SB 907, known as the Ciji Graham Act, establishes a new High-Risk Pregnancy Care Navigation Program in North Carolina to assist patients with high-risk pregnancies by providing licensed nurse consultants who help coordinate care and address barriers like transportation and insurance. The bill also creates a statewide pregnancy consultation hotline for healthcare providers and community organizations to offer immediate clinical guidance and referrals, alongside a centralized digital hub containing clinical guidelines and a directory of specialists and facilities. Funded through the state General Fund, these measures aim to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities by ensuring timely access to appropriate medical resources and services.
This bill creates the Affordable Maternal Access and Cancer Care Act to improve health outcomes for marginalized groups in North Carolina by establishing two new programs. The first part sets up a grant program that provides funding to community-led organizations to address maternal mortality and severe illness among underserved populations, with a focus on supporting social needs like housing, nutrition, and transportation. The second part ensures that patients do not face higher costs for necessary breast imaging tests compared to standard screening mammograms. The legislation appropriates five million dollars for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund these initiatives and hire staff to manage the grants.
This bill modifies tax exemptions for nonprofit hospitals in North Carolina by linking property tax relief directly to the cost of charity care provided to low-income patients. Under the new rules, a hospital's property tax exemption is calculated based on the actual cost of services given to uninsured or underinsured individuals with family incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, the legislation expands sales tax refunds for nonprofit hospitals, allowing them to recover taxes on over-the-counter drugs and capping the total refund at the lesser of a fixed dollar amount or the hospital's verified charity care costs. These changes are designed to ensure that tax benefits are tied to specific charitable activities rather than general operations. The provisions will take effect for tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
This bill allocates $7.5 million in state funds to help counties support people participating in local judicially managed accountability and recovery courts. The money will be given out through a competitive grant process to pay for job training, transportation, and other employment-related costs like tools or childcare. These services must be tailored to each participant's individual recovery and treatment plans and can be provided by community colleges, workforce boards, or other approved organizations. Counties are limited to receiving up to $150,000 per year unless they request an exception based on specific needs, and officials will report on how the funds are used and the results achieved.
This bill directs the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Ferry Division within the Department of Transportation. The audit will review financial spending, evaluate current operations and maintenance activities, and analyze the route system to identify ways to increase revenue and lower costs. Additionally, the auditor will explore options for diversifying revenue sources to support capital projects and cover operating expenses. The final report must be submitted to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division by October 1, 2026.
HB 1091, known as the DWI Modernization Act of 2026, updates North Carolina laws regarding impaired driving to improve enforcement, increase penalties, and provide clearer procedures for drivers. The bill requires magistrates to provide written explanations when dismissing DWI charges, ensuring officers must justify their probable cause decisions based on specific test results and observations. It also adjusts fees for license restoration, increases fines for repeat offenders, and mandates that transportation network drivers meet the same sobriety standards as commercial bus drivers. Additionally, the legislation makes it a felony for adults to help minors obtain alcohol if that minor causes serious injury, while also clarifying the immediate revocation process for drivers who refuse chemical tests.
This North Carolina bill appropriates $250,000 in state funds to Smart Start of Forsyth County for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds are distributed through the Department of Health and Human Services to provide a directed grant. The grant is intended to expand early childhood education and family support services within Forsyth County. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2026.
This North Carolina bill allocates $500,000 from the state's General Fund to support two specific YMCA locations in Winston-Salem: the YMCA REACH Center and the Robinhood Road Family YMCA. The money is designated as nonrecurring funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and will be split equally between the two sites to cover operational costs and community programming. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, providing direct financial assistance to help these organizations run their programs and services.
HB 1093 allocates $3.1 million in state funding to the Museum of Life and Science in North Carolina for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The money is designated to support the construction of the Mike Woodard Lab and a new exhibit called Living Tools, which will highlight the state's biotechnology achievements and encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, and math careers. This nonrecurring appropriation becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and is managed through the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
This bill, known as the Save SNAP Act, provides state funding to North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services and its county partners to offset financial losses caused by recent federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The legislation appropriates $16 million for state administrative costs and $69 million for county-level operations, ensuring these programs can continue despite reduced federal reimbursements. Additionally, the bill allocates $10 million to create a grant program that encourages innovative projects aimed at reducing errors in SNAP benefit payments. All funding is set to begin in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with spending strictly limited to the actual amount of lost federal receipts.
This bill directs $100,000 from the state's General Fund to the Winston-Salem Urban League for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The money is intended to support the organization's efforts in economic empowerment, education, and workforce development within the Winston-Salem community. The funding is classified as nonrecurring, meaning it is a one-time allocation rather than an ongoing annual budget item. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and does not impose new taxes or alter existing laws.
This bill repeals a North Carolina law that currently bans public employees from collectively bargaining with their employers. By removing this prohibition, the legislation allows government workers to negotiate contracts with unions or labor organizations representing them. The act also allocates $100,000 from the state General Fund to educate public employees about these new rights starting July 1, 2026.
