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.
SB 158 appropriates $100,000 from North Carolina's General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund the McCrorey YMCA of Charlotte's Flying Classroom program. This grant directly supports the YMCA's educational initiative, which provides immersive, hands-on learning experiences for students in science, technology, mathematics, and literacy through expeditionary activities. The bill establishes a one-time state funding allocation to enable the program's operations during the specified fiscal year. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not create new ongoing obligations.
SB 550, the Coaches Care Act, requires all middle and high school coaches and athletic directors in North Carolina to complete approved youth mental health first aid training by July 1, 2026. The training teaches coaches to recognize mental health challenges, assist youth experiencing them, and connect them to professional resources. Schools must maintain records of coach certification, and local governments must deny public facility access to youth sports organizations whose coaches lack this certification. The State Board of Education will approve specific training programs, initially including the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's courses, and publish them annually. This law directly affects all public school coaches and youth sports organizations using county or city facilities.
HB 796, the Student Mental Health Line Awareness Act, requires all North Carolina public schools serving grades 6-12 to print three specific suicide prevention contact numbers on new student identification cards. The mandated information includes the 988 Lifeline (call/text), Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741), and the NC Statewide Warmline (1-855-733-7762), displayed prominently on the ID. Schools must verify these numbers are current annually and use updated contact information. The bill applies to local school boards, charter schools, regional schools, and laboratory schools, but explicitly states it does not require issuing student IDs. It takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
HB 306 authorizes the Towns of Blowing Rock and Boone, Watauga County, and the Watauga County Board of Education to construct and provide affordable housing for their employees, including public school teachers. These local government units can build housing on their own property, partner with other entities, or contract with businesses for development. They are permitted to rent or sell these units exclusively to their employees, offering below-market rates, financing, and placing resale restrictions. All housing constructed under this act must comply with applicable building codes and zoning ordinances.
HB 787 establishes a matching program for North Carolina residents contributing to the Parental Savings Trust Fund (a 529 program) and creates a tax deduction for such contributions. It provides a 2:1 state match (up to $1,500 per student annually) for eligible contributors - North Carolina residents with household income under 250% of the federal poverty level who open accounts for children aged 14 or younger. The bill also allows a state tax deduction of up to $2,000 per individual ($4,000 for joint filers) for contributions to the fund, with rules to adjust income if funds are withdrawn for non-education purposes. These changes aim to boost college savings for lower-income families, with the matching program starting July 1, 2025, and the tax deduction effective January 1, 2026.
SB 195, the "Protect Campus Survivors Act," exempts personally identifiable student disciplinary records at North Carolina's public colleges and universities from being disclosed as public records under state law. It defines these records as any materials containing student identifiers (like names, addresses, or social security numbers) related to disciplinary investigations, making them confidential even if federal law (FERPA) might permit disclosure. This applies to all UNC system institutions, community colleges, and their disciplinary processes. The bill takes effect upon enactment, affecting how schools handle and share such records with the public. It does not change federal privacy rules but ensures these specific records remain private under North Carolina's public records law.
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.
HB 957 creates a study committee to examine infrastructure challenges at North Carolina's HBCUs and MSIs, including building conditions, environmental risks, and maintenance needs. It establishes a $5 million Completion Assistance Program to provide up to $1,000 annually per student at six UNC HBCUs (Elizabeth City State, NC A&T, UNC Asheville, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, and Winston-Salem State) for tuition/fee balances, targeting students with Pell Grants who need financial aid to graduate on time. The bill also allocates specific infrastructure funds, including $5.1 million for Winston-Salem State's Hauser Hall renovations and $8 million for emergency steam repairs. These provisions directly affect students and campus facilities at the six designated institutions through financial aid and physical infrastructure support.
HB 324 appropriates $800,000 from the Highway Fund to the Greensboro Transit Agency for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are specifically allocated to $500,000 for the North/South Crossmax Orange Bus Route and $300,000 to launch a pilot program transporting high school juniors and seniors to Guilford Technical Community College campuses. This bill directly affects Greensboro Transit Agency operations and Guilford County high school students participating in the college transportation pilot. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, if enacted.
