This bill, known as the Government Modernization Act of 2026, directs North Carolina's Department of Information Technology to study and implement blockchain technology to improve security, reduce fraud, and increase transparency in state records and transactions. To support these efforts, the legislation appropriates $50 million from the Information Technology Reserve Fund to modernize outdated systems and expand online government services for residents and businesses. The Department must submit a progress report within 12 months of the law taking effect and provide annual updates to the General Assembly, while a new Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Digital Governance is created to supervise the project. The act is set to become effective on July 1, 2026, and will remain in force until June 30, 2031.
SB 844, titled the Affordable Energy Omnibus, aims to reduce electricity costs and modernize North Carolina's electric grid by introducing new regulations for large energy consumers. The bill specifically targets large-load facilities, defined as nonresidential sites with a peak electricity demand of 50 megawatts or more, such as data centers, requiring them to obtain a special operating certificate before construction or operation. Key provisions mandate that these facilities pay their full share of the infrastructure costs they create, ensuring that regular residential and small business customers are not forced to subsidize them. Additionally, the bill requires these large facilities to undergo a specific environmental review process and obtain local consent through a referendum before a certificate can be issued.
This bill requires public motocross facilities in North Carolina to carry liability insurance with a minimum of $1 million per incident and $2 million in total coverage. Owners must notify the state insurance commissioner immediately if their policy is cancelled or not renewed, and the commissioner can stop a facility from operating if proof of insurance is not provided. The law exempts private clubs that do not charge fees and facilities owned by the government, while also allocating $50,000 for an awareness campaign about risks to young riders.
This bill, known as Tyler's Law, requires North Carolina to conduct a full investigation before officially ruling any death as a suicide. Under the new rules, medical examiners must interview people connected to the scene and test for gunshot residue if a firearm was involved, ensuring these steps are documented before a final determination is made. To support this expanded work, the legislation increases the fee paid to county medical examiners from $200 to $400 per case and provides state funding to cover the cost increase starting in 2026. The law applies to all deaths occurring on or after it becomes effective, aiming to ensure thorough reviews of apparent suicides.
This North Carolina bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide new luggage, such as suitcases or backpacks, to children entering or currently in the foster care system when they are removed from a household. The legislation appropriates specific funds for this purpose and allows the department to accept additional donations, while explicitly defining new luggage as unused containers and excluding disposable bags. To ensure accountability, the bill requires an annual report detailing how often disposable bags are still used and how the new luggage inventory is managed. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, aiming to improve the personal belongings provided to children in state care.
This bill amends North Carolina's divorce laws to allow victims of domestic violence to file for divorce immediately without waiting the standard one year and six months of separation. It also eliminates the requirement to prove that the separation lasted for six months prior to filing the divorce complaint and removes defenses like recrimination that could block a divorce. Additionally, the legislation abolishes the outdated legal claims of alienation of affection and criminal conversation, which previously allowed lawsuits against third parties for interfering in a marriage. A separate provision in the bill appropriates $3 million in state and federal funds to expand the NC Medicaid Family Planning Program, effective in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
This bill creates the Frontline Mental Health Support Program in North Carolina to offer confidential counseling to public school teachers and first responders who face occupational stress. Eligible employees, including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, can access up to 12 licensed therapy sessions per year through in-person or telehealth options. The legislation appropriates $13 million in recurring funds starting in 2026-2027 to establish the program and expand the behavioral health workforce via grants to providers. It also mandates that participation cannot be used as grounds for any adverse employment actions and requires a report on the program's implementation by 2028.
This bill prohibits grocery stores in North Carolina from using automated systems to set individualized prices for specific customers and blocks mergers that could significantly reduce competition in the food retail sector. While it bans personalized pricing, the law allows for standard practices such as promotional discounts, location-based taxes, and special rates for groups like seniors or military personnel. Additionally, the legislation limits credit card surcharges to a maximum of two percent and requires the state Department of Justice to create a team that publishes quarterly reports on average prices for groceries and essential utilities. Enforcement of these rules will be supported by a recurring five million dollar appropriation to the Attorney General's office, with the act taking effect on October 1, 2026.
SB 849, known as the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act, aims to protect consumers in North Carolina by regulating how entertainment event tickets are sold and resold. The bill defines specific terms like 'bots' and 'speculative tickets' and requires ticket sellers to clearly display the total price, including all mandatory fees, before a purchase is completed. It also prohibits the sale of speculative tickets, which are tickets not yet owned by the seller, and bans resellers from selling more than one copy of the same ticket. Additionally, the law restricts resellers from selling tickets before they are made available to the general public unless authorized by the event organizer.
This bill appropriates five million dollars from the state Highway Fund to the City of Greenville for pedestrian safety improvements. The Department of Transportation will distribute these nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support infrastructure projects. The law becomes effective on July 1, 2026, enabling the city to implement specific safety measures for pedestrians.
This bill changes the election schedule for the Town of Pink Hill to require municipal elections to occur in even-numbered years instead of odd-numbered years. It also restores in-person voting as the primary method for electing the mayor and board of commissioners, while establishing a staggered four-year term structure for all elected officials. To align with these changes, the bill extends the current terms of some officials whose terms would have ended in 2027 and 2029, and it suspends all municipal elections for the town in 2027.
This bill authorizes the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to create the First Broad River State Trail in Cleveland and Rutherford Counties. The trail would connect the river's headwaters in Golden Valley to its confluence with the Broad River, linking communities like Shelby and Zion while aiming to increase public access points. The legislation allows the state to use existing funds from various conservation sources to acquire land and develop the trail, rather than requiring new budget appropriations. Additionally, the bill allocates $25,000 in 2026-2027 for planning and public education efforts related to the project.
