HB 242 adds freestanding psychiatric hospitals (licensed, Medicare-certified facilities primarily providing psychiatric care that are not state-owned) to North Carolina’s Medicaid Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP). This expands the existing program - which currently reimburses acute care hospitals - to include these psychiatric hospitals, providing them with increased Medicaid reimbursements. The funding will come from a new quarterly assessment levied on the psychiatric hospitals themselves, calculated as a percentage of their hospital costs. The bill does not change patient eligibility but alters how these specific hospitals receive Medicaid payments through the HASP program.
SB 362 appropriates $1 million annually from 2025-2027 to strengthen North Carolina's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. It funds $855,000-$893,250 yearly for nine new regional ombudsman positions targeting areas with the greatest need, plus $145,000-$106,750 for operational costs like equipment and transportation. The bill also mandates a study by the Department of Health and Human Services to recommend statutory changes improving the ombudsman program and its volunteer Community Advisory Committees. These changes directly support long-term care residents and their advocates by increasing staffing and program capacity, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 877 establishes a pilot program to create affordable childcare facilities through public-private partnerships using state-owned property. It requires the Legislative Services Office to select a childcare operator by 2026 who must offer rates 25% below market (excluding land/building costs), pay staff 180% of federal minimum wage with health insurance, and reserve 80% of spots for state employees. The program leverages $5 million in state funds to cover facility upfitting and site costs, using state/university land leased at $500/month for 10+ years. This directly affects state employees seeking childcare and aims to lower costs for parents across all North Carolina counties through reduced capital expenses.
HB 774 ("School Breakfast for All") mandates that all North Carolina public schools (pre-K through 12) provide free breakfast to every student, eliminating costs for families. It establishes a Farm-to-Table Initiative requiring schools to partner with local farmers for fresh, locally sourced ingredients in breakfast meals. The bill allocates $39 million in recurring state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to cover program costs, while requiring annual reports on participation rates, costs, and impacts on student health and academic performance. This directly affects all public school students, school districts, and North Carolina agricultural producers.
SB 367 allocates $8 million from the Education Lottery Fund to four North Carolina Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) - Bennett College, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, and Shaw University - for campus capital improvement projects like building repairs or new facilities. Funding is distributed proportionally based on each HBCU’s number of North Carolina resident undergraduate students receiving federal Pell Grants. The bill, effective July 1, 2025, provides nonrecurring funds specifically for physical campus upgrades at these institutions. It directly affects the listed HBCUs and their enrolled students who qualify for Pell Grants.
HB 623 allocates $500,000 in state funds to the City of Greensboro for two specific purposes. $250,000 covers security, law enforcement, and transportation for Greensboro’s role as a training camp host for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The remaining $250,000 supports expenses for the 2025 North Carolina Folk Festival. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and directly affects Greensboro’s event planning and budgeting for these two events.
SB 631 allocates $10.4 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and $14.1 million for 2026-2027 to increase salaries for juvenile justice staff in North Carolina. It directly affects Youth Counselor Technicians, Youth Services Behavioral Specialists, Youth Counselors, and Juvenile Court Counselors within the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The bill establishes new annual salary schedules for these roles, including specific pay rates based on experience levels for the 2025-2027 biennium. Additionally, $3.9 million is specifically designated to address existing pay gaps ("salary compression") among these staff members. The funding is intended to support workforce retention and recruitment within the juvenile justice system.
HB 490 revises North Carolina's community college funding model to prioritize enrollment in workforce-focused programs. It requires the State Board of Community Colleges to allocate base funding plus additional funds based on full-time student enrollment in curriculum, workforce training, and Basic Skills courses, with weighted funding for high-demand fields. The bill also creates an "Enrollment Increase Reserve" to fund colleges with enrollment growth exceeding 5% in targeted programs and permits community colleges to add up to a 10% tuition surcharge for eligible courses, with funds restricted to instructional costs. These changes directly affect community colleges and students in workforce education, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 58 modifies local election rules across North Carolina. It extends Kittrell's mayor and commissioners' terms from two to four years, changes Asheboro's school board to seven partisan-elected members (down from 11) with four-year staggered terms, and eliminates a mandatory school funding floor for Scotland County. The bill also establishes residency districts for Anson County commissioners, clarifies vacancy procedures for Caswell County, and allows Scotland County to set school budgets without state-mandated funding minimums. These changes directly affect local governments and school boards in multiple counties, altering election structures and budget authority.
HB 300 establishes a program to reimburse owners of retired first responder dogs for veterinary care. It directly affects owners of canines that served with law enforcement, fire departments, or correctional agencies in roles like narcotics detection or search and rescue, after retiring on or after July 1, 2024. The bill requires registration of the dog and owner with the Department of Public Safety, then allows reimbursement of up to $1,500 annually for covered care - including routine check-ups, vaccinations, emergencies, surgeries, and euthanasia. Owners must submit itemized vet bills within 90 days of service.
