This bill creates a pilot program to train new individuals with no prior experience as lead teachers in North Carolina's licensed child care centers. Funded by state money and requiring a local match, the program offers free, intensive training courses through community colleges in selected counties, with graduates receiving a state credential and potential stipends for completing the course and working for a year. The initiative aims to expand the child care workforce by establishing academies across the state, starting in Johnston and Wayne counties, and includes requirements for local partnerships to select additional sites. Additionally, the bill directs the North Carolina Partnership for Children to study the feasibility of liability insurance for providers and update bidding rules for child care grants.
This North Carolina bill allows taxpayers to deduct up to $5,000 of unreimbursed costs for prescribed medications and pharmacy fees from their state income tax. The deduction applies to expenses not covered by tax-advantaged accounts like Flexible Spending or Health Savings Accounts and prevents double-dipping if a federal deduction is already claimed for the same year. Effective for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2026, the measure directly affects individuals paying out-of-pocket for prescription drugs who itemize their state taxes.
This bill creates a new Rural Healthcare Infrastructure Fund in North Carolina to help build, repair, and modernize healthcare facilities in rural areas. The fund will provide money through grants and low-interest loans to support construction and renovation projects, while also replacing an older stabilization program. A state council must first develop and get approval for a detailed plan outlining how the fund will be managed and who can apply before any money is awarded. The bill also updates the duties of the state health council and requires annual reports on how the fund is being used.
House Bill 433 allows licensed registered nurses (RNs) to serve as school nurses in North Carolina public schools. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring a four-year degree for school nurse employment. It specifies that RNs with at least two years of experience in a hospital or health clinic can work as school nurses without needing additional certifications or licenses. These qualified registered nurses will be paid under the certified school nurse pay scale.
House Bill 390, titled "Alleviate the Dangers of Surgical Smoke," establishes new standards for surgical smoke evacuation in North Carolina. This bill requires all licensed hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to adopt and implement policies mandating the use of a smoke evacuation/filtering system during surgical procedures likely to generate surgical smoke. A smoke evacuation/filtering system is defined as equipment that captures, filters, and eliminates surgical smoke at its origin. The Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to take adverse action against facilities that violate these new requirements. This act is scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2026.
HB 727 modifies the licensure process for marriage and family therapists and therapy associates in North Carolina. It streamlines the process for professionals licensed in other states to obtain a North Carolina license through reciprocity, making it mandatory for qualified applicants. The bill adjusts experience requirements and expands acceptable examination options to include California's clinical examination. Additionally, it clarifies that all applicants, including those applying via reciprocity, must undergo criminal history record checks. These changes aim to facilitate licensing for out-of-state therapists while maintaining regulatory oversight.
SB 164 creates a new Class F felony offense for entering someone's property without legal justification during a declared emergency in an emergency area and taking, damaging, or destroying *temporary shelter* - such as tents, trailers, mobile homes, or vehicles used as living quarters. It directly affects individuals who might loot temporary housing following disasters like floods or storms, where standard security is compromised. The law specifies that victims can sue offenders for triple their actual damages plus legal fees. This amendment to North Carolina law (effective December 2025) targets the specific act of stealing or damaging emergency housing, not general property crimes.
This bill proposes amending the North Carolina Constitution to ban corporations from spending money to influence election outcomes. It directly affects business entities by stating that only human beings can exercise political spending power within the state. The measure includes specific exceptions for political committees and news organizations owned by parties or candidates, while threatening to revoke corporate legal protections like limited liability for any violations. Because the bill requires voter approval, it will be placed on the November 2026 ballot for a public referendum rather than becoming law immediately.
This bill allows the mayor of the Town of Conetoe to vote on all matters before the Board of Commissioners, changing the current rule that restricts the mayor to voting only in case of a tie. By amending the town's charter, the legislation grants the mayor full voting power alongside other commissioners on questions affecting the town. The change applies immediately upon the bill becoming law and directly impacts how decisions are made within the Conetoe town council.
This bill amends the charter of the Town of Stanley to grant the Town Manager the authority to hire, suspend, or remove most town employees, specifically excluding the town attorney, tax collector, and clerk. Under this change, the Town Council would retain the power to appoint and dismiss the town attorney while delegating all other personnel decisions to the manager. The legislation also clarifies that the mayor and council members cannot serve as the town manager or interim manager, ensuring a clear separation between elected officials and the appointed chief administrator.
This bill clarifies that designating a historic district in Mecklenburg County does not count as "down-zoning" under state law. By making this distinction, the legislation ensures that local governments can create historic districts without needing the written consent of every property owner within the area, a requirement that currently applies to other types of down-zoning. The law also prohibits waiting periods that prevent applicants from resubmitting denied development requests. These changes apply retroactively to December 11, 2024, and affect only Mecklenburg County.
This bill expands the authority of the Town of Davidson to adopt ordinances regulating the demolition of historic structures within its boundaries. By amending an existing state law, it adds Davidson to a list of municipalities that can create specific rules for tearing down historic buildings. The legislation does not establish new demolition rules itself but instead enables the town to develop its own local regulations. This change directly affects the Davidson town council and property owners who might be subject to future demolition restrictions.
