This bill prevents the elimination of medical benefits for retired teachers and state employees in North Carolina who began their careers on or after January 1, 2021. It achieves this by removing previous restrictions that would have ended these benefits and applies retroactively to December 31, 2020. To cover the resulting increase in healthcare costs, the legislation appropriates two million dollars from the state's general fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The changes are scheduled to officially take effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 1078 is an omnibus appropriations bill that provides funding to the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services in North Carolina. The legislation allocates $10 million to the One North Carolina Small Business Account and $2 million to the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to support life science companies, university research, workforce development, and economic programs. Additionally, the bill transfers the Advisory Council on Rare Diseases from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Health and Human Services and establishes a new Life Science and Biomanufacturing Technologies Reserve Fund. The bill also details the composition, membership, and administrative structure of the rare diseases council, which includes physicians, researchers, patient representatives, and industry experts.
This bill, known as the North Carolina CROWN Act, expands state employment discrimination laws to explicitly protect individuals from discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, twists, and locks. By legally defining these hair styles as traits associated with race, the legislation ensures that employers cannot deny hiring, firing, or otherwise discriminate against people because of their natural hair. The act also strengthens anti-retaliation protections for employees who report discrimination under these new provisions. To support implementation, the bill appropriates $100,000 for the Department of Labor to educate both employers and employees about the law's requirements and rights.
This bill establishes new salary schedules for public school teachers and principals in North Carolina effective for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It sets specific monthly pay rates for teachers based on years of experience and adds bonuses for those with advanced certifications or degrees, while also adjusting compensation for school support staff like nurses and counselors. Principals will receive annual salaries determined by their school's student enrollment and performance growth scores over the previous three years. Additionally, the legislation enhances sick leave benefits for state employees and provides a cost-of-living adjustment for certain retirees.
This bill expands tuition waivers at North Carolina community colleges to children of public safety workers who are injured or disabled in the line of duty. It allows children aged 17 to 24 of law enforcement officers, experienced correctional officers, and firefighters to attend classes for free if their parent is permanently and totally disabled due to a traumatic work-related injury. The waiver covers the cost of tuition for the time needed to complete the student's chosen educational program, provided they meet standard admission requirements. The law takes effect with the 2026-2027 academic year.
This North Carolina legislation allows employees who receive tips to deduct those earnings from their state income tax. The bill amends the state tax code to permit taxpayers to subtract tip amounts reported to their employers from their adjusted gross income. This change applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. By adding this specific category to the list of allowable deductions, the measure reduces the taxable income for workers subject to this reporting requirement.
This bill, titled the Workforce Act of 2026, provides funding and policy changes to expand workforce development programs in North Carolina. It allocates $3.1 million to the Community Colleges System Office to support the ApprenticeshipNC program, which helps connect employers with learners through work-based training. The legislation also directs the Department of Commerce to maintain a list of industry-valued credentials and collect data on wages and job outcomes to better align education with labor market needs. Additionally, it increases financial aid for short-term workforce development grants to help students pursue credentials that are not eligible for federal funding.
This North Carolina bill requires businesses and individuals to obtain state licenses or permits to install, repair, or service specific fire safety equipment. The regulations apply to portable fire extinguishers and automatic fire suppression systems used in kitchens, industrial settings, and specialized hazard areas. To comply, providers must attach official service tags to equipment and may be required to pass a competency exam administered by the State Fire Marshal. Exemptions exist for employees working on their own company's property and for routine visual inspections conducted by fire officials or insurance inspectors.
This North Carolina legislation restores financial benefits for educators and state employees, effective July 1, 2026. It reinstates salary supplements for teachers and instructional support personnel and restores longevity payments based on years of service, while also preventing the elimination of medical benefits for certain retirees. Furthermore, the bill expands the Teaching Fellows Program by setting new selection criteria for participating institutions and providing forgivable loans to students pursuing teacher licensure. These changes are funded through specific appropriations from the General Fund.
This North Carolina legislation reinstates a state tax credit for individuals who claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Eligible taxpayers would receive a credit equal to five percent of their federal EITC amount, which is refundable if it exceeds their state tax liability. The bill takes effect for tax years beginning in 2026 and includes a sunset provision that repeals the credit for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2029.
