Budget & Taxes

passed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 1, 2026

SB 992: Truth in Taxation.

This bill, titled "Truth in Taxation," requires local taxing authorities in North Carolina to follow a specific process before raising property tax rates above a revenue-neutral level during years when a general reappraisal of real property occurs. To implement this change, the governing body must publish public notices in newspapers and online, send direct mail to taxpayers detailing the proposed tax increase, and hold a dedicated public hearing where a majority vote is required to approve the higher rate. If a local government fails to comply with these procedures and collects excess taxes, the bill mandates that they refund the overage to affected property owners. Additionally, the legislation increases the late reinstatement fee for expired real estate appraiser trainee registrations, licenses, and certificates to $12 per month, up from $10.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enforces fiscal responsibility by requiring public notice and majority approval for property tax increases, protecting taxpayers from arbitrary rate hikes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 695: Incent Development Finance District Funding.

SB 695, titled "Incent Development Finance District Funding," was introduced in 2025 but withdrawn from committee on April 28, 2025, without advancing further.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 However, no specific policy provisions or affected entities are described in the provided context, as the bill was withdrawn before committee action.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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes tax incentives for Development Finance Districts (DFDs), directly addressing taxation to fund public improvements through special tax mechanisms.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 19, 2026

HB 1123: UNC Omnibus and Capital Contracting Law Changes.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables university capital projects via non-state funds and bonds, promoting fiscal management and infrastructure funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes UNC to finance capital improvements and issue bonds, directly funding higher education infrastructure and expanding educational capacity.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 3, 2026

HB 87: Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA).

HB 87 (Educational Choice for Children Act) allows North Carolina to participate in a federal tax credit program that encourages donations to private scholarship organizations. The bill requires the State Education Assistance Authority to maintain and publish an annual list of qualifying scholarship groups operating in North Carolina, enabling donors to claim federal tax credits for contributions. These scholarships can cover elementary and secondary school costs, including homeschooling expenses, as permitted under federal law. The law becomes effective after 2026, with the Authority needing to establish necessary rules by July 2026 to comply with federal requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables federal tax credits for education donations, directly advancing tax credit mechanisms under tax policy.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables tax-credit funded private scholarships for K-12, expanding educational access options beyond public schools per bill's purpose.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · North Carolina · Senate Oct 23, 2025

SB 449: Continuing Budget Operations Part IV.

SB 449 modifies North Carolina's disaster recovery funding programs related to Hurricane Helene. It extends interest-only payment periods for Golden LEAF loans to 24 months, caps individual loans at $150,000, and defers repayment for small cities and counties until June 30, 2030, or after FEMA reimbursement decisions. Eligible communities include cities with under 10,000 residents and over 100% budget damage, or counties with under 25,000 residents and over 50% budget damage from Helene. The bill also requires local government grant projects to be ineligible for FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement to qualify for funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDefers loan repayments for disaster-affected local governments, easing budget pressures and aligning with appropriations subject category.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

passed both · North Carolina · House Sep 22, 2025

HB 192: Defund Planned Parenthood and Cost Transparency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $1.597B for teacher salaries and $8M for education supplements, directly increasing state spending on public education through budgetary allocations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates $1.597B for teacher salary increases and $8M for education-based supplements, directly advancing teacher compensation and funding within K-12 education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · North Carolina · House Sep 22, 2025

HB 389: Continuing Budget Operations Part III.

HB 389 establishes a two-year pilot program to create free child care workforce academies across North Carolina, directly affecting individuals seeking careers in child care with no prior experience. The program provides free training, credentialing support (including health screenings and background checks), and stipends ($150 upon completion, $500 after one year of employment) to help participants become lead teachers in licensed child care centers. It allocates $738,000 annually from the General Fund for 2025-2027 to cover tuition and stipends, requiring local partnerships to contribute 25% match. The pilot will launch in Johnston and Wayne counties plus 10 additional regions, with progress reports due by 2026 to evaluate expansion potential. (Note: The bill title "Continuing Budget Operations Part III" appears inconsistent with the actual content; the text focuses on child care workforce training.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $738k annually for child care workforce academies under budget appropriations, directly funding a public service program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds free training/stipends for child care workforce academies, directly supporting early education teacher development and access to licensed child care centers.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides free training, credentialing, and stipends to support entry into child care workforce, aligning with labor & employment development through workforce investment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · North Carolina · House Aug 6, 2025

HB 125: Continuing Budget Operations.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $142M for agricultural disaster relief within budget operations, directly funding a specific program through state appropriations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 29, 2025

HB 402: Limit Rules With Substantial Financial Costs.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires fiscal impact assessments and legislative approval for costly rules, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 7, 2025

SB 706: County Waste Management Assistance.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax revenue allocation to counties from 50% to 75% for waste management grants, directly enhancing fiscal support for local government services.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestores funding for scrap tire cleanup and waste management, directly addressing environmental pollution through DEQ-directed grants for disposal site remediation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes