HB 511 establishes new salary levels for full-time magistrates in North Carolina, directly affecting these court officers who handle minor cases like traffic violations and small claims. The bill appropriates $11.5 million annually from the General Fund for 2025-2027 to fund these increases, with specific salary steps outlined in the law. Magistrates will receive raises every two years for the first three experience levels and every four years for higher levels, starting at $47,228 for new hires and reaching $90,498 for the highest step. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, and apply to magistrates working at least 40 hours weekly.
HB 759 allocates $100,000 in nonrecurring state funds to Forsyth County for two specific programs. It will fund two mobile health and support units serving residents across seven counties (Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Guilford, Randolph, Stokes, and Yadkin), providing essential health, social services, and nutrition. Additionally, it establishes a work-based learning program for adult parents to improve community engagement and economic mobility. The funding is effective July 1, 2025, and directly supports county-level initiatives rather than creating new statewide policies.
HB 995, the Shotgun House Funding Act, appropriates $750,000 from the state General Fund to Triad Cultural Arts, Inc., a Winston-Salem nonprofit, for the development of the Shotgun House Legacy Site project. The funds are a one-time grant to create a multiuse center at a historic location in Winston-Salem, specifically for the nonprofit's use. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and directly affects the nonprofit organization and local community through this targeted funding allocation.
HB 197 appropriates $25 million annually for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years to North Carolina's local health departments (LHDs) for communicable disease programs. The funding aims to address a 70% staff shortage in LHDs by enabling them to retain existing staff, hire additional public health professionals (including nurses), and expand essential services. Funds are allocated with half distributed equally among LHDs based on the number of counties served, and half distributed based on the percentage of state population each LHD serves. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, to support North Carolina's response to diseases like avian flu and mpox.
HB 426 establishes the Workforce Diploma Program to help North Carolina adults aged 21+ without high school diplomas earn diplomas while gaining job skills. The program requires approved providers to offer courses combining diploma requirements with career training, including employability certifications and industry credentials. Participants receive milestone-based funding up to $7,500 per person, with payments tied to completing half-credits, certifications, or diplomas. The program mandates annual reports tracking participant outcomes like diplomas earned, credits, and workforce credentials. It appropriates $5 million for implementation starting July 2025.
SB 234 appropriates $690,000 from North Carolina's General Fund to the City of Greenville for a new fire truck. The funds are a one-time grant specifically for the Greenville Fire Department to purchase equipment, effective July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects Greenville's fire department operations by providing dedicated funding for vehicle acquisition. It does not create new policies or alter existing laws, but allocates existing state resources for a specific municipal need.
HB 257 allocates $185.2 million in one-time state funds for specific infrastructure and facility projects in Scotland and Hoke counties, along with the cities of Laurinburg, Gibson, and Wagram, and St. Andrews University. The bill directs funding for water and sewer systems, courthouse construction, law enforcement facilities, workforce training centers, social services buildings, fire department improvements, and road repairs. It specifically targets nonrecurring 2025-2026 fiscal year funds for projects like a new sheriff's office in Hoke County, a courthouse/jail in Scotland County, and water system upgrades in Laurinburg. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not create new policy but provides state funding for pre-planned local projects.
HB 391 appropriates $2.178 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and $4.542 million for 2026-2027 to hire 50 additional Adult Protective Services (APS) workers statewide. The funds, distributed based on need factors like case volume and senior population, directly support county social services departments overwhelmed by rising elder abuse reports. Counties must use the funds solely for APS worker salaries and benefits, not to replace existing funding. This addresses a critical staffing gap identified by counties, where federal funds are depleted early and reports of elder abuse have increased significantly.
HB 616 modifies the North Carolina Selectsite Readiness Program by establishing a competitive grant program and creating the North Carolina Selectsite Fund. It appropriates $10 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and transfers unspent funds to this new fund. The program, administered by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), provides grants to local governments or partnerships. These grants support the acquisition, due diligence, infrastructure development, and on-site preparation of industrial sites under 1,000 acres, aiming to attract major manufacturing opportunities to the state.
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Economic Development
HB 313 appropriates $88,395,000 from North Carolina's General Fund to Madison County for hurricane recovery. The bill directly funds specific repairs and rebuilds damaged infrastructure across Marshall and Hot Springs, including the wastewater treatment plant, town halls, housing authority apartments, fire department, community center, libraries, parks, and emergency communication systems, all resulting from Hurricane Helene. Key provisions allocate $25 million for the Marshall Wastewater Plant, $12 million for a new Hot Springs Wastewater Facility, $3 million for temporary department relocations, and $25 million for river and waterway repairs. The funds are designated for nonrecurring use in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, effective July 1, 2025. This is a funding bill with no new policy changes, solely providing targeted financial support for post-hurricane infrastructure restoration.
