Budget & Taxes

died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 620: The STRONG Act of 2025.

SB 620, the STRONG Act of 2025, targets North Carolina's fentanyl crisis through several key measures. It significantly increases prison terms and fines for drug trafficking, especially for fentanyl, heroin, or carfentanil (e.g., 28+ grams carries a minimum 225-month sentence), and adds 60 months to sentences for offenses near schools or parks (Section 3.3). The bill appropriates $10 million for the State Bureau of Investigation's Drug Task Force (Section 4.1) and expands the Controlled Substances Reporting System. It also funds opioid prevention/treatment programs and creates a tax credit for businesses hiring staff trained in substance use disorder (Section 4.2). These provisions directly affect traffickers, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and eligible businesses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $10M for Drug Task Force, directly funding a public safety program through state budget.90% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences (225+ months for fentanyl trafficking), adds penalties near schools, funds enforcement over reform. Explicitly expands criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Corrections Drug Policy

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 239: Change to Exceptional Children Funding Formula.

HB 239 modifies North Carolina's funding formula for children with disabilities in public schools. It changes how funds are allocated to local school districts by capping per-child funding at 13% of a district's total enrollment plus students using state scholarship programs. The bill requires the State Education Assistance Authority to provide annual scholarship data by March 15 to help calculate district funding. It also appropriates $25 million in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support this revised funding structure, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $25M recurring funds for exceptional children education, directly increasing state budget allocation for a public service.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $25M recurring funds for exceptional children while modifying funding formula to maintain support for disability services in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 987: Create Police Leadership Fellows Program.

HB 987 creates the North Carolina Police Leadership Fellows Program, which provides forgivable loans to eligible individuals pursuing undergraduate degrees in criminal justice, government, or related fields at UNC institutions. The program targets high school graduates or seniors facing economic barriers (e.g., unemployment, underemployment) or those expressing interest in criminal justice careers, with priority given to residents who intend to work as sworn law enforcement officers, correctional staff, sheriffs, or similar roles after graduation. Recipients may receive up to $20,000 total in forgivable loans ($3,000/year for first two years, $7,000/year for final two years), covering tuition, fees, and books, subject to criminal background checks and residency requirements. The program is administered by a committee appointed by the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, with annual selections of 50-100 recipients.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program (forgivable loans for criminal justice education) requiring budget appropriations, advancing government spending on workforce development and public safety.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds criminal justice education for future officers via forgivable loans, directly strengthening law enforcement workforce development and aligning with reform-focused training priorities.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides forgivable loans for criminal justice degrees at UNC institutions, expanding higher education access for economically disadvantaged students targeting law enforcement careers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Higher Education K-12 Education

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 910: Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education (DRIVE) Recommendations/Teacher Diversity.

HB 910 creates a $2 million recurring grant program to increase teacher diversity in North Carolina public schools, primarily benefiting school districts, colleges, and community organizations. The bill funds partnerships that support recruitment, training, and retention of educators of color through specific initiatives like dual enrollment programs, paid clinical experiences, mentorship, and financial aid for aspiring teachers. Grants require evidence-based proposals addressing recruitment or retention gaps and must include long-term sustainability plans. Local school systems and institutions of higher education will administer the program, with annual reporting required to track progress toward diversifying the educator workforce.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2M recurring grant for teacher diversity programs, directly funding educational initiatives through state appropriations as indicated in subjects and summary.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates $2M recurring grant program to fund teacher diversity initiatives (recruitment, training, retention) in public schools, directly advancing educator representation and equity in education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds teacher diversity initiatives through $2M grants, directly supporting recruitment/retention in education employment (subjects: EMPLOYMENT, TEACHERS).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 944: Community Health Services/Mecklenburg County/Fund.

HB 944 appropriates $1.5 million from the state General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for a directed grant to Care Ring, Inc., a nonprofit community health clinic in Mecklenburg County. The funding supports the clinic’s operations to provide primary care services to medically vulnerable residents facing geographic, economic, or other barriers to care. This grant specifically targets patients who would otherwise be unable to access necessary primary care due to these challenges. The bill directs all funds to be used for the clinic’s core operations during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1.5M from state General Fund to fund community health clinic services for vulnerable residents, directly increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates $1.5M to fund primary care services for medically vulnerable residents via nonprofit clinic, expanding healthcare access for underserved populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Primary Care

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 453: Increase Medicaid Personal Care Services and Private Duty Nursing Rates.

HB 453 increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for two specific services in North Carolina. It raises the rate for personal care services (e.g., help with daily tasks) to $7.50 per 15-minute increment for beneficiaries in programs like State Plan Personal Care Services and Community Alternatives programs. It also increases private duty nursing rates to $16.25 per 15 minutes for both children under 21 and adults, using state funds to match federal support. The changes, effective July 1, 2025, will directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries receiving these services through approved programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state appropriations for Medicaid services by raising reimbursement rates, directly funding essential health programs through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care and nursing services, expanding access and funding for healthcare coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 325: Legislative Building Field Trip Pilot Program.

HB 325 establishes a two-year pilot program (2025-2026 and 2026-2027) to fund public school field trips to North Carolina's Legislative Building. It provides up to $2,000 per school for transportation costs (bus rental, fuel, driver pay) to participating schools, prioritizing those in counties designated as "Tier 1" under state law. The program is funded with $1.5 million annually from the General Fund, requiring schools to submit budget applications by October 1 and reporting usage to the legislature by February 15 each year. The bill directly affects public school units statewide, with priority given to schools in designated underserved counties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.5M annually from General Fund for school field trip program, directly funding public education through state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds school field trips to Legislative Building with $1.5M annual funding, prioritizing underserved schools to enhance educational access and engagement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 420: Redirect Lottery Advertising for Foster Care.

SB 420 redirects funds previously allocated for lottery advertising toward foster care programs. The bill eliminates the Lottery Commission’s authority to spend public funds on advertising (as specified in revised G.S. 18C-130(e)) and instead requires those monies to be added to the existing $30 million annual allocation for foster care under G.S. 18C-163(3)(b). This policy change directly affects North Carolina’s foster care system by increasing its funding stream without creating new revenue. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not alter other lottery advertising rules or responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects $30M+ lottery advertising funds to foster care, increasing public service funding without new taxes or revenue.90% confidence

Track

died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 500: New Health and DSS Building.

SB 500 appropriates $14 million in one-time state funds for Pamlico County to build a new facility housing the County's Department of Health and Social Services. This replaces a former building abandoned due to moisture and mold issues, using county-owned property. The funding covers engineering and construction costs, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects Pamlico County residents who access health and social services through this office.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $14M for Pamlico County health/social services facility, directly funding public infrastructure via state budget appropriation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates $14M to build a new health/social services facility, directly funding infrastructure for public health services delivery per bill summary and subjects list.95% confidence

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 721: Muddy Sneakers/St. Gerard House.

HB 721 appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to fund Muddy Sneakers, Inc.'s fifth-grade science programs, which provide hands-on field instruction aligned with state science standards. It also allocates $2.75 million to St. Gerard House to support its autism treatment programs. The funding is designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, with the Muddy Sneakers funds being recurring and the St. Gerard House grant nonrecurring. The bill directly affects fifth-grade students in North Carolina public schools and individuals receiving autism services through St. Gerard House.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $500k and $2.75M from General Fund for education and autism programs, directly advancing public service funding per appropriations language.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds fifth-grade science programs aligned with state standards and autism treatment programs, directly advancing educational access and student support in K-12 settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $2.75M for autism treatment programs, directly funding mental health services under the mental health subject.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track