This bill establishes a Child Welfare Case Escalation Team to provide an extra layer of safety review for juveniles with complex histories of abuse or neglect. The team, composed of state and local representatives, will be activated when cases meet specific risk criteria, such as multiple prior reports, patterns of medical neglect, or a history involving child fatalities. Once triggered, the team will conduct a thorough assessment of the case, identify gaps in services, and collaborate with county social services to develop improved safety plans. This new mechanism aims to ensure consistent quality assurance and better protect vulnerable children by addressing chronic issues that may have been missed in previous interventions.
This bill directs North Carolina's Utilities Commission to adjust electricity rates to reflect fuel costs that utilities incurred after a previous rate-setting period ended. It requires the commission to include these recent fuel expenses in rate calculations, provided they were reasonable and prudently spent, while explicitly excluding costs from before that earlier period. The law also mandates that any difference between what utilities collected and what they actually spent on fuel be corrected over a 12-month period with interest applied. Additionally, the bill allocates $10,000 in state funds to the commission to support the administrative work needed to implement these changes, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.
This North Carolina bill makes it illegal for drivers to hold a live animal in their lap while operating a vehicle on public roads. The law classifies this violation as a minor infraction punishable by a $100 fine and court costs, but it does not add points to a driver's license or increase insurance rates. Additionally, the statute clarifies that breaking this rule does not automatically establish negligence in legal cases involving vehicle accidents. To support enforcement and education, the state will allocate $50,000 for a public awareness campaign starting in July 2026, with the law taking full effect on December 1, 2026.
This House resolution encourages Congress to allow states like North Carolina to regulate artificial intelligence for consumer protection purposes. It asserts that state governments should retain the authority to investigate and enforce laws against unfair or deceptive practices involving AI systems. The bill opposes any federal restrictions that would prevent states from applying their existing consumer protection rules to new technologies. Ultimately, it aims to ensure that local laws remain effective in addressing commercial abuses regardless of whether artificial intelligence is used.
This bill requires North Carolina's Department of Information Technology to offer advisory and consultation services to state agencies that are currently exempt from its standard IT programs. To support this new requirement, the legislation appropriates $50,000 to create an interagency liaison network and takes effect on July 1, 2026. The law does not change the existing list of exempt agencies but ensures they can still access guidance on IT activities if they request it.
This bill expands North Carolina Medicaid coverage to include doula services during pregnancy and the postpartum period while establishing a licensing system for certified professional midwives and birth centers. To support these changes, the state will seek approval from the federal government to cover doula care, create a new council to oversee midwife licensing, and appropriate funds to reimburse doulas and assist the workforce. The legislation defines specific skills doulas must possess, such as newborn care and cultural awareness, and sets up a regulatory framework that distinguishes licensed midwives from other healthcare providers like nurses and physicians.
This bill establishes a paid bereavement leave program for state employees, public school staff, and community college workers in North Carolina, effective July 1, 2026. It grants up to 40 hours of paid time off for the death of an immediate family member and up to eight hours for the death of a colleague who worked at the same agency within the past year. The legislation requires employees to provide documentation of the death and mandates that leave for family members be used within 180 days, while also allocating $2 million from the state budget to fund these benefits.
This bill creates a new legal pathway in North Carolina allowing individuals to sue anyone, including federal officials, for violating their rights under the U.S. Constitution. It establishes a civil cause of action that permits victims to seek monetary compensation, court orders to stop the violation, and payment for legal fees. The law explicitly states that it does not allow lawsuits against the state itself or waive the state's immunity from being sued. Additionally, the bill appropriates $150,000 to fund public education efforts about these new rights, with the main provisions taking effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill requires dentists in North Carolina who administer general anesthesia or sedation to report specific adverse events to the state Board of Dental Examiners within 72 to 30 days, depending on the severity of the incident. The law defines adverse events as serious clinical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, or unplanned advanced airway placement, and mandates that dentists halt their procedures until the board approves resuming their permits after an investigation. Additionally, the bill directs a university research group to study whether a second qualified anesthesia provider is necessary when using certain deep sedation drugs and allocates $100,000 to fund this study. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026, with the research funding becoming available on July 1, 2026.
This bill prohibits gambling on prediction markets in North Carolina by amending state gambling laws to explicitly include these platforms. It defines a prediction market as any online or physical platform where people bet money on the outcome of future events, making such activities a Class 2 misdemeanor for operators and participants. The law applies to both residents and non-residents offering services to North Carolina users and takes effect on December 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill allocates $10,000 in state funds to the State Lottery Commission to support enforcement efforts starting July 1, 2026.
This bill authorizes the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to issue certificates of title specifically for off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and utility vehicles. Owners of these vehicles can apply for a title by submitting a form with personal details and vehicle information, while paying the standard fee. The legislation clarifies that these vehicles are not eligible for road registration or transfer of registration but will receive a title to establish ownership. This change takes effect on October 1, 2026, providing a formal way to document ownership for these off-road machines without allowing them on public roads.
This bill designates the Office of the State Fire Marshal as the lead agency for coordinating emergency responses related to firefighting, search and rescue, and hazardous materials in North Carolina. It formally integrates the State Fire Marshal into the state's emergency operations plan as the Emergency Coordinating Officer for these specific functions, granting authority to manage planning, training, and resource allocation. The legislation allows the office to use funds from the Insurance Regulatory Fund to support these new responsibilities while ensuring that local fire departments and existing mutual aid agreements remain unaffected.
