HB 125 establishes budget operations for North Carolina's 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, primarily allocating $142 million in one-time funds for agricultural disaster relief related to 2024 crop losses. It requires recipients to first seek insurance or federal aid before using state funds, and to return state funds if alternative sources are secured. The bill directly affects farmers, institutions of higher education, and other entities receiving disaster aid, mandating transparency through reporting to the State Auditor. Crucially, it prohibits the Governor from using these disaster funds for general budget adjustments or reallocations.
HB 402 requires North Carolina state agencies to assess the financial impact of proposed permanent rules. If a rule would cost affected individuals or businesses $20 million or more over five years, it must be approved by the General Assembly before taking effect. For rules with a $1 million or more annual cost impact, agencies must prepare a fiscal note for review by the Office of State Budget and Management. The bill also mandates a two-thirds vote by agency boards to adopt rules exceeding the $1 million cost threshold. This directly affects state agencies creating regulations and the businesses or residents who would bear the costs of those rules.
SB 706 restores funding for counties to address scrap tire disposal by increasing the portion of tax revenue allocated to local governments from 50% to 75%. It directs the Department of Environmental Quality to use these funds to grant counties assistance for cleaning up scrap tire disposal sites and managing tire-related waste, prioritizing areas with severe disposal problems and financial need. The bill requires counties to demonstrate higher disposal costs than prior tax reimbursements to qualify for grants and mandates annual reporting on fund usage. This directly affects North Carolina counties struggling with scrap tire accumulation, particularly those with limited resources for waste management.
SB 101 protects funds in North Carolina's 529 education savings accounts and ABLE accounts (for people with disabilities) from being seized by creditors. It ensures that money used for qualifying purposes - like education expenses for 529s or disability-related costs for ABLEs - cannot be claimed through liens, garnishments, or judgments. The bill repeals an existing law that previously allowed such claims and applies to actions filed after September 1, 2025. This directly affects account owners, beneficiaries, and contributors who use these funds for permitted purposes.
HB 886 requires all public schools in North Carolina to install Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and train school personnel on their use and on CPR. The State Board of Education must develop rules for AED placement, maintenance, and coordination with emergency services, with at least one AED per school, ideally in an athletic area. Local school boards, charter schools, and regional schools are then required to create policies aligning with these state rules. The bill appropriates $4.1 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to help public school units purchase AEDs and train staff.
HB 552 establishes the Agricultural Manufacturing Investment Grant Account within North Carolina's One North Carolina Fund, allocating up to $5 million for new economic development incentives. This account provides competitive grants to eligible agricultural manufacturers in the state. The Department of Commerce will administer these grants, prioritizing projects in less developed areas, those using advanced agricultural technologies, or those with significant research and development. To qualify, recipients must commit to investing at least $5 million of private funds, employ a minimum of 25 full-time employees, and meet specific wage requirements. Grants are capped at $100,000 annually per recipient for up to five years.
HB 94 allows disabled veterans and their unremarried surviving spouses to prequalify for the disabled veteran property tax homestead exclusion. This means individuals can apply to determine their eligibility for the tax benefit before they purchase a permanent residence. Applicants submit a prequalification form with their disability certification, and the county assessor must notify them of their eligibility within 30 days. The bill aims to help taxpayers and lenders account for this tax relief when making home purchase decisions. After prequalification, a separate application for the exclusion is still required once a permanent residence is acquired.
This bill creates a new State Infrastructure Bank Board in North Carolina to manage federal, state, and private funding for transportation, water, and sewer infrastructure projects. The Board will be composed of six state officials including the Secretaries of Commerce, Transportation, and Environmental Quality, along with the State Treasurer, Auditor, and Budget Officer, and will operate independently within the Department of Commerce. It authorizes the Board to provide loans and financial assistance to local governments and toll authorities for infrastructure development, requiring repayment with interest and security based on project revenues or other assets. The legislation also establishes specific accounting procedures for the bank's funds, outlines rules for loan approval, and transfers existing infrastructure bank funds to this new Board, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.
HB 616 modifies the North Carolina Selectsite Readiness Program by establishing a competitive grant program and creating the North Carolina Selectsite Fund. It appropriates $10 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and transfers unspent funds to this new fund. The program, administered by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), provides grants to local governments or partnerships. These grants support the acquisition, due diligence, infrastructure development, and on-site preparation of industrial sites under 1,000 acres, aiming to attract major manufacturing opportunities to the state.
HB 574 establishes a Workforce Development Pilot Project in North Carolina. This bill provides funds to the Office of State Budget and Management to be allocated to the North Carolina Workforce Development Coalition (NCWDC). The NCWDC will then provide grants to eligible North Carolina-based employers, with 20 to 1,500 employees, to support employer-sponsored training programs. These grants aim to increase job creation, reduce employee turnover, improve wages, and upgrade worker skills, especially in industries with identified training gaps. Employers can receive up to 50% of eligible training costs or $2,000 per trainee, with a maximum of $40,000 annually per employer.