Budget & Taxes

died · North Carolina · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 186: Funds for Ladder Truck for WS Fire Station 19.

SB 186 appropriates $2 million from North Carolina's General Fund to the City of Winston-Salem for a one-time purchase of a ladder truck for Fire Station 19. The funds are directed as a grant specifically for the Winston-Salem Fire Department's Station 19, which serves the local community. This bill creates a nonrecurring allocation for equipment procurement, with no ongoing funding implications. The measure becomes effective July 1, 2025, and directly affects the operational capacity of Station 19.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2M from state General Fund for fire department equipment, directly funding public safety services through budget allocation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 241: Person County Projects/Funds.

HB 241 allocates $15.8 million in one-time state funds for specific projects in Person County and nearby areas. It provides $10 million for Roxboro’s wastewater plant repairs, $800,000 for Person County’s splash pad construction, and $5 million for Piedmont Community College’s health/trades center equipment. The funds are directed to these specific entities via grants from the Office of State Budget and Management for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with no policy changes beyond the funding allocations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $15.8M in state funds for infrastructure (wastewater, parks) and education (college equipment), advancing budget appropriations for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $5M for Piedmont Community College's health/trades center equipment, directly funding higher education infrastructure per bill subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 60: Modernize Medicaid Dental Rates.

HB 60 increases Medicaid dental reimbursement rates from 35% to 46% of average dentist charges (2023 rates) to align with neighboring states. The bill allocates $52 million annually from North Carolina's General Fund, matched by $95 million in federal funds, to cover this rate increase starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects dentists who accept Medicaid patients and Medicaid beneficiaries seeking dental care, aiming to boost provider participation and prevent costly emergency treatments. The change addresses years of stagnant rates that reduced dental provider enrollment in Medicaid.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $52M annually from NC's General Fund to increase Medicaid dental rates, directly addressing budgeting/appropriations per bill subjects.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid dental reimbursement rates (35% to 46%) to improve provider participation and patient access, funded by $52M state + $95M federal.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 618: Lasting Economic and Academic Prosperity Act.

SB 618, the Lasting Economic and Academic Prosperity (LEAP) Act, establishes a state-funded endowment program to support early childhood development and child care initiatives in North Carolina. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) to use private donations (called "excluded amounts") and state funds held in a LEAP Reserve to generate investment income, which will supplement existing early childhood programs. The bill requires strict accounting to separate these funds, mandates annual reporting on spending and income to lawmakers, and appropriates $450,000 for fundraising in 2025-2026, with annual 5% increases for eight years. This directly affects North Carolina children by stabilizing early childhood program funding and incentivizes private donors through state matching.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes state-funded LEAP Reserve using existing funds to generate income for early childhood programs, directly supplementing public education funding per APPROPRIATIONS and FUNDING subjects.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state endowment funding for early childhood education programs, supplementing existing initiatives with new investment income from state funds and private donations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 962: ECU Engineering/Funds.

HB 962 allocates $25 million in one-time funds to East Carolina University's College of Engineering and Technology for building improvements and equipment upgrades, and $4 million annually during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to expand faculty positions. The bill directly affects ECU's engineering programs by providing resources to modernize facilities and hire additional staff. These funds are designated for specific uses - infrastructure and equipment for the first allocation, and personnel expansion for the second - without specifying outcomes. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the House Appropriations Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $25M one-time and $4M annual state funds to ECU engineering programs via appropriations, directly increasing public higher education funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $25M for ECU engineering facilities/equipment and $4M/year for faculty, directly funding higher education infrastructure and personnel expansion per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 419: School of the Arts Building Purchase.

HB 419 appropriates $4.5 million from the state General Fund to purchase a building and improvements adjacent to Winston-Salem's Stevens Center (411 W. 4th Street) for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The funds, designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, directly support the School of the Arts' facility expansion needs. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and modifies standard budgeting procedures to enable this one-time purchase. This is a direct funding allocation with no broader policy changes beyond the specified property acquisition.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $4.5M from General Fund for UNC School of the Arts facility expansion, directly funding a public education program through state budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $4.5M for UNC School of the Arts facility expansion, directly funding higher education infrastructure and supporting arts education programming.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 17, 2025

HB 395: Jackson, Transylvania and Swain Counties/Funds.

HB 395 allocates $13.2 million to Swain County, $18.6 million to Jackson County, and $65.3 million to Transylvania County for infrastructure and public services in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It funds specific projects including fire department equipment (e.g., new tankers, hydrants), water/sewer system upgrades, school facilities, emergency management buildings, and college infrastructure like dental clinics and engineering buildings at Western Carolina University. The bill directs one-time state funds to county governments, local fire departments, school systems, and community colleges (Southwestern Community College, Western Carolina University, Blue Ridge Community College) to address immediate needs. It does not create new laws but provides targeted financial support for existing public services and facilities in these three counties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $13.2M, $18.6M, and $65.3M for infrastructure/public services via appropriations, directly funding essential programs as specified in budgeting subjects.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds school facilities and college infrastructure (e.g., WCU dental clinics/engineering buildings) with specific allocations for education-related projects in subjects list.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 433: Restore Educator Longevity.

SB 433 reinstates longevity pay for North Carolina educators, directly affecting teachers, instructional support staff, principals, and assistant principals in public schools. It sets specific annual payment rates based on years of state service: 1.5% for 10-14 years, 2.25% for 15-19 years, 3.25% for 20-24 years, and 4.5% for 25+ years, paid as a lump sum each year. The bill appropriates $140.3 million from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund these payments. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, restoring previously cut longevity benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $140.3M from General Fund to fund educator longevity pay, increasing state spending on public education personnel.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRestores longevity pay for educators with $140M funding, directly increasing teacher compensation and retention in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestores longevity pay for educators via state-funded salary increases (1.5%-4.5% based on service years), directly advancing employment benefits for state employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 932: Ten Percent Raise/Teachers/First Responders.

HB 932 establishes a permanent 10% base salary increase for teachers and first responders in North Carolina, effective July 1, 2025. The bill appropriates $700 million annually for first responders (including law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and certain nurses) and $900 million annually for teachers (classroom staff, principals, and instructional support) from the General Fund. Funds must be used solely for the pay increase, added to base salary, and included in future salary calculations - no administrative costs are permitted. Employing authorities and school entities must certify costs and verify implementation by deadlines, with unspent funds reverting to the General Fund annually.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1.6B annually from General Fund for teacher/first responder salary increases, directly funding public services per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $900M annually for teacher salary increases, directly funding educator compensation per education-focused subjects and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 27, 2025

HB 228: City of Asheville/Funds for Study.

HB 228 appropriates $25,000 in one-time state funds to the City of Asheville for a study on extending the city's water system to serve Pisgah View State Park. The study will assess the practicality, costs, and feasibility of building this water infrastructure extension. This bill directly affects Asheville and the new state park by funding preliminary analysis before any potential construction. The funds are allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and require the city to conduct or facilitate the study by July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $25k for infrastructure study via state appropriations, directly funding a budget item under appropriations and budgeting.95% confidence

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