Technology

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 524: Fraud Detection Alert System.

HB 524 requires North Carolina's Register of Deeds offices to create an electronic fraud detection alert system. Property owners or businesses can enroll to receive email alerts within 24 hours when property documents (like deeds or mortgages) are recorded under their name or business title. The system must include an online portal for enrollment, allow monitoring up to five names per email, and send detailed notifications with recording dates and document details. Enrollees may be charged a reasonable fee covering system costs, but the Register of Deeds cannot be held liable for the system's operation.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates electronic fraud detection system for property records, enhancing data security and privacy through technology implementation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Digital Government

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 552: Agricultural Manufacturing Economic Development.

HB 552 establishes the Agricultural Manufacturing Investment Grant Account within North Carolina's One North Carolina Fund, allocating up to $5 million for new economic development incentives. This account provides competitive grants to eligible agricultural manufacturers in the state. The Department of Commerce will administer these grants, prioritizing projects in less developed areas, those using advanced agricultural technologies, or those with significant research and development. To qualify, recipients must commit to investing at least $5 million of private funds, employ a minimum of 25 full-time employees, and meet specific wage requirements. Grants are capped at $100,000 annually per recipient for up to five years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M from One NC Fund for agricultural manufacturing grants, advancing economic development spending within state budget framework.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPrioritizes grants for agricultural manufacturers using advanced technologies, R&D, and AI/IT, explicitly linking to emerging tech and STEM development within the bill's subjects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Tags Economic Development

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 644: Green Schools Save Money.

SB 644 allocates $1.5 billion to North Carolina public schools for energy efficiency upgrades, solar panel installations, and replacing combustion-powered school buses with electric models. The bill provides specific funding: $1 billion for building improvements like high-efficiency lighting and HVAC upgrades, $250 million for solar panels on school rooftops, and $250 million to replace qualifying buses (over 10 years old and using motor fuel) with electric buses assembled in North Carolina. These changes directly affect all local school districts through funding tied to student enrollment, aiming to reduce energy costs and emissions. The program begins July 1, 2025, with concrete, measurable infrastructure changes as the core mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $1.5B in state funds for school energy upgrades and electric buses, directly increasing public education budget spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1.5B for school infrastructure upgrades (HVAC, lighting, solar) and electric buses - directly funds K-12 school facilities under Education subjects.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAllocates $1.5B for solar panels, building efficiency, and electric school buses, directly advancing renewable energy and reducing fossil fuel dependence in public schools.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates $1.5B for solar panels, electric buses, and energy efficiency - directly reduces emissions and promotes clean energy per bill's funding breakdown and environmental subjects.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds solar panels (alternative energy tech) and electric buses (EV technology), directly advancing tech infrastructure in schools per bill's allocation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $250M to replace combustion school buses with electric models (assembled in NC), directly advancing sustainable transportation infrastructure and vehicle regulations per subjects list.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Solar

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 611: Allow Consecutive Remote License Renewals.

SB 611 allows drivers with non-REAL ID compliant licenses in North Carolina to renew their licenses remotely two times in a row. After two consecutive remote renewals, these licenses must be renewed in person. The bill applies only to licenses that do not meet federal REAL ID standards (required for certain federal purposes like air travel) and does not affect REAL ID-compliant licenses, which still require an in-person renewal after a remote one. The change takes effect January 1, 2026, for all renewals on or after that date.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables remote license renewals via electronic government services, aligning with IT/electronic government subjects and promoting tech-enabled DMV processes without restricting technology use.85% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 482: Don't Tread on Me Act.

SB 482, the "Don't Tread on Me: An Individual Freedoms Act," creates new legal protections for North Carolinians by limiting state agency actions across multiple areas. It directly affects all residents by prohibiting warrantless government surveillance, requiring agencies to stop demanding private medical, religious, or political information for services, banning ideological restrictions on reproductive care, and protecting parental rights in education and healthcare decisions. Key provisions mandate that schools provide fact-based education without political manipulation, prevent discrimination in employment or housing based on private beliefs, and ensure government benefits are not denied due to personal health choices or political views. The bill establishes these rights as enforceable standards for all state agencies, requiring actions to be "narrowly tailored" to a compelling state interest.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects parental rights in education decisions, explicitly aligning with 'protect' under SUPPORT indicators per bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits state agencies from demanding private medical information and bans ideological restrictions on reproductive care, directly protecting patient privacy and expanding access to healthcare services.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits warrantless government surveillance and protects private data, directly advancing data privacy protections under technology policy.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 966: College Cost Reduction Act.

HB 966, the College Cost Reduction Act, prohibits all University of North Carolina (UNC) schools from requiring students to pay extra for mandatory course software (Learning Management Systems or LMS). It directly affects UNC students by banning any requirement for paid LMS access beyond existing, approved student fees. The bill mandates the UNC Board of Governors to create a policy ensuring professors or courses cannot force students to pay for LMS services - only free or fee-covered options may be required. The rule takes effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits extra fees for mandatory course software, reducing student costs and improving access to higher education resources without restricting academic requirements.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPrevents mandatory paid LMS access, promoting digital equity in educational technology use by removing financial barriers to required course software.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 322: Utility Worker Protection Act.

SB 322, the Utility Worker Protection Act, increases penalties for assaulting utility or communications workers who are visibly identifiable (e.g., wearing company-logo uniforms or hats) while performing their duties. It specifically targets assaults against workers providing electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, or internet services. The bill reclassifies such assaults as Class 1 misdemeanors, raising the punishment level for these offenses. This change applies to incidents occurring on or after December 1, 2025. The law does not affect prosecutions for offenses committed before that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assaults on utility workers by reclassifying as Class 1 misdemeanor, strengthening punitive measures over criminal justice reform efforts.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyProtects utility workers maintaining energy infrastructure (electricity/gas), ensuring service continuity and safety for energy providers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects utility workers from assault by increasing penalties, directly enhancing workplace safety for laborers in critical infrastructure roles.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects telecommunications/internet service workers, strengthening infrastructure maintenance critical to technology services and digital access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Workplace Safety Telecommunications

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 520: Abuse and Deception by Telemarketers.

House Bill 520 aims to protect North Carolina citizens and businesses from deceptive telemarketing practices, particularly those involving misleading caller ID. The bill establishes that a telephone number is the property of the subscriber and prohibits telephone solicitors from misrepresenting the origin of a call or transmitting misleading caller identification information. It also prevents telephone carriers from knowingly providing subscriber numbers to entities that will violate these provisions. Individuals who receive calls in violation of the misleading caller ID rules can sue for civil damages, including an additional $10,000 fine for each knowing violation. Knowing violations of the caller ID provision are also classified as a Class H felony.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPrevents telemarketing fraud via caller ID spoofing, protecting consumer data privacy and preventing deceptive tech use in telecommunications.92% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 856: Clarify Deed Restrictions/Solar Collectors.

HB 856 clarifies that deed restrictions, covenants, or similar agreements cannot prohibit the installation of solar collectors (for water heating, space heating/cooling, or electricity) on residential properties. It specifically voids restrictions that prevent solar installations, while allowing reasonable rules about placement or screening if they reduce efficiency by 10% or less. This affects homeowners in single-family homes or similar residential properties (excluding certain condos in multi-story buildings) and their homeowners' associations. The law applies to agreements recorded after it takes effect, ensuring solar access without blocking reasonable maintenance or visibility rules.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill removes barriers to residential solar installations, directly advancing renewable energy adoption by voiding deed restrictions that block solar collectors on homes.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill removes barriers to residential solar installations, directly promoting clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel reliance per its focus on alternative energy and environmental protection.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves deed restriction barriers to solar installations, lowering energy costs for homeowners and supporting affordable housing affordability through reduced utility expenses.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly enables solar energy technology adoption by voiding restrictions on installations, directly supporting alternative energy tech deployment per subjects listed.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SB 129: Booking Photograph Privacy Act.

SB 129, the Booking Photograph Privacy Act, prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies from releasing booking photographs - images taken during arrest or jail processing - making them confidential and not public records. The law directly affects individuals arrested and processed by police departments, sheriff's offices, or other law enforcement agencies. It bans publishing, distributing, or releasing these photos except when connected to a missing person report or if a court orders release for immediate law enforcement needs. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects arrestee privacy by restricting public release of booking photos, aligning with civil rights and reducing potential harm from unregulated law enforcement record disclosure.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits public release of booking photos, strengthening digital privacy protections for arrest records under data privacy framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Policing

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