This bill aims to improve access to dental care in North Carolina by increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rates paid to dentists. Starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the state will allocate $80 million from the General Fund to raise these payment rates, which have not significantly changed since 2008. The legislation seeks to encourage more private dental providers to join the Medicaid program, thereby expanding the network of available dentists for patients. By making it more financially viable for dentists to accept Medicaid, the bill intends to help reduce the number of people relying on emergency departments for urgent dental needs.
This North Carolina bill allocates $4.4 million in recurring state funds starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support tax fraud detection efforts. The money will be given to the Department of Revenue to expand its existing contract with the Government Data Analytics Center for software, data analysis, and technical infrastructure. These resources are intended to improve the state's ability to identify tax evasion and manage collection cases through enhanced analytics and managed services. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directs the department to continue working with the analytics center's public-private partnerships.
This bill creates two main programs to support public servants in North Carolina. First, it establishes a Homebuyers' Assistance Program for first-time homebuyers who work as teachers, firefighters, police officers, or medical personnel, providing up to $25,000 or 10% of the purchase price for down payments and mortgage insurance. Second, it allows unpaid volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members to claim a state income tax credit of up to $5,000 to cover unreimbursed business expenses related to their rescue work. The down payment assistance program is funded with $200 million in recurring state money and will begin on July 1, 2026, while the tax credit applies to taxable years starting on or after January 1, 2026.
This North Carolina bill establishes a legal right for patients to access assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, and protects healthcare providers from state interference when offering these services. The legislation explicitly states that fertilized eggs or embryos outside the human body are not considered human beings under state law, while also maintaining existing health and safety regulations for medical facilities. Additionally, the bill appropriates $500,000 in state funds to increase financial support for the Medicaid Maternal Support Services program, known as the Baby Love Program, starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
This bill directs the North Carolina Department of Administration to create a comprehensive system for managing, cataloging, and disposing of vacant state-owned property. It requires the department to maintain detailed databases of all state buildings and land, including information on occupancy, condition, operating costs, and potential liability. Additionally, the legislation mandates the development of a five-year strategic plan to maximize facility use and reduce costs, along with specific rules to identify and sell surplus properties that no longer serve state missions. These changes primarily affect state agencies by establishing clearer procedures for space allocation and the removal of unused assets from the state portfolio.
This bill amends North Carolina law to allow same-sex couples to obtain domestic violence protective orders by removing gender restrictions from the definition of a dating relationship. It updates the legal definition of a personal relationship to include partners of any gender who are romantically involved, rather than limiting protection to opposite-sex couples. Additionally, the legislation allocates $500,000 in state funds to run a public awareness campaign focused on domestic violence prevention within same-sex relationships. The changes apply to all protection orders issued after the law takes effect.
This bill creates a $50 million grant program to help North Carolina public schools hire mental health professionals like counselors and social workers, with funding prioritized for schools serving students with limited access to care. It also establishes a loan repayment program that offers eligible school mental health workers up to $15,000 annually to pay down their student loans, provided they work in high-need areas and graduated from a UNC system institution. The legislation requires the state to report annually on how these funds are used and to ensure grants supplement rather than replace existing resources.
This bill provides funding and expanded flexibility for North Carolina's Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship Program, directly affecting eligible children of veterans attending state colleges and universities. It appropriates $1 million for the 2025-2026 academic year to increase award amounts for students whose scholarships were previously reduced, with any leftover funds reserved for additional scholarships starting in 2026-2027. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the bill allocates $10 million to double the number of available scholarships from 100 to 200 per class and extends administrative flexibility to allow officials to adjust award amounts, prioritize applicants, and manage room and board payments based on available funds. The legislation also permits the use of up to 2.5% of the program's budget for administrative costs and requires that all scholarship awards be contingent upon the availability of money.
This bill requires North Carolina state agencies to use zero-based budgeting on a rotating eight-year schedule starting in 2026. Under this method, agencies must justify every dollar of spending from scratch by listing specific activities, their legal basis, and the costs needed to maintain minimum or current service levels, rather than simply adjusting previous budgets. The Office of State Budget and Management will provide technical assistance to agencies as they prepare these plans, which must include data on program outcomes and the potential negative impacts of discontinuing any activity. Funding of $10,000 is allocated to the budget office to support the administration of this new requirement.
SB 820, the Safe Schools and Educational Access Act, aims to protect students in North Carolina public schools and colleges from discrimination based on their immigration status or national origin. The bill prohibits schools from denying enrollment or sharing student information with immigration authorities unless a judge orders it, effectively designating schools as safe zones for learning. Additionally, the legislation allocates $181 million in state funding to support services for students with limited English proficiency, such as hiring bilingual teachers and providing translation resources.
The Every School Has Resources Act creates a grant program to help smaller, rural, and lower-wealth school districts in North Carolina hire a Development Director to find outside funding. This position would be responsible for securing money from sources like private foundations and corporate sponsors to reduce reliance on local property taxes and state aid. The program offers full government funding for the first year of the role, but requires the school district to contribute matching funds in the second and third years if the director successfully raises additional money. To qualify, schools must submit a detailed plan showing how they will hire and manage the new staff member, and the state will prioritize applications from districts serving the most economically disadvantaged students. The initiative runs for three years, ending in June 2029, and includes strict reporting rules to ensure taxpayer money is used effectively.
SB 826 requires major state entities in North Carolina, including the University of North Carolina, state departments, courts, and the General Assembly, to publicly disclose their monthly spending. The bill mandates that these organizations compile and submit an itemized list of all purchases and services costing at least one dollar, along with a total monthly expenditure sum. Within ten days of receiving these reports, the Department of Administration or the relevant entity must publish the data on its website for public viewing, while still protecting any records legally designated as confidential. To support this new reporting requirement, the act appropriates $250,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to cover implementation costs for the affected agencies.
