HB 766 appropriates $1.87 million to fund expanded Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training for North Carolina high school students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18). The bill directly affects students by providing evidence-based training to help them recognize, understand, and respond to peers' mental health and substance use challenges. Key provisions include funding for the Department of Health and Human Services to scale up tMHFA programs statewide, building on a pilot that trained 1,519 teens and showed a 50% increase in teens' willingness to seek adult support. The training focuses on connecting peers to trusted adults during crises, addressing high rates of unmet mental health needs among teens (64% don’t seek help, per the bill’s rationale).
SB 337 redirects unspent funds originally designated for the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center to support community services in Cumberland County. Specifically, it reallocates 40% to Fayetteville for mental health programs and pedestrian safety, 30% to Hope Mills for a community center, and 30% to Cumberland County for water infrastructure, youth mental health services, and emergency response equipment. The bill requires the state to return unused funds from prior appropriations to the Office of State Budget and Management for this reallocation, effective July 1, 2025. This changes the original purpose of the funds from a history center project to immediate local infrastructure and health needs.
SB 355 waives tuition at North Carolina public colleges for survivors of correctional officers, probation officers, or firefighters who died in the line of duty or became permanently disabled. It specifically covers spouses of disabled officers and children (ages 17-24) of disabled officers, with eligibility requiring service-connected death/disability and verification from relevant agencies. The waiver applies to both credit and noncredit programs, limiting bachelor’s degree support to 54 months. This policy directly affects families of these public safety workers by reducing education costs.
SB 454, the Community Safety Act, allocates $5.5 million in state funds for North Carolina law enforcement agencies over the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides grants for community policing programs ($1 million), officer incentives for exemplary service or diversity efforts ($1.5 million), and additional detective funding for severe crimes ($2 million). The bill also revises use-of-force policies to ban strangleholds and neck restraints as acceptable tactics, requiring officers to use minimum force and prioritize de-escalation. Additionally, it sets a minimum hiring age of 21 for officers and allows denial of certification based on certain felony or misdemeanor convictions, regardless of expungement. These provisions directly affect all law enforcement agencies and officers in North Carolina.
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.
SB 524, the Community Safety Partnership Act, establishes a state fund and grant program to support community-led safety initiatives in North Carolina. It provides grants (up to $100,000 per project) to counties, municipalities, and nonprofits for specific safety projects like improved street lighting, security cameras, or community alert systems, prioritizing high-crime and underserved areas. The bill also creates a digital tracking system to verify attendance at approved neighborhood watch meetings and mandates a state-mandated bonus for law enforcement officers engaged in community outreach. Eligible participants include residents in certified neighborhood watch programs and participating officers, with grantees required to report on project use and outcomes annually. The legislation directly affects local governments, community organizations, and law enforcement through funding and new administrative requirements.
House Bill 283 establishes the Small Business Investment Grant (SBIG) Program within the One North Carolina Fund, designed to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses looking to establish or expand facilities in the state. The bill allocates up to $10 million from the Fund to this new account. Through the SBIG Program, competitive grants are offered to businesses meeting specific criteria, such as having 250 or fewer employees or less than $5 million in annual revenue, investing $10-$30 million, and creating new jobs with competitive wages. Grants are capped at $500,000 annually per recipient, up to $2.5 million total, over a maximum of five years. Additionally, the bill renames the "One North Carolina Small Business Account" to the "Small Business Research and Technology Account," which continues to support federal SBIR/STTR grant incentive and matching programs.
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SB 447 establishes the Sewer Repair Task Force to assess North Carolina's wastewater infrastructure needs, develop implementation strategies, and identify funding sources. The bill appropriates $50 million from the General Fund specifically to the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority for four concrete projects: expanding facilities in Creedmoor and Butner ($20M), upgrading treatment for PFAS compliance ($15M), modernizing water meters ($10M), and replacing lead pipes ($5M). The Task Force, composed of 18 members including legislators, agency directors, county commissioners, and wastewater entity representatives, must submit a final report by December 2026. This bill directly affects South Granville's service area and addresses state-identified infrastructure gaps, particularly in rural and developing communities.
SB 582, the Wellness Break Act, establishes a paid sabbatical leave program for North Carolina public employees (state, county, city, school, and community college workers) and provides tax incentives for private sector employers. Public employees with three or more years in the same role can take 4-6 weeks of paid leave (70% of salary) for health, wellness, skill-building, or personal enrichment, provided they return to their position for one year. Private businesses offering similar leave qualify for a tax credit of up to $5,000 per employee to offset costs. The bill requires public employers to report on program usage and outcomes, and the NCWorks Commission will develop model policies and resources to support private sector adoption.
HB 518 requires North Carolina local governments and school districts to use competitive bidding annually for publishing official notices (like public meeting announcements), aiming to lower costs and ensure fair competition. It mandates that contracts be awarded to the lowest-cost bidder who meets quality and performance standards, considering factors like circulation and compliance with existing rules. The bill also updates legal advertising rules to limit payments to newspapers' published commercial rates and requires them to file those rates with courts. These changes apply to notices published on or after July 1, 2026.
