SB 297 establishes a Nursing Fellows Program at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) to provide forgivable loans to nursing students. The program offers up to $5,000 per semester (or $2,500 per summer) for tuition, books, and fees toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN) degree, contingent on recipients committing to work as nurses or nursing instructors in North Carolina. Eligibility requires WSSU nursing degree completion within 10 years, North Carolina RN licensure, and a demonstrated commitment to serve in-state, with loan forgiveness tied to employment in qualifying nursing roles after graduation.
SB 712, the "Caring for Our Caregivers Act," provides two key benefits for specific frontline workers. First, it exempts income earned by qualifying workers (including firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement, child care staff, teachers, and corrections officers) from North Carolina's state income tax. Second, it allocates $165 million annually to fund subsidized child care for families where at least one parent works in one of these qualifying roles, with priority given to child care workers. These provisions apply to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and the child care program starts July 1, 2025, for workers earning under $125,000 annually and working at least 30 hours weekly. The bill targets direct financial relief for essential service workers facing high childcare costs.
HB 346 directs the State Board of Community Colleges to adjust how full-time equivalent (FTE) students are calculated for Central Carolina Community College's Harnett and Chatham main campuses. Specifically, it requires combining the FTE from each main campus with the FTE from its respective Health Sciences Center. This adjustment is made to help these campuses maintain their multicampus center status.
SB 114 appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain Foundation. This funding specifically supports operational expenses and program expansion for the Boys & Girls Clubs located in Pitt County only. The bill directs all funds to these local clubs, with no restrictions on how the money is spent beyond the stated purpose. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.
SB 575 makes failing to yield to a pedestrian when causing serious injury a Class 2 misdemeanor for drivers. It requires North Carolina's driver education programs to add a new pedestrian safety module covering when drivers must yield the right-of-way. The bill also mandates the Division of Motor Vehicles and Department of Public Instruction to study and report by January 1, 2026, on improving pedestrian safety instruction in driver education. These changes directly affect drivers, public school driver education curricula, and state agencies responsible for traffic safety training.
HB 911 requires North Carolina local school boards to create and publicly share experience-based salary schedules for full-time occupational and physical therapists employed in public schools, ensuring these pay scales align with existing noncertified education salary ranges. For the 2025-2026 school year, therapists must receive at least the higher of their current salary or the new schedule amount, plus a monthly supplement equal to 10% of a teacher's salary for five additional years plus $350. School boards must also submit annual workforce reports detailing therapist staffing levels, contractor use, and vacancies to the state education department. The bill directly affects school-employed therapists and local school boards, with supplements contingent on legislative funding.
SB 265, the "Protecting Our Community Act," regulates hemp-derived consumable products (like edibles or vapes with ≤0.3% delta-9 THC) and bans them on school grounds. It requires businesses to verify buyers' ages (no sales to under 21), mandates independent lab testing for THC levels, and defines terms like "distributor" and "final form product." The law directly affects hemp product manufacturers, sellers (including online retailers), and schools, which must prohibit these items on campus. Key provisions include mandatory child-resistant packaging at point-of-sale and restrictions on selling to minors, aiming to limit youth access while creating new regulatory requirements for the industry.
SB 596 appropriates $169 million from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund to North Carolina Central University for critical campus repairs. The funds are allocated as $100 million for HVAC, fire safety, and building code upgrades; $9 million for roof and structural repairs; and $60 million for replacing aging electrical, water, and steam infrastructure. These repairs directly address immediate safety risks and system failures affecting the university's campus operations and facilities. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, with funding designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
SB 642, the SAVE Students Act, requires all North Carolina public school students in grades 6-12 to receive two hours annually of evidence-based training on suicide/violence prevention and social inclusion. The training, approved by the Department of Public Instruction, covers identifying warning signs, accessing mental health resources, and fostering peer connections. School staff with regular student contact must also complete one hour of annual suicide/violence prevention training. Schools may use assemblies, digital tools, or other methods for delivery, and parents can opt students out. The bill also mandates school mental health plans and allows student-led suicide prevention clubs.
SB 149 authorizes Henderson County to construct community college buildings (including renovations and repairs) on Blue Ridge Community College's campuses within the county, overriding certain existing procurement laws. The county can finance these projects through bonds or state appropriations, with the college temporarily transferring property as security for financing (returned once paid off), and must lease completed buildings back to the college. This directly affects Henderson County (as the builder) and Blue Ridge Community College (as the lessee), requiring ongoing consultation between the county and college board during construction.
