SB 325 establishes North Carolina's Department of Housing and Community Development as a unified cabinet-level department, replacing fragmented housing and community development functions across state agencies. The department includes four divisions: Community Development (focusing on revitalization and broadband access), Housing (managing affordable housing, homelessness, and disaster resilience), Operations, and a Policy and Legislative Office. It directly affects low- to moderate-income residents through housing programs and community development initiatives, with $30 million in recurring funding allocated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill formalizes the department’s structure, mission, and governance, including a nine-member board appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders.
HB 923 requires North Carolina counties and cities to remove specific personal information (such as physical addresses and phone numbers, but not names) from public websites when requested by certain legal professionals. Eligible requesters include state judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and federal law enforcement attorneys, who must submit written requests with required details. The bill mandates that local governments remove the information upon valid request, keep requests confidential, and prohibit re-adding the information without a written revocation. It also strengthens protections for law enforcement officers' residence details in personnel files, ensuring such information remains non-public except for safety-related disclosures.
SB 195, the "Protect Campus Survivors Act," exempts personally identifiable student disciplinary records at North Carolina's public colleges and universities from being disclosed as public records under state law. It defines these records as any materials containing student identifiers (like names, addresses, or social security numbers) related to disciplinary investigations, making them confidential even if federal law (FERPA) might permit disclosure. This applies to all UNC system institutions, community colleges, and their disciplinary processes. The bill takes effect upon enactment, affecting how schools handle and share such records with the public. It does not change federal privacy rules but ensures these specific records remain private under North Carolina's public records law.
This bill requires North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles to issue mobile drivers licenses (MDLs) upon request, making them legally equivalent to physical licenses for all purposes, including voting. It extends recognition to MDLs issued by other states with similar requirements and mandates law enforcement officers to complete training on appropriate interactions with MDL holders. The bill also explicitly states that MDLs satisfy North Carolina's photo ID requirement for in-person voting. These provisions apply to all North Carolina drivers who request an MDL, law enforcement officers, and voters needing photo ID at polling places.
This bill expands privacy protections for minors participating in certain local government or Partnership for Children-funded programs by restricting public access to their personal details. It prevents disclosure of identifying information like names, addresses, birth dates, parent/guardian details, and email addresses in public records, though county/town of residence remains public (with other details redacted). The law applies specifically to programs in Chatham County, Durham County, and several towns including Apex, Cary, Raleigh, and others. Scholarship names are explicitly excluded from these protections, and the bill clarifies the information is not confidential but simply not subject to public disclosure under this rule.
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Government Transparency
HB 215 requires the Charlotte Firefighters' Retirement System to maintain data breach and cyber liability insurance specifically covering participants and beneficiaries. It mandates that annual reports to the City Council include details about any data breaches affecting the system, including incident costs and response steps. The bill directly affects current and future firefighters who participate in the retirement system by adding transparency and financial safeguards for their personal data. These provisions update existing system rules to address modern cybersecurity risks without changing benefit calculations or eligibility.
SB 157 allocates $100,000 from North Carolina's General Fund to Johnson C. Smith University for its Inclusive Tech-Innovation Pilot Project. The funds will support creating a community hub that uses broadband technology to foster economic growth and collaboration in the local area. The bill directs a nonrecurring grant specifically for this pilot program, which aims to connect the university with surrounding neighborhoods. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not change existing laws or regulations.
SB 209 expands data privacy protections for minors participating in local government programs or specific child-focused initiatives in North Carolina. It requires local governments in designated areas (including Chatham County, Durham County, Raleigh, and several towns like Apex and Cary) to redact minors' personal details - such as name, address, phone number, and parent information - from public records. The bill specifies that only a minor’s county, municipality, and zip code remain public (with other details redacted), while clarifying that the protected information is not considered confidential. This applies to programs funded by the North Carolina Partnership for Children or local partnerships, but does not affect scholarship award details. The bill is currently pending in the Senate after passing its first reading.
SB 353, the Second Chance Coding Act, requires North Carolina's Division of Juvenile Justice to create a program teaching coding and computer skills to juveniles in youth development centers. The program must include specialized courses, industry certification opportunities, and workforce connections like mentorship and job placement to help these youth transition into careers after release. Implemented by January 1, 2026, with $250,000 in funding for 2025-2026, the bill aims to reduce recidivism by improving job prospects. It directly affects youth committed to juvenile facilities, focusing on concrete skill-building rather than speculative outcomes.
SB 379, the Senior Care Assurance Act, expands healthcare access for North Carolina seniors (65+) by enhancing Medicaid coverage for preventive screenings and chronic care services. It creates two new programs: a $2.5 million annual grant program to fund free health screenings and geriatric care for low-income seniors (at or below the federal poverty level), prioritizing rural and underserved areas, and a $2 million annual program to help seniors purchase telehealth equipment and internet access, with priority for rural seniors. The bill also updates telehealth infrastructure funding to support rural healthcare providers in establishing telehealth services. These provisions directly benefit seniors facing financial or geographic barriers to care, focusing on preventive health and independent aging.
