Labor & Employment

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 3, 2025

SB 35: Modify Local Workforce Development Board.

This bill requires the Northeastern Workforce Development Board (serving Dare, Currituck, Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Gates, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington counties) to select job training service providers through a competitive process. It updates the Board's duties to mandate this selection by July 1, 2014, with annual renewals thereafter. The change applies specifically to providers of adult and dislocated worker services authorized under federal law. The bill modifies existing responsibilities without creating new funding or programs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates competitive selection of job training providers for dislocated workers under federal law, strengthening workforce development programs aligned with employment services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 54: NC Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)/Funds.

HB 54 allocates $125,000 annually from the General Fund (2025-2027) to fund training programs developed by the NC Association of People Supporting Employment First (NC APSE). The training, delivered via online modules, will help employers, service providers, and other entities support individuals with serious mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities in finding and keeping competitive jobs. It focuses on evidence-based supported employment practices to improve job placement and retention. The bill directly affects individuals with these disabilities and the organizations that serve them, with training available statewide starting July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $125k annually from General Fund (2025-2027) to fund disability employment programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for public service.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health-focused employment training for individuals with disabilities, directly supporting healthcare services under MENTAL HEALTH subject.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds training to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities, advancing job placement and retention under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Workforce Development

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 13, 2025

SB 93: Portability of Leave/Charter Schools.

SB 93 allows charter school employees in North Carolina to transfer their accrued sick and vacation leave to a local school district if they move between a charter school and a local school administrative unit. The bill requires the State Board to create rules ensuring transferred leave cannot accrue at a faster rate than the local district’s standard. It directly affects charter school staff and local school districts by enabling this leave portability, which was previously unavailable. The policy change applies to employees hired on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables charter school staff to transfer accrued leave to district schools, enhancing teacher benefits and mobility without restricting education funding or access.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnables transfer of accrued sick/vacation leave for charter school staff, expanding portable worker benefits under employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Paid Leave

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 21, 2025

SB 120: Remove Barriers to Labor Organizing.

SB 120 removes legal barriers to labor organizing in North Carolina by prohibiting employers from requiring union membership or dues as a condition of employment or continued work. It invalidates agreements that tie agricultural product purchases or settlement terms to union status and strengthens protections for workers denied jobs due to union affiliation. The bill directly affects all workers and employers in the state, including agricultural producers covered under federal labor laws. Key provisions repeal restrictions on labor agreements and clarify that union membership or dues cannot be mandated for employment under North Carolina law. The law applies to new agreements entered into after its effective date.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill prohibits employer union membership requirements, invalidates anti-union agreements, and strengthens protections for union-affiliated workers, directly advancing collective bargaining rights and worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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passed · North Carolina · House Feb 27, 2025

HB 48: Increase Unemployment Insurance Maximum Benefit/2025 Unemployment Insurance Tax Credit.

HB 48 raises North Carolina's maximum weekly unemployment benefit from $350 to $400 for claimants filing on or after March 2, 2025, directly affecting unemployed workers. It also creates a 2025 tax credit for employers, allowing them to offset unemployment insurance taxes paid on 2024 fourth-quarter wages against their 2025 tax liability. The credit applies only to contributions remitted by January 31, 2025, and must be claimed via a specific report. The bill ratifies a governor's temporary disaster-related unemployment expansion but focuses on permanent changes to benefit levels and employer tax treatment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRaises unemployment benefits funding and creates employer tax credit, advancing public assistance and tax relief within budget/tax framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRaises max unemployment benefit from $350 to $400, directly expanding worker benefits for unemployed claimants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Unemployment

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 169: Labor Org. Membership Dues Tax Deductible.

This bill creates a new tax deduction for North Carolina taxpayers who pay labor organization membership dues. It allows individuals to deduct dues, fees, or assessments required for membership in a labor organization (as defined by state law) from their state taxable income. The deduction applies to payments made during taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. This directly affects workers who are members of labor organizations and pay dues as a condition of membership.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for labor dues, reducing taxable income for workers - direct tax relief aligning with support indicators for middle-income taxpayers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows tax deduction for labor union dues, reducing financial burden on members and encouraging union participation, directly supporting collective bargaining efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Collective Bargaining

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 207: Remove Barriers to Labor Organizing.

HB 207 removes legal barriers preventing workers from organizing or joining labor unions in North Carolina. It prohibits employers from requiring union membership, dues, or non-membership as a condition of employment or continued work for any employee, including public employees. The bill also invalidates agreements that tie agricultural contracts or litigation terms to union status and allows workers to seek legal damages if denied employment due to these violations. These changes apply to all new employment agreements entered into after the law takes effect, strengthening existing labor protections under North Carolina law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves barriers to union organizing, prohibits employer mandates for membership/dues, and allows legal damages for union-related employment denial - directly advances collective bargaining rights and worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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died · North Carolina · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 188: Financial Support to NC4ME.

SB 188 appropriates $450,000 annually from the General Fund for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to fund North Carolina for Military Employment (NC4ME) programs. It directly supports veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses through employer training, military-specific job fairs, and employment outreach for spouses. The bill requires NC4ME to submit annual reports detailing fund usage, participants served, and employment outcomes to the Department of Commerce and the legislative oversight committee. This funding aims to strengthen veteran workforce integration and employer partnerships, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $450k annually from General Fund for veteran employment programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for public service.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds NC4ME employment programs for veterans/military spouses through job fairs, training, and outreach, directly advancing employment outcomes and aligning with EMPLOYMENT subject.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAppropriates $450k annually for NC4ME programs directly supporting veterans' employment through job fairs, training, and outreach for transitioning service members and spouses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Veteran Employment

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 211: Reenact the Earned Income Tax Credit.

SB 211 reenacts North Carolina's state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), providing a cash refund to low-to-moderate income workers. It allows eligible residents to claim a credit equal to 5% of the federal EITC amount they qualify for, which is refundable (meaning they receive a cash payment even if they owe no state tax). The credit applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and directly benefits working individuals and families with low earnings. The bill reinstates a previously sunsetted provision, ensuring continued state-level support aligned with the federal EITC.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReinstates refundable EITC, providing tax relief to low-income workers through direct cash refunds, advancing tax policy for lower earners.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides tax credit to low-income workers, increasing disposable income for housing affordability without direct housing language.65% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides refundable tax credit to low-income workers, increasing disposable income and supporting economic stability for working families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 256: Allow Public Employee Collective Bargaining.

HB 256 repeals North Carolina's current ban on public employee collective bargaining, allowing state and local government workers (like teachers, police, and administrative staff) to negotiate wages and working conditions with their employers. The bill removes existing legal restrictions (Article 12 of Chapter 95) and explicitly states that public employees' bargaining rights apply to all state and local government employers. It does not create new benefits or funding but aligns public sector bargaining rights with those already available to private sector employees. The bill’s key provision is the repeal of the prohibition, enabling public employees to collectively bargain under existing state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allows teachers (public employees) to collectively bargain for wages/conditions, directly supporting educator retention and working conditions per education topic indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals ban on public employee collective bargaining, explicitly enabling negotiations over wages/conditions per bill text.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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