SB 245 would allow residents to apply for or renew driver's licenses remotely, without visiting a physical office. This directly affects people who face challenges traveling to license centers, such as those with disabilities, rural residents, or individuals with busy schedules. The bill would establish a secure online process for these transactions, including identity verification and document submission. Currently pending in the Senate's Rules and Operations committee (after being withdrawn and re-referred to Health Care), it has not yet advanced to a vote.
HB 693 establishes the "Interstate Massage Compact" to create a multistate licensing pathway for massage therapists across participating states. It directly affects licensed massage therapists seeking to practice in multiple states and the public receiving those services. Key mechanisms include creating an Interstate Commission to administer the compact, enabling therapists to hold a single "multistate license" valid in all member states, requiring background checks and continuing competence, and allowing states to share disciplinary information and hold licensees accountable. The compact aims to improve public access to safe massage therapy while reducing regulatory burdens for therapists, particularly aiding military members and their spouses relocating between states.
This bill sets a $50 cap on referral fees paid to nonlicensed individuals for directing insurance business to licensed agents or brokers. It applies to most insurance referrals but excludes title insurance, with violations punishable by fines up to $2,000 per incident. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, impacting insurance agents, brokers, and nonlicensed referrers who handle client introductions. It clarifies existing insurance referral fee rules without altering broader insurance regulations.
HB 775 requires background checks for three groups: initial members of charter school boards, new educator license applicants, and public school employees applying for positions. It mandates that applicants pay for criminal history checks through the State Bureau of Investigation before receiving approval for charter school board membership, educator licensure, or school employment. The State Board of Education and charter school Review Board review the results to determine if individuals pose safety risks or lack integrity, with decisions requiring written findings. This bill consolidates existing background check requirements into a single process for these school-related positions, applying only to new applicants and initial board members.
SJR 776 is a procedural resolution that changes the adjournment and reconvene dates for North Carolina's 2025 legislative session. It adjusts key dates, such as moving the session's adjournment from September 22 to September 25, 2025, and setting reconvene times for subsequent weeks (e.g., October 20 instead of October 21). The bill also restricts the business that can be addressed during reconvened sessions to only conference reports and bills related to disaster recovery that met a July 31, 2025, deadline. This affects the legislature's scheduling flexibility and prioritization of bills during the final weeks of the session.
SJR 774 is a procedural joint resolution confirming Stephanie Lynch's appointment to the North Carolina Investment Authority Board of Directors. It specifically confirms her appointment for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2028, as required by state law (G.S. 147-71.1). The resolution does not create new policies or affect any broader group; it solely confirms the State Treasurer's existing appointment of Lynch to this specific board position. This is a routine confirmation process, not a substantive legislative change.
This joint resolution confirms Governor's appointment of Sallie Shuping-Russell to the North Carolina Investment Authority Board of Directors for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2029. It directly affects the appointee (Sallie Shuping-Russell) and the board, which manages state investment funds. The resolution follows existing law (G.S. 147-71.1) requiring legislative confirmation for such appointments, but does not create new policy or change board responsibilities. This is a procedural confirmation, not a substantive legislative change.
SB 775 is a procedural bill appointing individuals to fill unexpired terms on various North Carolina public boards and commissions. It specifically names people like Richard Parrotte to the State Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission, Dr. Marc Sosne to Cape Fear Community College’s board, and Joaquin Fuster to the Home Inspector’s Licensure Board. The bill also corrects previous appointment details in other laws (Part III). As a routine appointment measure, it does not create new policies but ensures vacancies are filled as required by law.
HB 13 prohibits North Carolina merchants from charging customers more for credit or debit card payments than what the merchant pays to process those transactions. It directly affects retailers and service providers in the state, requiring them to disclose any card fees clearly in advertisements if they impose them. The law mandates that merchants cannot add a markup to processing costs charged by payment networks (like Visa or Mastercard), and violations could result in civil penalties up to $5,000 per offense. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, aiming to prevent unfair surcharges on card payments.
HB 118 modifies North Carolina's property tax exemption for disabled veterans, replacing a flat $45,000 exclusion with a percentage-based system tied to the veteran's VA disability rating. It directly affects veterans with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating (or surviving spouses under specific conditions), allowing them to exclude a portion of their home's appraised value from property taxes - equal to their disability percentage. For example, a veteran with a 70% disability rating would exclude 70% of their home's value from taxes. The bill takes effect for taxes due in 2025 and prohibits combining this relief with other property tax exemptions.
This bill revises North Carolina's burglary and breaking-and-entering laws to increase penalties when a firearm or deadly weapon is used. It raises the felony classification by one level for offenses like burglary (first/second degree), breaking out of a dwelling at night, or entering a building with intent to commit a felony or terrorize occupants, if a weapon was present during the crime. The law directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses when a firearm was involved, not the general public. It does not change sentencing for weapon-free offenses or address police pay, despite the title "Back the Blue Pay Act" suggesting otherwise. The changes take effect December 1, 2025.
The bill title "Defund Planned Parenthood and Cost Transparency" does not match the actual content of HB 192, which is focused on education funding. This bill raises teacher salaries for the 2025-2026 school year using a new salary schedule (e.g., $5,000 for 0 years experience, $6,823 for 25+ years) and reinstates education-based supplements for advanced degrees ($126-$253 monthly). It appropriates $1.597 billion for salary increases and $8 million for supplements, while directing the North Carolina Collaboratory to study a student-based funding system by February 2026. The bill directly affects public school teachers, instructional support staff, and school psychologists. The title appears to be incorrect based on the provided bill text.
