SB 365 creates a new Class F felony for entering someone's property without legal justification during a declared state of emergency in an affected county and damaging or taking another person's temporary housing. It specifically targets acts against temporary shelters like tents, mobile homes, or vehicles used as emergency housing, excluding permanent structures. The law imposes felony penalties for these actions and allows victims to seek triple damages plus legal costs. It applies only to counties within an emergency area during an active state of emergency, as defined by existing state law, and takes effect December 1, 2025.
HB 467 reenacts North Carolina's low-income housing tax credit program, allowing developers to claim tax credits for constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing. It specifies credit percentages (30%, 20%, or 10%) based on the income level of households (50% or less of area median income for 30% credit, 40% for 10% in high-income areas) and the location's income designation (low, moderate, or high-income county/city). Developers can receive credits either as a direct tax refund or a loan from the Housing Finance Agency, with affordability requirements applying for the full credit compliance period. This directly affects developers building qualifying low-income housing projects across North Carolina.
SB 381 expands North Carolina's anti-discrimination protections to cover housing and employment. It adds sexual orientation, gender identity, military/veteran status, and genetic information to the list of protected characteristics in housing (e.g., rentals, sales, loans) and employment (for employers with 15+ staff). The bill prohibits specific discriminatory actions like refusing housing based on protected status, denying employment opportunities, or making biased land-use decisions. It directly affects residents, renters, job seekers, and businesses operating in these sectors across the state.
SB 518, the Mobile Home Park Act, creates new protections for mobile home residents and park operators in North Carolina. It requires written leases for tenancies, mandates a 90-day notice period for eviction (with exceptions for lease violations), and prohibits unfair fees like excessive entry charges. The bill also requires security deposits to be held in separate trust accounts and directs the North Carolina Human Rights Commission to regulate parks and resolve disputes. This law directly affects mobile home owners, park management, and the Commission, focusing on fair treatment and clear dispute resolution.
SB 569, the Eviction Record Expunction Act, automatically seals certain eviction court records after three years from judgment entry, for dismissed cases, tenant-victory cases, and cases involving minors under 18. It directly affects tenants with past eviction history and landlords who may otherwise deny rental applications based on those sealed records. The bill makes it illegal to deny housing based on sealed eviction records, treating such denial as unlawful discrimination under North Carolina's Fair Housing Act. This policy change applies to new eviction cases filed on or after October 1, 2025, and does not affect monetary judgments from eviction cases.
SB 446 increases funding for North Carolina's Housing Trust Fund to address the state's affordable housing shortage. It allocates $30 million in one-time funding for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and establishes recurring revenue streams: 1.5% of property transfer fees and 33% of real estate excise tax proceeds will now flow directly to the fund. This funding supports affordable housing solutions like rentals, home ownership, and repairs for North Carolinians struggling with housing costs - over 815,000 residents currently lack access to affordable housing. The bill aims to rebuild the fund's capacity after a 68% funding decline over the past decade.
SB 473 creates the Capital for Communities Special Fund, a dedicated state fund that will receive 3.5% of certain investment earnings (when quarterly returns exceed 7%) from state funds managed by the Treasurer. The fund will provide grants for economic development projects in North Carolina, specifically targeting affordable housing, childcare centers, healthcare facilities addressing shortages, medical research, workforce development, living-wage jobs, and nonprofit education facilities. These grants must directly support community-based initiatives meeting the specified criteria. The bill establishes clear eligibility rules for fund usage but does not detail application processes or allocation priorities.
SB 432 prohibits large business entities from purchasing 100 or more single-family homes in qualifying counties (population over 150,000) for rental use. It directly affects real estate investment firms and corporations that buy homes solely as rentals, aiming to prevent artificial inflation of home prices by limiting excessive bulk acquisitions. The law defines "single-family home" as detached, semi-detached, or townhomes meeting specific separation criteria and imposes civil penalties of up to $100 per day per home for violations. Enforcement is handled by the Attorney General or individuals through civil lawsuits, with remedies including damages, attorney fees, and joint liability for affiliated entities. The bill applies to home purchases occurring on or after its effective date.
SB 453 limits nonrefundable "due diligence" fees in home sales to 1% of the purchase price, preventing sellers from requiring higher amounts as a condition of accepting offers. Any contract clause exceeding this amount is void, and sellers who enforce it may face legal costs and attorney fees. The bill also allocates $10 million to the North Carolina Housing Coalition to fund homebuyer education programs statewide. These provisions directly affect homebuyers and sellers in residential transactions, aiming to reduce upfront financial barriers and improve buyer preparedness. The law takes effect for new offers on or after October 1, 2025, with the funding provision beginning July 1, 2025.
SB 395, the Disaster Relief Eviction Moratorium Act, allows North Carolina's Governor to issue an executive order banning residential evictions in declared emergency areas during disasters causing widespread job loss or economic hardship. The moratorium starts at up to 90 days, with possible 30-day extensions, for a maximum total of 180 days, and applies directly to renters and landlords in the affected area. The Governor must determine that the disaster would lead to increased homelessness without the ban, and the moratorium cannot be overridden by the General Assembly or Council of State. The bill also permits the Governor to direct state and federal funds toward rental assistance programs to support both tenants and landlords during the moratorium.
