Budget & Taxes

in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 561: 2025 Youth End Nicotine Dependence Act.

This bill creates a $17 million annual Tobacco Use Prevention Fund within North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services, funded by a portion of the state's annual Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement payments. The fund directly targets youth (high and middle school students) by supporting community-based programs, evidence-based media campaigns, school initiatives, and tracking of e-cigarette use to prevent nicotine dependence. Key provisions include funding local health departments for youth education, launching health-risk media campaigns, supporting tobacco-free college campuses, and evaluating program effectiveness. The fund uses $17 million yearly from the $140 million settlement allocation, with up to 10% of funds allowed for administrative costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates $17M annual fund from existing tobacco settlement payments for youth tobacco prevention, increasing public health funding via appropriations.90% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 587: Corps Community Center Funding.

HB 587 appropriates $2 million from the state General Fund for the Salvation Army of Cape Fear to construct a Corps Community Center in Wilmington. The center will provide after-school tutoring, business training, and recreational programs while offering meeting space for underserved communities in New Hanover, Columbus, Brunswick, Bladen, and Pender Counties. It will also serve as an emergency shelter during hurricanes, coordinating with New Hanover County Emergency Management. The funding supports the Salvation Army's $7.5 million Build Hope Capital Campaign, which has secured most of its financing through public-private partnerships. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2M from General Fund for community center services, directly funding public programs per budgeting subjects.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds after-school tutoring for underserved students, directly supporting educational access and student programs through state appropriation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 599: Award NC Forest Service Pay Increase.

HB 599 provides a 7.5% across-the-board salary increase for all North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) employees, directly affecting approximately 500+ state workers. The bill appropriates $2.6 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year (effective July 1, 2025) and an additional $5.2 million for 2026-2027 (effective July 1, 2026) from the state general fund. These increases are funded through recurring annual appropriations, meaning the funding is guaranteed each year. The bill requires no new policy changes but allocates specific state budget resources to adjust employee compensation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $7.8M total for NCFS salary increases via recurring state general fund spending, directly advancing public sector compensation funding within budget allocations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirect 7.5% salary increase for 500+ state workers with guaranteed annual funding, aligning with wage advancement and benefit protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 586: YMCA Expansion Funding.

HB 586 appropriates $2 million from the state General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund the expansion of the Midtown YMCA in Wilmington, North Carolina. The grant will support the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina's $15 million project to build a 50,000-square-foot facility on a 10-acre site, directly benefiting youth and families in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Sampson counties. Key provisions include funding new fitness, aquatic, child care, and educational spaces, with the expansion expected to serve 6,000 additional members and provide water safety lessons to all 2nd graders in New Hanover County. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and requires the funds to be disbursed as a grant to the YMCA.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2M from state General Fund for YMCA expansion, directly increasing public service funding under budgetary allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 506: ATR Salary Sups and Grant Increases.

SB 506 increases funding for North Carolina's Advanced Teaching Roles (ATR) program, which provides salary supplements to teachers in specialized roles. It allocates an additional $16.2 million for 2025-2026 and $20.1 million for 2026-2027 (totaling $27.1M and $31M annually) to fund these supplements, plus $1 million more for program expansion. The bill directs the Department of Public Instruction to distribute these funds to public school districts participating in the ATR program, as outlined in state law (G.S. 115C-310.13). This funding increase directly affects eligible teachers in participating schools by boosting their salary supplements. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, pending legislative approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state budget allocation by $36.3M over two years for teacher salary supplements, directly advancing education funding through appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher salary supplements via ATR program funding, directly supporting educator compensation and program expansion with $31M annual allocation.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 641: Transportation for the Future Act.

The Transportation for the Future Act reorganizes North Carolina's transportation funding to prioritize sustainable projects like public transit (including bus rapid transit and commuter rail), bike lanes, and pedestrian pathways. It requires at least 20% of transportation funds to be allocated to non-highway projects and caps state funding for commuter rail and light rail at 10% of project costs. The bill establishes three funding categories with project selection criteria emphasizing safety, congestion reduction, economic growth, and multimodal transportation. This change affects statewide transportation planning and funding decisions to modernize the system for future sustainability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 20% of transportation funds for sustainable projects like public transit, directly allocating budget resources to prioritize public infrastructure funding per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates 20% funding for sustainable projects (transit, bike lanes, pedestrian paths), directly reducing emissions and promoting eco-friendly infrastructure per environmental indicators.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates 20% funding for sustainable transit/pedestrian projects, prioritizes non-highway infrastructure, and requires safety-focused project selection per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Rail Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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died · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 662: Support the State Highway Patrol.

HB 662 provides $40.48 million over two years for salary increases to North Carolina State Highway Patrol officers based on experience and rank, with starting pay at $56,000 and top ranks reaching $224,612 annually. It requires the Patrol to create policies allowing officers to take secondary jobs (e.g., security work) without conflicts of interest or performance issues, effective July 2025. The bill also allocates $3.25 million for bulletproof glass on all Highway Patrol and Capitol Police vehicles and $643,150 for infrastructure at the Huntersville station. These changes directly affect current and retired Highway Patrol members, aiming to improve recruitment, retention, and officer safety through concrete funding and policy adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $40.48M for Highway Patrol salaries and policies, explicitly addressing budget appropriations per bill subjects.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds Highway Patrol salaries and safety equipment, directly supporting law enforcement operations under criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides salary increases ($56k-$224k) and secondary job policies for Highway Patrol officers, directly advancing wages and employment conditions for this workforce.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds Highway Patrol salaries and bulletproof glass, enhancing road safety and officer effectiveness within transportation infrastructure management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Roads & Highways

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 679: Spring Lake Projects/Funds.

HB 679 appropriates $5.4 million in one-time state funds to the Town of Spring Lake for specific public projects. The funding directs $200,000 for restoring the Historic Spring Lake Civic Center, $100,000 to the Spring Lake Fire Department, $5 million for general infrastructure, and $100,000 to support the Manchester Fire Department or other rural fire departments serving the Spring Lake area. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and directly affects Spring Lake town operations and the designated fire departments through these targeted grants.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5.4M for public infrastructure, fire services, and historic preservation, directly funding state budget allocations for essential local government projects.90% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 757: Joyful Soul Treasures/Funds.

HB 757 appropriates $31,000 from North Carolina's General Fund to Joyful Soul Treasures, Inc., a nonprofit organization, for its "Safe Haven for Safe Sex" project. The grant specifically supports sexual health education and awareness programs targeting adolescents aged 13-18, focusing on providing essential knowledge and reducing stigma. This funding directly enables the nonprofit to implement this youth-focused initiative. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $31k from state General Fund for youth sexual health education, directly funding a public service program under Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds nonprofit's sexual health education program for adolescents, directly supporting educational access and curriculum content under 'Health Education' subject.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds adolescent sexual health education program under public health initiatives, directly advancing healthcare access and reducing stigma for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 7, 2025

SB 145: Mecklenburg Transportation Referendum.

SB 145 proposes authorizing Mecklenburg County to levy an additional 0.5% sales tax for transportation funding, subject to voter approval. The bill requires that these funds supplement, not replace, existing transportation budgets and must be used exclusively for financing, building, operating, and maintaining public transportation systems within the county. It specifies that tax revenue must be distributed to Mecklenburg County and its public transportation authorities on a per capita basis, with strict rules against using funds for non-transportation purposes. The measure is currently pending in committee and would require a county referendum before implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes new 0.5% sales tax for public transportation funding, supplementing existing budgets per bill language. Directly advances transportation spending through taxation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationProposes 0.5% sales tax to fund public transit infrastructure, requiring exclusive use for transportation systems per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Transportation Funding

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