SB 277 appropriates $750,000 annually from the state general fund to the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds aim to improve recruitment, training, and retention of medical students and healthcare professionals in rural North Carolina. Key mechanisms include requiring NC AHEC to regularly convene stakeholders to share best practices and create a public database of this shared information. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, directly supporting rural healthcare workforce development.
HB 374 allocates $3.95 million to fund a financial assistance program for small local governments through the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments (NCARCOG). It directs NCARCOG to hire 32 additional finance professionals to help small towns and public authorities with financial compliance, prioritizing those with limited resources on the State Treasurer’s assistance list. The bill also provides $3.9 million for NCARCOG to develop a disaster response plan, including training for local financial administration, assistance with federal disaster funds, and infrastructure repair support. These funds, effective July 1, 2025, aim to improve financial management and disaster resilience for smaller communities across North Carolina.
HB 343 appropriates $380,000 for 2025-26 and $397,000 for 2026-27 to create four full-time ombudsman positions within North Carolina’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This directly affects residents of nursing homes, adult care homes, and family care homes by enhancing advocacy for their rights and care quality. The bill’s key provision funds staff to move the state’s program toward national standards for resolving facility issues without formal complaints. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, with no advocacy language - only a concrete funding mechanism for expanded protections.
HB 392 appropriates $250,000 in one-time state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to The United Way of Forsyth County, Inc., to fund summer learning programs for students in Forsyth County who would otherwise not have access to such programs through their local school system. The United Way will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to contract with community agencies offering these programs, either extending existing services or partnering with vetted new organizations. This bill directly affects eligible Forsyth County students and community agencies providing summer learning support, with funds becoming available July 1, 2025. The legislation focuses on creating a structured grant process to expand educational opportunities during summer months.
HB 404, the Fair and Affordable Housing Act, requires the Legislative Research Commission to study affordable housing availability across North Carolina - including rural and urban areas - and report findings to the 2026 General Assembly. The bill prohibits housing discrimination based on "source of income" (such as government housing vouchers, disability benefits, or rental assistance), making it illegal for landlords to refuse tenants using these payments. It also appropriates $45 million from the General Fund to the Housing Trust Fund for affordable housing development and bans credit reporting agencies from listing eviction lawsuits that don’t result in a landlord judgment. These changes directly affect renters (especially those using government assistance), landlords, housing providers, and credit agencies in North Carolina.
HB 409 appropriates $1.7 million in one-time state funds to Caswell County for the replacement of the Caswell Volunteer Fire Department's facility. The bill directly affects Caswell County's volunteer fire department by providing dedicated funding to replace their physical building. Key provisions include a specific grant allocation from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, with the funds to be directed to the county for this purpose. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not establish new policies or alter existing laws.
HB 416 appropriates $30,000 from the state General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties. The funds will support a six-part youth development program focusing on teen recruitment, emotional safety, leadership, trauma-informed practices, cultural inclusion, and college/career readiness for area youth. This bill directly affects the Boys & Girls Clubs in those counties and the young people they serve, becoming effective July 1, 2025.
SB 340 appropriates $10 million in nonrecurring state funds for the Town of Pittsboro to enhance its emergency fire services during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are specifically allocated to construct a new fire station ($7 million), purchase a new ladder truck ($1.8 million), and acquire a new fire engine ($1.2 million). This bill directly affects Pittsboro residents and its fire department by providing capital funding for critical infrastructure and equipment upgrades. The funding becomes effective July 1, 2025, and is structured as a directed grant through the Office of State Budget and Management.
HB 473 protects patients' and healthcare providers' rights to access and provide assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), by prohibiting state interference. It defines ART broadly and explicitly states that fertilized eggs or embryos outside the uterus are not considered "human beings" under North Carolina law. The bill also appropriates $500,000 annually (starting July 2025) from the state General Fund to increase Medicaid maternal support services (the Baby Love Program), matching $913,000 in federal funds for the 2025-2027 biennium. This legislation directly affects patients seeking ART, healthcare providers offering these services, and Medicaid beneficiaries receiving maternal support.
SB 397 allocates a one-time $4.5 million state funding to Durham County for capital improvements and repairs to public school buildings, athletic fields, and other school facilities. The funds target deferred maintenance needs specifically for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This bill directly benefits Durham County public schools by providing resources for infrastructure upgrades. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
