This North Carolina bill appoints numerous individuals to various public boards, commissions, and authority positions based on recommendations from the Senate President Pro Tempore and the House Speaker. The legislation directly affects specific state agencies, including those overseeing education, healthcare, environmental safety, and professional licensing, by establishing new terms for these officials. Key provisions include filling unexpired terms for several board members and reappointing others to their existing roles, with service periods extending from 2027 through 2032. Additionally, the bill incorporates technical corrections to previous appointment records to ensure administrative accuracy. These changes update the composition of state oversight bodies without altering their fundamental powers or responsibilities.
HB 258, the Utility Worker Protection Act, increases penalties for assaulting utility and communications workers by designating such assaults as Class A1 misdemeanors - the highest misdemeanor level - when the worker is visibly identifiable (e.g., wearing company-logoed uniforms) and performing duties. It directly affects workers providing electricity, gas, telecommunications, or internet services, including those employed by public, private, or cooperative entities. The bill adds specific language to North Carolina’s assault statute, requiring prosecutors to apply this enhanced penalty for assaults meeting these criteria, without needing other legal provisions. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.
This bill amends North Carolina's workplace violence prevention laws to include "mass picketing" as a form of unlawful conduct. It defines mass picketing as any picketing that obstructs entry to or exit from a workplace or public roads. The bill expands the definition of "unlawful conduct" to include hindering work or blocking access through mass picketing. This allows employers to seek civil no-contact orders against individuals engaging in these newly defined unlawful acts. The legislation explicitly states it does not apply to union activities or labor disputes protected by federal law.
Senate Bill 280, the "Private School Security Act," allows certain individuals to carry weapons on specific educational properties under defined conditions. It permits employees and volunteers of private schools to carry firearms or stun guns on school property if authorized by the school's board or director, provided they hold a concealed handgun permit and complete annual advanced gun safety training. Private schools must also adopt and annually distribute written standard operating procedures for weapon possession to parents. Additionally, the bill allows individuals with concealed handgun permits to carry their weapons in places of religious worship located on educational property while attending worship services or other religious functions.
HB 536 modifies North Carolina's Physical Therapy Practice Act by establishing a new Board of Examiners to regulate the profession. The Board will consist of eight members (including a medical doctor, four physical therapists, two physical therapist assistants, and a public member) appointed to oversee licensing, discipline, and continuing education requirements for physical therapists and assistants. The bill clarifies that physical therapy practice excludes surgery, chiropractic, or medical diagnosis, and specifies that the Board may investigate complaints confidentially while making disciplinary decisions public. This legislation directly affects licensed physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and the public by setting standards for practice, licensure, and professional conduct in North Carolina.
HB 315 creates new criminal offenses for wrongfully entering restricted business areas (like secure storage rooms) and for stealing or fraudulently obtaining gift cards. It directly affects businesses (by protecting secure areas), gift card holders (by criminalizing theft of their cards), and individuals who commit these acts. Key provisions include classifying unauthorized building entry as a misdemeanor or felony based on prior offenses, defining gift card theft as a Class 1 misdemeanor for cards under $1,000 (or felony for higher value), and expanding "organized retail theft" to include conspiracy around gift cards with penalties tied to total value stolen. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed after that date.
SB 695, titled "Incent Development Finance District Funding," was introduced in 2025 but withdrawn from committee on April 28, 2025, without advancing further. The bill's title suggests it aimed to establish incentives for funding Development Finance Districts (DFDs), which are designated areas where local governments use special tax mechanisms to finance public improvements. However, no specific policy provisions or affected entities are described in the provided context, as the bill was withdrawn before committee action. Since it did not pass committee or receive a full legislative vote, no concrete policy changes were enacted.
This bill, titled "NC Farm Act of 2025" but actually addressing vehicle dealer regulations, extends the grace period for dealer license renewals from 30 to 60 days after expiration while an application is pending. It also aligns dealer registration plate renewals with license renewals, requiring plates to expire at the same time as the license and mandating replacement every three to four years. The changes directly affect vehicle dealers in North Carolina who must renew licenses and plates, ensuring their business operations remain valid during review and simplifying renewal scheduling. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, for licenses and plates issued on or after that date. (Note: The title "Farm Act" is misleading, as the bill contains no agricultural provisions.)
This bill requires counties in North Carolina that completed a property reappraisal effective January 1, 2026, to temporarily pause using those new values for tax calculations. Instead, these counties must use the property values from their previous reappraisal for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and continue using the 2026 reappraisal values for all future years until a new general reappraisal is conducted. The legislation also clarifies the timeline for scheduling the next reappraisal and allows taxpayers to appeal property listings related to the 2026 reappraisal during the 2027 calendar year. Additionally, the bill updates qualifications and requirements for county assessors, mandating a $20 examination fee for certain candidates and requiring all assessors to complete 30 hours of continuing education every 24 months.
This bill authorizes the University of North Carolina system to finance specific capital improvement projects, such as dormitory renovations and new construction, using non-state funds like gifts, grants, and hospital receipts. It allows the university to issue special obligation bonds to cover these costs and includes a mechanism for the Director of the Budget to adjust project funding if necessary. Additionally, the legislation standardizes the residency determination process for admission to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and revises tuition grant rules for graduates of that school and the UNC School of the Arts. These changes aim to support university infrastructure development and ensure equitable access to specialized science and arts programs for North Carolina residents.
This bill requires the North Carolina State Auditor to conduct post-election audits of election procedures in various counties after each general election is certified. The audits will focus on specific areas such as voter roll accuracy, voting equipment testing, ballot records, and compliance with state and federal laws, with the goal of identifying any errors, inefficiencies, or security vulnerabilities. While the audits must cover all county boards of elections within a reasonable time, the findings cannot be used to challenge the final results of an election. If problems are discovered, the affected county must submit a plan to fix them, and the State Auditor will publish periodic reports detailing the findings for government officials and the public.
HB 1113 extends a ban on new shellfish and aquaculture leases in the New Hanover County area until July 1, 2026. This restriction applies to any lease applications received by the state but not approved before July 1, 2019, covering a specific coastal zone defined by geographic coordinates and landmarks. The bill also allocates $10,000 to fund public education and notifications about this extension. Finally, the law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and will govern how the Department of Environmental Quality reviews future lease requests.
