SB 297 establishes a Nursing Fellows Program at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) to provide forgivable loans to nursing students. The program offers up to $5,000 per semester (or $2,500 per summer) for tuition, books, and fees toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN) degree, contingent on recipients committing to work as nurses or nursing instructors in North Carolina. Eligibility requires WSSU nursing degree completion within 10 years, North Carolina RN licensure, and a demonstrated commitment to serve in-state, with loan forgiveness tied to employment in qualifying nursing roles after graduation.
HB 863 appropriates $582 million in state funds to address unmet recovery needs in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. It directly affects residents and businesses in the impacted area by funding affordable housing repairs, disaster-related home improvements, business grants, park restoration, flood protection, and emergency services. Key provisions include $105 million for local housing grants (covering repairs, homelessness assistance, and mortgage help), $75 million for stream restoration and food banks, and a $75,000 business grant program for eligible companies with sales tax declines. The funds are distributed across state agencies like Housing Finance, Agriculture, and Public Safety to support physical recovery and economic stabilization.
SB 366 increases Medicaid payment rates for personal care services to $7.50 per 15-minute increment and private duty nursing to $16.25 per 15-minute increment. It directly affects healthcare providers who deliver these services to Medicaid beneficiaries through programs like personal care services and private duty nursing. The bill allocates $119.2 million annually in state funds (with matching federal funds) to cover the rate increases for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.
SB 590, the Coastal Plain Resilience and Economic Prospects Act, appropriates over $2 billion in nonrecurring funds and additional recurring funds to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for environmental programs. The bill allocates $2 billion specifically for grants to public water and wastewater systems, along with funding for coastal resilience projects, flood risk reduction, dam safety studies, Superfund cleanups, and addressing contaminants like PFAS through dedicated staff positions. It also provides recurring funds for marine patrols, air quality monitoring, and technical assistance for businesses. The funding supports communities and infrastructure across North Carolina, with the bill becoming effective July 1, 2025.
HB 653 lowers the federal funding threshold that would trigger loss of Medicaid coverage for North Carolina's newly eligible expansion recipients. Currently, coverage would end if federal funding for this group drops below 90% compared to non-expansion recipients; the bill reduces this threshold to a lower percentage. If funding falls below the new threshold, Medicaid coverage for this group must discontinue promptly, with state agencies required to notify lawmakers and CMS. The bill affects only those added to Medicaid through the 2014 expansion, not all Medicaid beneficiaries.
This bill appropriates $1.5 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in North Carolina. It directs funds to the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. to mail age-appropriate books monthly to registered children through the early literacy program. The bill provides recurring state funding for an existing program that delivers books directly to children's homes.
SB 501 appropriates $11 million in one-time state funds for the Town of Edenton's downtown development project, officially named the TEAPOT Project. The bill directs these funds toward building renovations and additional downtown development initiatives within Edenton. The funds are allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and become effective July 1, 2025. This legislation directly affects the Town of Edenton by providing financial resources for specific local infrastructure improvements.
HB 638 requires new data centers and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to pay fees covering the cost of additional reliable power needed to support their electricity demand. Specifically, it mandates fees on new EV/PHEV charging stations and EVs sold in North Carolina, with funds dedicated solely to building new dispatchable power sources (like natural gas or coal plants) instead of raising all customers' bills. Data centers must either contract directly with utilities for new power or face recoupment of state incentives if they fail to secure it. The law aims to prevent grid strain by ensuring those driving new demand - data centers and EV users - bear the cost of infrastructure upgrades.
HB 498 creates a retirement credit for North Carolina teachers who served in the military. It allows veterans to count up to four years of active duty service toward their state retirement system, provided they weren’t dishonorably discharged, served before becoming a teacher, and meet licensure requirements. The bill modifies the retirement system to include this credit, requiring employers to pay a lump sum covering the retirement system’s increased liability for the credited service. This directly affects military veterans transitioning to teaching careers in North Carolina, making their prior service count toward retirement benefits.
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.
