SB 141 appropriates $75,000 in one-time state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to The Males Place, Inc. in Charlotte. The funding supports the organization's program offering weekly mentoring services specifically for African American boys aged 12 to 18. The bill directs the Office of State Budget and Management to disburse these funds to assist the nonprofit in delivering this mentoring initiative. The measure becomes effective July 1, 2025.
HB 119 allows Pitt County schools to open as early as August 10 (instead of the standard August 26) for the 2025-2026 school year, provided they meet "good cause" requirements. "Good cause" means the county experienced eight weather-related or emergency school closures over four of the last ten years. The bill applies exclusively to Pitt County schools and does not change closing dates or instructional day requirements. It modifies existing state law to provide targeted calendar flexibility for this specific district.
HB 27 allows Alamance-Burlington Schools to start the school year as early as August 19 (instead of the standard August 26) if they demonstrate "good cause" - specifically, if the district averaged 8 emergency closures per year over four of the last ten years due to weather, power outages, or other emergencies. The bill modifies existing law to grant this flexibility while requiring schools to still meet minimum instructional day requirements. It applies exclusively to Alamance-Burlington Schools and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The change does not affect schools already operating under a modified calendar.
HB 30 grants Winston-Salem/Forsyth, Stokes, and Davidson County Schools additional flexibility to set their school calendar opening date as early as August 19 (instead of the standard August 26) if they demonstrate "good cause" through documented emergency closures (8+ days in 4 of the last 10 years). It also allows these districts to administer annual student assessments earlier if their fall semester ends before December 31. The bill modifies existing calendar rules under state law and applies only to these three school systems beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. These changes aim to accommodate emergency-related school closures while ensuring minimum instructional requirements are met.
HB 111 grants Chatham County Schools flexibility to set an earlier school start date (as early as August 19) and adjust assessment timing. It allows the district to open before the standard August 26 date if they demonstrate "good cause" (eight or more emergency closures in four of the last ten years due to weather or other emergencies). The bill also permits administering annual assessments earlier if the fall semester ends before December 31. These changes apply only to Chatham County Schools beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill modifies existing education statutes to create this specific exception for the county.
HB 51 grants Caswell County Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and Orange County Schools flexibility to set their own school calendars, including aligning with local community college schedules. It modifies state requirements that typically mandate school openings no earlier than August 26 and closings no later than June 11, allowing these districts to adjust dates based on community college calendars. The bill also permits these schools to administer student assessments earlier in the semester if their fall semester ends before December 31, rather than waiting for the usual final instructional days. This policy change applies only to the specified districts starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
HB 33 allows Yadkin County Schools and Davie County Schools to align their academic calendars with Surry County Community College or Davidson-Davie Community College. This bill amends state law to explicitly permit these two school districts to match community college schedules, overriding standard state-mandated opening (no earlier than August 26) and closing (no later than June 11) dates. The change applies only to these specific school systems and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill does not alter general calendar requirements for other North Carolina school districts.
SB 134 allows North Carolina local governments to require new residential developments to include affordable housing units through inclusionary zoning policies. It directly affects local zoning authorities, developers building new housing, and low-to-moderate income residents who would benefit from increased affordable housing options. The bill also appropriates $10 million in recurring funds to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency for its Workforce Housing Loan Program starting in 2025. These provisions aim to supplement affordable housing availability by giving local governments tools to mandate inclusionary requirements and providing dedicated funding for housing loans. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 104 allows Buncombe County Schools to adopt an earlier school start date (no earlier than August 19, instead of the standard August 26) if the district meets "good cause" criteria - specifically, if they've had eight or more school closure days annually due to weather or emergencies during four of the last ten years. The bill amends a state law to grant this specific waiver for Buncombe County only, without changing statewide calendar requirements. It applies only to Buncombe County Schools beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and does not alter closing dates or instructional day minimums. This is a targeted local flexibility measure, not a statewide policy change.
HB 70 allows Hertford County Schools to align their academic calendar with Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s schedule, removing standard state-mandated opening and closing date requirements for this district. The bill amends state law to permit local school boards to match community college calendars for operational coordination, specifically for Hertford County Schools beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. This change directly affects only Hertford County Schools and does not apply to other school districts or alter general calendar rules statewide. The provision is limited to administrative flexibility and does not change instructional day requirements.
HB 31 would amend North Carolina's State Human Resources Act to make every statewide general election day a paid holiday for state employees. This change would add election days to the current list of paid holidays (which includes Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday and Veterans Day), while maintaining the limit of 13 paid holidays per year. The bill directly affects state workers, ensuring they receive paid time off on election days without reducing the total number of paid holidays. It does not change election dates or voting procedures, only the employment benefits for state employees on those days. The legislation is currently pending in committee review.
SB 114 appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain Foundation. This funding specifically supports operational expenses and program expansion for the Boys & Girls Clubs located in Pitt County only. The bill directs all funds to these local clubs, with no restrictions on how the money is spent beyond the stated purpose. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
