Technology

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 757: Consumer Privacy Act.

SB 757, the North Carolina Consumer Privacy Act, gives residents the right to access, correct, or delete personal data collected by businesses operating in the state. It requires businesses to stop processing data when consumers request it, with key exceptions for health information (covered under existing health privacy rules) and publicly available data. The law applies to businesses that collect personal data about North Carolina residents, defining "personal data" as information that can identify an individual (like name or online activity), while excluding health data processed under healthcare laws. Enforcement would be handled by the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division, with specific rules for how businesses must handle consumer requests. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Rules committee.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyGives residents data rights and requires business compliance, strengthening privacy protections per bill's core provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 503: Don't Tread on Me Act.

HB 503, the "Don't Tread on Me Act," proposes new protections for North Carolinians by restricting government overreach in privacy, healthcare, education, and employment. It prohibits state agencies from conducting warrantless surveillance, demanding private medical or political information for services, denying reproductive care based on ideology, interfering with parental decisions without due process, or censoring fact-based education. The bill also bans discrimination in employment, housing, or public services based on private beliefs, medical history, or lawful conduct. Currently in early legislative stages (filed March 24, passed 1st reading March 26), it would take effect if enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits warrantless surveillance by state agencies (including law enforcement), enhancing civil liberties and police accountability in criminal justice contexts.80% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits censorship of fact-based education, protecting educational content from government interference per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits denying reproductive care based on ideology and protects patient access to healthcare services per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly bans housing discrimination, directly supporting tenant protections and anti-discrimination policies in housing.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans employment discrimination, directly protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment policy as explicitly stated in the bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits warrantless surveillance and demands for private data, directly protecting digital privacy per bill's core provisions on privacy and surveillance systems.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Tags Civil Liberties

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 608: Protect Health and Government Personnel Info.

HB 608 amends North Carolina's computer trespass law to add automatic minimum damages for unauthorized copying of protected health information (like medical records) or government employee personnel files (including SSNs, medical history, and salary details). It establishes a $5,000 minimum penalty per violation for breaches involving either type of sensitive data, replacing the previous requirement to prove actual damages. The law directly affects healthcare providers, government employers, and anyone handling such data, ensuring victims can recover at least $5,000 per incident without proving financial loss. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareImposes $5,000 minimum penalty for unauthorized access to medical records, strengthening patient data privacy protections under healthcare data security.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects government employee data (salary, medical history) via breach penalties, advancing worker privacy rights in labor context.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyImposes $5k minimum penalties for health/personnel data breaches, strengthening data privacy and cybersecurity protections under IT law.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 579: NC House Public Access Act of 2025.

HB 579, the NC House Public Access Act of 2025, allocates $91,000 (one-time) and $4,000 annually to install video and audio recording equipment in North Carolina House committee rooms and the chamber. This enables the public to view live legislative sessions online and access recorded sessions for 10 years via the internet. The bill requires committees to maintain audio minutes and written records if they opt not to record video, with advance notice to the public. It directly affects North Carolina residents seeking greater transparency in legislative proceedings.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds recording equipment for live streaming legislative sessions online, expanding public internet access to government proceedings via electronic government infrastructure.92% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 708: Increase Robotics Opportunities and Build Our Talents (IROBOT) - Increasing Robotics Opportunities.

HB 708 establishes a $2.5 million annual grant program to fund after-school robotics education for North Carolina high school students. It provides grants to public schools or community organizations partnering with approved robotics organizations (like nonprofits or universities) to cover robotics kits, coach stipends, competition fees, and program coordination. The bill also requires schools to grant excused absences for students participating in robotics competitions, aligning with existing policies for academic events. This directly supports high school students in STEM fields through structured, competitive robotics programs while mandating annual reporting on grant usage and student outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $2.5M annually for robotics education grants, directly increasing state budget appropriations for educational programs under STEM funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $2.5M annual grants for robotics education programs, expanding STEM access and funding student programs in K-12 schools per bill's funding mechanism and STEM subject focus.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds robotics education via $2.5M grants for emerging tech programs, explicitly listed under 'EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES' in subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 724: NC-Federal Alignment for Critical Technologies Task Force (NC-FACT).

HB 724 establishes the NC-Federal Alignment for Critical Technologies Task Force (NC-FACT) within North Carolina's Department of Commerce. The task force, composed of state agency staff and potentially partners from UNC institutions or the private sector, must study ways to improve collaboration between state, federal, and private entities in science and technology. It is required to develop economic strategies focused on attracting out-of-state investment and streamline resources for tech industries, then submit annual reports with actionable recommendations to the legislature by April 1 each year. The bill creates a study group with specific research duties and reporting requirements but does not enact direct funding or regulatory changes.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates NC-FACT task force to enhance state-federal-private tech collaboration, develop investment strategies, and streamline resources for tech industry growth.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 838: DIT Agency Broadband Bill.

HB 838 creates a new satellite broadband grant program for the Department of Information Technology, prioritizing eligible entities (like state/local governments, nonprofits, and ISPs) in the 39 counties affected by Hurricane Helene to purchase satellite internet installation materials and service for their own use. It also repurposes up to $50 million from existing broadband funds to reimburse communications providers for repairing Hurricane Helene-damaged broadband infrastructure, with priority given to restoring service and limits on reimbursement. The bill updates the Broadband Pole Replacement Program to clarify reimbursement rules (50% of eligible costs, capped at $10,000 per pole), requires pole owners to provide timely cost estimates for infrastructure work, and mandates public reporting of program data. These changes aim to accelerate broadband deployment and recovery in underserved areas impacted by the hurricane.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates satellite broadband grants and repurposes $50M for infrastructure repairs, expanding internet access in disaster-affected areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 898: Broadband Equipment Sales Tax Exemption.

HB 898 exempts sales tax on physical equipment used by internet service providers (ISPs) or their contractors to build and maintain broadband infrastructure. This includes transmission devices, related parts, and electricity powering that equipment, regardless of where it's located. The law directly affects ISPs and their contractors by reducing their costs for essential broadband hardware. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, applying to all qualifying purchases made on or after that date.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExempts broadband equipment sales tax to lower ISP costs, promoting infrastructure expansion and internet access per bill's intent and subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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signed · North Carolina · House Jul 8, 2026

HB 920: Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act.

HB 920, the NC Digital Asset Freedom Act, allows North Carolina residents and businesses to use qualifying digital assets for everyday transactions and tax payments. To qualify, digital assets must meet strict criteria including 10 years of security, $750 billion market capitalization, decentralized governance, proof-of-work security, and U.S. regulatory classification as a non-security. The bill recognizes these assets as legally valid payment methods (preventing denial of enforceability) and permits tax payments to the state using them, requiring reporting of U.S. dollar equivalents at transaction time. It also mandates privacy protections for users and imposes a $2,000 daily transaction limit for new users of digital asset kiosks to prevent fraud.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows digital assets for tax payments, directly enabling new tax payment methods under TAXATION subject in bill summary and subjects list.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEnables regulated digital assets as legal payment methods with security criteria, advancing cryptocurrency adoption and establishing legal framework for digital transactions.95% confidence

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 938: Right to Repair Digital Electronics Act.

HB 938, the Right to Repair Digital Electronics Act, requires manufacturers of digital electronics sold or used in North Carolina to provide independent repair shops and product owners with free access to diagnostic tools, repair information, and service parts at fair and reasonable prices. It mandates that manufacturers make available the same diagnostic software, firmware updates, and repair documentation they provide to their own authorized repair networks. The law prohibits manufacturers from forcing authorized repair providers to use proprietary formats if standardized alternatives exist, while protecting trade secrets and existing repair agreements. This directly affects independent repair businesses, owners of digital devices (like smartphones and computers), and manufacturers selling such products in the state.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates manufacturers provide repair tools/parts to independent shops, enhancing consumer access and reducing manufacturer control - directly aligns with consumer protection in tech policy.90% confidence

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