Budget & Taxes

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 249: Diversity in Pickleball Pilot Program.

HB 249 allocates $10,112 to North Carolina State University for a Wake County pilot program to increase diversity in pickleball, specifically targeting underrepresented communities of color. The program requires focus groups with people of color, branded marketing materials, two 4-week sessions at Raleigh recreation centers (Method Road and Chavis) in fall 2025 and spring 2026, and a post-program toolkit for wider community use. It directly affects residents in Wake County by creating accessible pickleball opportunities through public recreation facilities. The bill focuses on concrete steps to address current underrepresentation in the sport, leveraging its low-cost, inclusive nature. Funds are restricted to these specific activities and do not revert.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $10,112 for a pilot program, directly funding a specific state budget initiative within recreation/education programs.90% confidence

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died · North Carolina · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 179: Partnership with Voices Together.

SB 179 appropriates $2.5 million from North Carolina's General Fund annually for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund middle school programming through the nonprofit Voices Together. The bill directly supports middle school students in North Carolina school systems who have intellectual or developmental disabilities or experience learning delays, preparing them for future employment services. This funding enables Voices Together to expand its existing high school-level transition services to younger students through structured educational programming. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the Senate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2.5M from General Fund for special needs education program, increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $2.5M annually to fund middle school special needs programming, expanding educational access for students with disabilities through nonprofit partnerships.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds program addressing developmental disabilities and mental health services for students through education, directly supporting healthcare-related needs per bill subjects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget K-12 Education

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died · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 729: Farmland Protection Act.

HB 729, titled the "Farmland Protection Act," makes several changes related to solar energy development. It reduces the property tax exclusion for solar energy electric systems from 80% to 40% of their appraised value, which will increase the taxable value of these systems. The bill also prohibits the construction of new utility-scale solar projects that are not qualifying facilities under federal law, unless they are sited on specific types of land such as brownfields, non-agricultural land, or clear-cut timberland. Additionally, it updates the effective dates for requirements regarding financial assurance and decommissioning plans for utility-scale solar projects, affecting both existing and new facilities.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesReduces property tax exclusion for solar systems from 80% to 40%, increasing taxable value and tax burden. Direct tax policy change reducing tax benefits.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyReduces solar tax exclusion, restricts new utility-scale solar projects on farmland, directly limiting renewable energy development.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentReduces tax incentives for solar energy and restricts new utility-scale projects, hindering clean energy adoption which supports environmental protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Solar

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 592: Statewide Child Care Investment Act.

SB 592 allocates $25 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund one-time grants for North Carolina counties and private employers to expand child care capacity. The grants cover construction, equipment, facility upgrades, and playgrounds, with recipients required to provide a 25% matching contribution. Up to 9% of the grant funds can be used for administrative costs. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, directly supporting child care providers seeking to improve facilities and services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $25M annually for child care grants via state appropriations, directly funding public service expansion under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SB 246: Create 13,000 Jobs Serving People With I/DD.

SB 246 increases North Carolina's Medicaid Innovations Waiver slots by 5,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and another 5,000 for 2026-2027, directly serving approximately 19,000 people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) currently on a waiting list. The bill allocates $134 million (2025-2026) and $357.34 million (2026-2027) in state funds to cover a state match for federal funds, enabling these slots to be distributed based on waitlist length. It requires that direct care workers receive at least $20 per hour and ensures unused slots are redistributed to providers meeting wage and service capacity standards. This policy aims to reduce the waiting list, support caregivers in returning to work, and stimulate local economies through new jobs and community-based services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $134M (2025-26) and $357M (2026-27) in state funds for Medicaid waiver slots, directly increasing budgetary spending for public social services and disability care.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid waiver slots by 10,000 (5k/year) for I/DD health services, allocates $491M in state funds to cover federal match, directly increasing healthcare access and funding for vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates 13,000 new direct care jobs via Medicaid waiver expansion, directly funding employment in healthcare sector per bill's title and EMPLOYMENT subject category.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SB 279: Baby Bond Trust Fund.

SB 279 establishes a Baby Bond Trust Fund that automatically deposits $2,000 into individual accounts for eligible North Carolina infants born on or after January 1, 2024. Eligibility requires parents to reside in North Carolina (or establish residency within six months of birth) and have household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Funds in these accounts cannot be accessed before age 18 (except for qualified education expenses), and after age 18, distributions may be used for postsecondary education, home purchases, business startup, or approved long-term investments. The State Treasurer administers the accounts with a Board of Trustees, ensuring funds remain protected from creditors and are managed solely for the account holder’s benefit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds a state program via budget allocation for low-income infants, aligning with 'funds essential programs' under Budget & Taxes topic.90% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 713: Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch.

HB 713 mandates that all North Carolina public schools provide free breakfast and lunch to every student, eliminating meal fees for all. This affects every student enrolled in public schools, including those in charter schools and regional school units, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill appropriates $144 million from the state General Fund to cover costs, with funds allocated based on school size, student eligibility for free/reduced meals, and nutritional quality standards. Schools must comply with federal nutrition guidelines while using state funds to supplement, not replace, existing meal program funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $144M from General Fund to fund universal school meals, directly increasing state budget allocation for public education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates universal free school meals for all public school students with $144M state funding, expanding access and supporting student nutrition as part of education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Student Health

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 389: Add Home Schools to Opportunity Scholarships.

SB 389 expands North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program to include home-schooled students. The bill adds a new provision (Section 1(b)(2)) specifying that home-school students would receive up to 25% of the state's average per-pupil funding allocation annually, compared to 45-100% for private school students based on household income. It directly affects home-schooled students in North Carolina who have not yet earned a high school diploma and meet the program's income requirements. The bill defines "home school" as meeting state requirements under Part 3 of Article 39 and specifies that funds cover required educational costs (books, materials) but not tuition or transportation. This change modifies existing scholarship rules without altering income-based tiers for private school students.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state funding allocation to home-schooled students via Opportunity Scholarship Program, directly impacting budget appropriations for education assistance.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access to home-schooled students, increasing educational choice and funding for non-traditional education pathways90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice School Funding

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 159: Orphan Roads Maintenance Program Grant.

HB 159 establishes a $75 million grant program within North Carolina's Department of Transportation to improve subdivision streets that don't meet state highway standards and aren't maintained by local governments. It directly affects counties and municipalities with these "orphan roads," providing funds for repairs up to $250,000 per subdivision, requiring a 25% local match (25 cents for every dollar awarded). Once roads meet standards, ownership transfers to the state or local government for ongoing maintenance. The program runs from July 2025 through June 2030, with unspent funds rolling over to the Highway Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $75M state grant for infrastructure maintenance via appropriations, directly funding public roads through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $75M for road maintenance grants under DOT, directly funding infrastructure improvements for 'orphan roads' per transportation-focused subjects and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 27, 2025

HB 216: Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Accessibility and Sustainability Act.

HB 216 creates a Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Fund funded by a 5-cent charge on each bottle of alcohol sold in North Carolina. This fund provides court-ordered continuous alcohol monitoring as a sentencing option for individuals unable to pay for the service themselves. The bill amends tax and sentencing laws to direct proceeds from the alcohol tax to the fund, which the court can use to cover monitoring costs for qualifying defendants. It directly affects low-income individuals convicted of alcohol-related offenses who would otherwise face barriers to this monitoring requirement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 5-cent alcohol tax to fund court monitoring for low-income defendants, directing tax revenue to a public service program.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates fund via alcohol tax to provide court-ordered alcohol monitoring for low-income defendants, reducing financial barriers in DWI sentencing and promoting equitable access to alternatives to incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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