SB 1018, known as the HEAL Act, establishes a funding program in North Carolina to support three-year research studies on psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin. The bill directs up to five competitive grants of at least one million dollars each to federal or academic institutions located in the state, focusing on treating trauma-related mental health conditions in specific groups such as military veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. To oversee this initiative, the legislation creates a Breakthrough Therapies Task Force composed of state officials, medical experts, tribal representatives, and legislators to assess the potential use of these medicines and recommend future regulations. All funded research must be conducted within North Carolina, adhere to federal laws, and include measurements of pain levels alongside mental health outcomes.
This bill designates Petey Pablo's song "Raise Up" as the official hip-hop song of North Carolina to honor the state's significant role in hip-hop culture. It also allocates $6.5 million over two years to fund a tourism and heritage initiative that promotes North Carolina's music scene through festivals, advertising, and a digital app. The funds are specifically intended to support events and partnerships in major cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham, as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
This bill directs the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees to study the feasibility of creating a new college of veterinary medicine at a different institution within the state. The study must evaluate the need for veterinarians, particularly those specializing in large animals, and analyze the costs and benefits of establishing the program. The board is required to submit its findings to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15, 2027, and the state will provide $300,000 to fund this research. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2026.
This bill creates the Midwifery Education Grant Program to increase the number of midwives in North Carolina by funding training programs at specific University of North Carolina institutions. It provides up to $20 million in state funds to support eligible universities that offer advanced nursing degrees but currently lack certified nurse-midwife training programs. To receive grants, institutions must partner with a hospital, submit a budget, and commit to graduating at least 20 midwives within five years, with priority given to historically black colleges and universities. The legislation appropriates $4 million per institution and requires the university system to report on grant usage and program timelines to state oversight committees.
This bill establishes a new professional category called "registered behavior technician" to support the practice of behavior analysis in North Carolina. Under the new rules, these technicians must work under the supervision of a licensed professional, with at least 10% of their work involving direct observation and direction from that supervisor. The legislation also sets specific limits on practice, requiring new technicians to complete 80 hours of supervised service before seeing patients one-on-one and restricting telehealth services to areas with low population density. Additionally, the bill prohibits licensed behavior analysts from seeing minors for more than 16 hours in a single week unless a parent or guardian is present. To implement these changes, the bill provides $50,000 in funding for the state board to create the necessary regulations.
This North Carolina bill updates high school graduation requirements for mathematics by replacing a single sequence of four courses with four distinct pathways aligned to student goals. Students must complete NC Math 1, NC Math 2, and two additional math courses chosen from options like college preparatory, career and technical education, quantitative reasoning, or STEM. The law also mandates that each student's career development plan include these specific math pathways and requires the State Board of Education to finalize the course rules by July 2027. Implementation begins in the 2028-2029 school year for students entering ninth grade, with funding provided to the Department of Public Instruction for rollout.
This bill directs state funding to several nonprofit organizations and entities in Mecklenburg County for specific projects during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates money to construct a new main library, complete a community health center, plan a highway interchange, support affordable housing, fund operational costs for a community center, and improve facilities at a nature museum. The funds are drawn from various state accounts, including the General Fund and the Highway Fund, and the legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill allocates five million dollars to provide high-dosage early literacy tutoring based on the science of reading for first-grade students in North Carolina, with options for both in-person and virtual instruction. It clarifies that schools are permitted to use virtual tutoring programs and requires local school districts to report detailed reading proficiency data for first, second, and third-grade students on their websites. The reporting requirements include specific metrics on student performance, retention rates, and participation in reading camps to ensure public accountability. These changes take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
This bill directs the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to conduct a study on the feasibility and potential impacts of adopting a statewide year-round school calendar. The study will examine various factors, including student learning outcomes, summer learning loss, testing schedules, community college enrollment, tourism revenue, and building usage. The department must complete its analysis and submit a report with any proposed legislation to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by February 1, 2027. To fund this research, the bill appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
This bill protects the right of homeowners and tenants in North Carolina to operate licensed family child care homes by preventing restrictions from private and public entities. It makes it illegal for homeowners associations to ban or penalize child care operations and voids any lease clauses that prevent tenants from running such businesses. Additionally, the law requires local governments to treat licensed child care homes as standard residential properties, ensuring they are not subjected to stricter zoning rules or special permits than other homes. If these rules are violated, licensed operators can seek legal relief and recover legal fees, while landlords and associations remain responsible for enforcing general safety and maintenance standards.
This bill modifies North Carolina's Film and Entertainment Grant Fund to create a new Micro-Budget Productions Account specifically for smaller-scale film projects. Under the new provisions, grants for these smaller productions are capped at $100,000 plus a potential bonus, provided the project has qualifying expenses between $50,000 and $1,499,000. The legislation also adjusts funding limits for larger productions, raising the maximum grant for feature films to $20 million and increasing the cap for television series seasons to $25 million. Additionally, the bill updates definitions for "highly compensated individuals" and "qualifying expenses" to align with higher compensation thresholds and exclude certain costs from eligible spending.
This bill formally defines "license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor" child care providers in North Carolina law to clarify their legal status. It applies to individuals caring for children outside their own families in settings that do not require a license, such as relatives, neighbors, or family friends. The legislation ensures these caregivers are not subject to new licensing requirements while allowing the state to update its public materials, internal policies, and data systems to better track and support this group. Additionally, the bill allocates $30,000 to help the Department of Health and Human Services implement these changes and improve communication regarding the distinction between licensed and unlicensed care arrangements.
