront financial barriers and improve buyer preparedness. The law takes effect for new offers on or after October 1, 2025, with the funding provision beginning July 1, 2025.
SB 428 (Water Transfer Regulations) requires permits for large-scale transfers of surface water between North Carolina's river basins. It mandates a certificate from the state commission for transfers exceeding 2 million gallons per day (or increases of 25%+ for existing transfers), with exceptions for facilities operational by July 1993. The bill establishes public hearing requirements, including meetings in source and receiving basins, and requires applicants to evaluate alternatives to transfers. It directly affects water users, local governments, and utilities planning cross-basin water transfers. The law aims to regulate water movement between drainage areas while maintaining existing infrastructure.
SB 395, the Disaster Relief Eviction Moratorium Act, allows North Carolina's Governor to issue an executive order banning residential evictions in declared emergency areas during disasters causing widespread job loss or economic hardship. The moratorium starts at up to 90 days, with possible 30-day extensions, for a maximum total of 180 days, and applies directly to renters and landlords in the affected area. The Governor must determine that the disaster would lead to increased homelessness without the ban, and the moratorium cannot be overridden by the General Assembly or Council of State. The bill also permits the Governor to direct state and federal funds toward rental assistance programs to support both tenants and landlords during the moratorium.
SB 435 restores education-based salary supplements for North Carolina teachers and instructional support personnel (ISP) that were previously eliminated. It directs the State Board of Education to use the 2013 policy (TCP-A-006) to determine eligibility for the "M" salary schedule and degree-based pay increases (e.g., for master's or doctoral degrees). The bill appropriates $8 million from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund these reinstated supplements. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting eligible educators' pay through revised salary calculations.
SB 411 changes how school bus camera footage is used in traffic enforcement and extends contracts for these cameras. It makes footage from automated school bus safety cameras "prima facie evidence" (meaning it automatically counts as proof) that a driver failed to stop for a bus displaying stop signals, directly affecting drivers who violate this rule. The bill also extends the maximum contract length for local school boards to partner with private vendors for these cameras from 3 to 5 years, with one possible 5-year renewal. These changes apply to offenses committed after December 1, 2025, and new contracts after July 1, 2025.
SB 454, the Community Safety Act, allocates $5.5 million in state funds for North Carolina law enforcement agencies over the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides grants for community policing programs ($1 million), officer incentives for exemplary service or diversity efforts ($1.5 million), and additional detective funding for severe crimes ($2 million). The bill also revises use-of-force policies to ban strangleholds and neck restraints as acceptable tactics, requiring officers to use minimum force and prioritize de-escalation. Additionally, it sets a minimum hiring age of 21 for officers and allows denial of certification based on certain felony or misdemeanor convictions, regardless of expungement. These provisions directly affect all law enforcement agencies and officers in North Carolina.
SB 615, the Property Tax Rate Transparency Act, requires local governments in North Carolina to hold a vote on whether to use a revenue-neutral tax rate during years when they conduct a general property reappraisal. This affects counties, cities, and other local governments that reappraise property values. The bill mandates that governing boards vote on adopting a tax rate calculated to maintain the same total tax revenue as the previous year (after accounting for new property values), rather than automatically adjusting rates based on reappraised values. If approved by a majority, the local government must use this revenue-neutral rate in its budget; otherwise, it follows standard tax levy procedures. This changes how local tax rates are set during reappraisal cycles, making the rate decision subject to a formal vote.
HB 482 reauthorizes North Carolina's teacher bonus program for 2025-2027, expanding eligibility to include teachers who leave their school due to military orders. It allows qualifying teachers to receive bonuses based on student performance (e.g., AP/IB exam scores or industry certifications) even if they no longer teach at the same school, provided they submit a military transfer notice and updated address by January 1. The bill maintains existing bonus amounts ($50 for advanced courses, $25/$50 for CTE certifications) but adds this military exception to the eligibility criteria. This directly affects public school teachers who separate due to military service but meet other bonus qualifications.
HB 490 revises North Carolina's community college funding model to prioritize enrollment in workforce-focused programs. It requires the State Board of Community Colleges to allocate base funding plus additional funds based on full-time student enrollment in curriculum, workforce training, and Basic Skills courses, with weighted funding for high-demand fields. The bill also creates an "Enrollment Increase Reserve" to fund colleges with enrollment growth exceeding 5% in targeted programs and permits community colleges to add up to a 10% tuition surcharge for eligible courses, with funds restricted to instructional costs. These changes directly affect community colleges and students in workforce education, effective July 1, 2025.
