North Carolina Bills

died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 861: Cut State Gov. Jobs Vacant 24 Months or More.

This North Carolina bill requires state agencies to eliminate job positions that have remained vacant for at least 24 consecutive months, with the goal of reducing government spending on unfilled roles. Starting in July 2026, the Office of State Budget and Management will transfer unused salary funds associated with these long-term vacancies into a budget reserve, which cannot be spent unless the General Assembly approves it. The law includes specific exceptions, such as positions held open due to court orders, roles funded entirely by federal money, and critical jobs in 24-hour operations like public safety and inmate care. Additionally, the bill mandates that state agencies report details about eliminated or excluded positions to the General Assembly by December 2026 and establishes a permanent rule for abolishing such vacancies in future fiscal years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1065: Prepared Foods Sales Tax Modification.

This bill modifies North Carolina's sales tax rules to exempt most prepared foods from taxation starting October 1, 2026. It defines "prepared food" as items sold hot or mixed together by a retailer, while explicitly excluding raw ingredients, simple sliced foods, and products from large-scale food manufacturers. The change would remove the sales tax burden for many ready-to-eat meals and combinations sold in stores, but it preserves the tax on specific items like bakery goods from small artisan bakeries, soft drinks, and candy.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 851: America's Semiquincentennial License Plate.

This bill authorizes the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to create a special license plate called the 'America's Semiquincentennial' plate. The plate will feature the phrase 'America 250' and other designs to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Any registered vehicle owner in the state will be eligible to purchase this plate starting on July 1, 2026.

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1078: Omnibus Life Sciences Appropriations.

HB 1078 is an omnibus appropriations bill that provides funding to the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services in North Carolina. The legislation allocates $10 million to the One North Carolina Small Business Account and $2 million to the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to support life science companies, university research, workforce development, and economic programs. Additionally, the bill transfers the Advisory Council on Rare Diseases from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Health and Human Services and establishes a new Life Science and Biomanufacturing Technologies Reserve Fund. The bill also details the composition, membership, and administrative structure of the rare diseases council, which includes physicians, researchers, patient representatives, and industry experts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Donna White (R) · 22 co-sponsors

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 855: Community-Based Pharmacy Protections.

This bill expands the legal definition of an independent pharmacy in North Carolina to include community-based pharmacies owned by small groups with ten or fewer locations. The law specifically covers businesses that are not publicly traded and focus primarily on pharmacy services. Additionally, the legislation allocates $100,000 from the state's general fund to the Department of Insurance to help enforce these new rules starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 885: Funding for the Clerks of Superior Court.

This bill appropriates five million dollars in state funds to the Administrative Office of the Courts for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. These funds are designated to support clerks of superior court in assisting executors and administrators with estate-related filings and processes. The appropriation allows for hiring additional staff to address long wait times for appointments and distributing informational documents regarding decedent estate procedures. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1064: Civil Rights Helpline.

This bill establishes a 24-hour toll-free helpline and online portal within the North Carolina Department of Justice to assist individuals harmed by federal troop deployments, federal law enforcement actions, or immigration enforcement in the state. The Attorney General is required to maintain a secure database of complaints, investigate reported violations, and publish annual public reports detailing the number of reports, arrest statistics, and observed patterns of misconduct while keeping individual identities confidential. To ensure accessibility, the helpline must offer voicemail, translation services, and disability accommodations, along with resources connecting victims to legal, social, and school support programs. The legislation also mandates that the Attorney General hold at least one public hearing each year to present aggregate data and findings from the annual reports. Implementation of the helpline must begin within 60 days of the bill's effective date, with an initial report due one year after launch, and the program is funded with $3 million starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1079: Menstrual Products Sales Tax Exemption.

This North Carolina bill proposes exempting menstrual products from state sales tax. It defines the exempted items to include tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, and sanitary napkins. The legislation amends existing tax codes to remove these items from taxable retail sales and use tax. The tax exemption will take effect on October 1, 2026, applying to purchases made on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1080: Public Safety Reinvestment Act.

HB 1080, the Public Safety Reinvestment Act, allocates state funds to address staffing shortages and modernize safety measures across several North Carolina public institutions. The bill directs $30 million to hire additional court clerks in Wake and Mecklenburg counties, provides salary increases for Department of Adult Correction employees and State Highway Patrol members, and offers benefits enhancements for correctional officers in specific retirement systems. It also mandates that public transit vehicles carry emergency trauma kits and requires operators to implement stricter fare enforcement technologies and training. Furthermore, the legislation funds the Division of Juvenile Justice, the State Crime Laboratory, and includes provisions for reporting fare evasion data and safety incidents.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1077: NC Working Families Economic Relief Act.

HB 1077 creates a grant program for North Carolina community colleges to train students as tax preparers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, allowing them to help low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and limited English speakers file their taxes for free. The bill provides $1.38 million in initial funding and $610,000 in recurring funds to support curriculum development, faculty incentives, and paid work-based learning opportunities where students earn hourly wages during tax season. Additionally, the legislation allocates $840,000 to the United Way of North Carolina to expand its VITA services by increasing the number of locations, hiring dedicated staff, and improving outreach and financial education resources. These measures aim to help an estimated 225,000 eligible North Carolina filers claim the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which has an average value of about $2,894 per person. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026, and includes provisions for training and technical assistance to ensure the program runs effectively.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1075: Persistent Domestic Violence Offender Registry.

This bill creates a new program in North Carolina that requires individuals convicted of domestic violence to register on a public list if they have at least one prior domestic violence conviction. The State Bureau of Investigation will maintain this registry, which will include the offender's name, date of birth, conviction details, and a photograph, while keeping addresses and social security numbers private. Registration periods last two years for one prior offense, five years for two prior offenses, and ten years for three or more prior offenses, with fees of $150 paid by the offender to cover registry costs. The law takes effect on December 1, 2026, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date, though prior convictions do not need to have occurred by then.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1071: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Funding in Response to H.R. 1.

This bill appropriates $85 million in state funds to cover administrative cost losses for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in North Carolina, which result from a federal law reducing federal funding. The money is split between the state Department of Health and Human Services and the county-level Division of Social Services, with funds distributed to counties based on their specific financial losses. These allocations are strictly limited to the actual amount of lost federal receipts and will become available starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results