HB 1009 prohibits cities from exercising planning and development regulation outside their corporate limits. The bill amends state statutes G.S. 160D-201 and G.S. 160D-202, eliminating provisions that allowed cities to establish and manage extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). This change means that authority for land-use planning and development regulation in areas immediately surrounding cities would fall exclusively to county governments. The bill directly affects cities, counties, and landowners in these areas by redefining which local government body has zoning and planning control.
HB 1010, titled "Home Ownership Market Manipulation," aims to limit the number of single-family homes that business entities can purchase for use as rental properties. The bill makes it unlawful for a business entity, including its affiliates, to buy a single-family home in a county with a population over 150,000 for rental purposes if they already own 100 or more such homes in qualifying counties. This measure seeks to address concerns about the impact of large-scale corporate home buying on housing supply and costs. Violations can lead to civil penalties, damages, and attorney fees, enforceable by the Attorney General, aggrieved individuals, or county commissioners.
HB 632 revises North Carolina's hazing laws, repealing the existing statute and creating a new one with an expanded definition of hazing. It establishes criminal offenses for individuals who participate in hazing against minors or students, and for local, national, and postsecondary educational institutions whose leadership or employees knowingly fail to intervene or actively participate. The bill also introduces penalties for individuals who fail to seek medical assistance for an injured minor or student during hazing. Penalties for violations range from misdemeanors to felonies, including potential fines for both individuals and organizations.
This bill revives and expands a program that allows eligible retired educators to return to work in high-need schools. It defines "high-need retired teachers" as beneficiaries of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System who meet specific retirement and service criteria, and are reemployed by local boards of education. A key provision ensures that earnings from this reemployment do not count against post-retirement earnings limits, allowing these teachers to receive both their full retirement allowance and a salary. The Department of Public Instruction is tasked with certifying these teachers, and local boards must report their employment status to the Retirement System.
House Bill 820 requires health benefit plans in North Carolina to provide coverage for early refills of prescription eye drops. This means insurers cannot deny a refill for a 30-day supply if at least 21 days have passed since the last fill, or if the patient has used 70% of the medication according to their healthcare provider's instructions. The bill also specifies that the requested refill must not exceed the total number of refills indicated on the original prescription. These requirements apply to all health benefit plans, including the State Health Plan, with an effective date of October 1, 2025, or the subsequent plan year.
The "North Carolina Compassionate Care Act" (HB 1011) seeks to legalize the medical use of cannabis for individuals diagnosed with specific debilitating medical conditions. The bill establishes a system where qualified patients, certified by a physician, and their designated caregivers can obtain registry identification cards from the Department of Health and Human Services. It outlines a list of qualifying debilitating conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, and PTSD. This legislation also details the creation of a regulated system for the cultivation, processing, and dispensing of medical cannabis through licensed facilities. Its intent is to protect patients and their doctors from criminal and civil penalties related to the medical use of cannabis.
HB 1008 enhances penalties for sexual battery and stalking when the perpetrator is a local government elected official. The bill specifically applies if the victim is a fellow member of the same governing board or an employee of that board. In such cases, sexual battery, which is typically a Class A1 misdemeanor, becomes a Class H felony. Similarly, stalking committed under these specific circumstances also escalates to a Class H felony. This act becomes effective on December 1, 2025, for offenses committed on or after that date.
HB 246, also known as "Liam's Law," increases penalties for specific driving offenses. The bill elevates reckless driving that causes serious bodily injury to a Class I felony. For street racing, it establishes new felony classifications for causing serious injury (Class F felony) or death (Class B2 felony), and mandates longer driver's license revocations, including permanent revocation for fatalities. Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for hit-and-run offenses that result in death to a Class D felony. These provisions directly affect drivers involved in such incidents.
HB 218 requires the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to include a request for emergency contact information on applications for drivers' licenses, learners' permits, and identification cards. This applies to both new applications and renewal applications. Providing this emergency contact information will be optional for the applicant. The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2026.
This bill amends North Carolina law to strengthen property rights for landowners regarding recreational activities. It requires written permission (signed, dated within 12 months, and carried on person) for hunting, fishing, or trapping on private land, with fines of $500 for first offenses on posted property and $1,000 for repeat violations. Landowners can also prohibit pine straw harvesting without written consent, creating a Class 1 misdemeanor for unauthorized removal. Repeat trespass offenses trigger license suspensions for hunting/fishing, and new rules ban launching watercraft from public roadways into waterways. The law directly affects hunters, fishers, landowners, and pine straw harvesters.
HB 114 (Employment Preference for Military Personnel) updates North Carolina's state employment policy to expand eligibility for hiring preference. It removes the requirement that military service must have occurred during a "period of war" and now includes active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their spouses/dependents in the preference program. The bill ensures state departments, agencies, and institutions must grant hiring preference to qualifying individuals (including active-duty personnel during service) for all employment events like initial hires, promotions, and transfers. This change directly affects military service members, their families, and North Carolina state employers by broadening who qualifies for employment preference without wartime service restrictions.
Senate Bill 335 allows pharmacists to order and perform CLIA-waived tests to treat influenza, provided they follow statewide protocols and do not use controlled substances. The bill mandates that health benefit plans cover healthcare services provided by pharmacists if the services are within their licensed scope of practice and would be covered if performed by another healthcare provider. It also ensures consistent application of prescription drug and pharmacy service coverage requirements across insurers, third-party administrators, and pharmacy benefits managers. These changes aim to expand access to certain healthcare services through pharmacists, affecting patients, pharmacists, and health insurance providers. Most provisions become effective October 1, 2025.
