Transportation (Roads & Highways)

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 849: Utility Forced Relocation Expenses.

HB 849 would require state, city, or public authorities to pay for relocating utility infrastructure (such as power lines, fiber optic cables, and wireless facilities) when relocation is mandated for federally funded highway projects. The state must cover these costs after deducting any increase in the facility's value or salvage value from the old infrastructure. The bill also mandates that cities reimburse utility companies for relocation expenses within their rights-of-way, though this requirement does not apply to cities with fewer than 5,000 residents unless the project is federally funded.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates funding for utility relocation in federally funded highway projects, directly advancing transportation infrastructure development.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 954: Local Governments Disaster Fund.

HB 954 creates a State Critical Infrastructure and Construction Resiliency Fund to support disaster recovery and preparedness. It requires counties that experienced a Governor-declared Type I, II, or III disaster in the past three years to redirect 5% of their annual highway use tax revenue into the fund. The Governor can use these funds for new infrastructure projects and resiliency efforts in disaster-affected areas, as well as for state/local response activities following a federal disaster declaration under the Stafford Act. This directly affects eligible counties and their residents by providing dedicated resources for rebuilding and preventing future disaster impacts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects 5% of highway use tax revenue to disaster recovery fund, reallocating existing tax funds for essential resiliency programs under fiscal management.85% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRedirects highway use tax revenue (transportation-specific funding) to disaster fund, reducing resources for transportation infrastructure projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Roads & Highways Transportation Funding Tags Emergency Management

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 982: NC Highway Safety Act of 2025.

HB 982 would allow North Carolina's Department of Transportation to use automated speed cameras in highway work zones on state-maintained roads to detect speeding violations. The law establishes a $250 civil fine (not a criminal penalty or driver's license points) for speeding detected by these cameras, with the registered vehicle owner responsible for payment unless they provide evidence of another driver's control within 30 days. Warning signs must be posted 1,000 feet in advance, and owners receive mailed notices with violation details, including photos, allowing them to contest the fine through an administrative hearing or court. This pilot program directly affects drivers who speed in designated work zones and vehicle owners, with all fines directed to a new state fund.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnforces speed limits in work zones via automated cameras to enhance highway safety, directly advancing transportation safety goals within infrastructure management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Roads & Highways Traffic Safety

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 253: Funds for Pitt-Greenville Airport.

SB 253 allocates $10 million from North Carolina's Highway Fund to the Pitt-Greenville Airport for building a new General Aviation Terminal focused on flood mitigation. This funding directly affects the Pitt-Greenville Airport, enabling it to construct the terminal using nonrecurring state funds. The bill specifies the funds are for a specific project to address flood risks at the airport facility. The appropriation becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $10M from Highway Fund for airport terminal construction, directly funding a capital project within state budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $10M from Highway Fund for airport terminal construction, directly funding transportation infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Airports Roads & Highways

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 258: 2025 Appropriations Act.

This bill allocates funding for North Carolina's state agencies and departments to cover their current operations during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. It provides base budget appropriations from the General Fund, Highway Fund, and federal block grants to maintain existing services without creating new programs. The funding is set at maximum necessary levels, with unused amounts reverting to their respective funds at year-end. The bill applies solely to the 2025-2027 period and becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates base funding to maintain existing state services without new programs, aligning with fiscal responsibility and supporting public service funding per budget appropriations focus.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates Highway Fund and General Fund appropriations to maintain existing transportation infrastructure and services without new programs, directly funding roads/highways as specified in subjects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 263: 2025 Appropriations Act.

SB 263 is a routine budget bill that allocates funding for North Carolina state agencies' operations during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. It provides appropriations from the General Fund, Highway Fund, Highway Trust Fund, and federal block grants (DHHS and NER) as required by existing budget law. The bill formalizes funding levels for ongoing state services without creating new programs or changing eligibility rules. It applies only to the 2025-2027 period and becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates Highway Fund and Trust Fund for transportation infrastructure, maintaining existing funding without cuts or restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SB 243: Commuter Rail Study/Piedmont Triad.

SB 243 directs North Carolina's Department of Transportation to study the cost and feasibility of a commuter rail service connecting Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point in the Piedmont Triad region. The study must analyze ridership, operating costs, land acquisition, and recommend a management entity, with results due by December 29, 2025. The bill allocates $100,000 from the Highway Fund for this study, which is purely a feasibility assessment with no funding for actual rail construction. It does not create new policy or affect residents directly beyond enabling the study.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $100k from Highway Fund for feasibility study, directly addressing budget appropriation per bill's funding allocation.80% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $100k for commuter rail feasibility study in Piedmont Triad, advancing public transit planning and infrastructure analysis within transportation topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Rail Roads & Highways

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 652: Transportation Goods Unit Pricing Cost.

House Bill 652 modifies how the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) calculates the baseline unit pricing for transportation goods used in highway maintenance and construction projects. The bill changes the baseline calculation from the 2015-2016 fiscal year to a rolling average of the three previous fiscal years. It maintains the existing provision that no Highway Division can exceed a ten percent variance over these established unit prices. If a division exceeds this variance, the DOT is required to report to several legislative committees detailing the reasons and steps for compliance. This act is set to become effective on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationModifies DOT pricing methodology for highway infrastructure projects to maintain cost stability, directly supporting transportation infrastructure management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 364: State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Grant Anticipation Notes.

This bill authorizes local governments to borrow money through "grant anticipation notes" to accelerate local transportation projects already identified for funding under the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). To utilize this, a local government must enter into an expedited project agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOT), outlining project details, costs, funding, and a repayment plan. These notes are special obligations, meaning they are repaid solely from the anticipated STIP funding, and the local government's general taxing power is not pledged. The DOT must ensure that any STIP changes do not delay the repayment of these notes, and both the DOT and the Department of the Treasurer are directed to establish rules for their implementation.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes local governments to borrow for STIP transportation projects, accelerating infrastructure funding through grant anticipation notes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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died · North Carolina · House Jul 3, 2025

HB 837: Alternative Methods for Highway Funding/Study.

HB 837 is a study bill requiring North Carolina to examine alternative highway funding methods, primarily to address potential revenue gaps as electric/hybrid vehicle adoption grows. It directs the Legislative Services Officer and Transportation Oversight Committee to hire a consultant to study mileage-based fees (VMT) for electric/hybrid vehicles and a new "Access User Fee" for all non-diesel vehicles (replacing gas taxes). The study must be completed by May 2026, with findings reported to key legislative committees. This bill does not implement new fees but assesses options affecting all vehicle owners, particularly electric/hybrid drivers and non-diesel vehicle registrants. It allocates $125,000 from the Highway Fund for the study, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill studies alternative highway funding (VMT, Access User Fee) to maintain infrastructure revenue as EV adoption grows, ensuring continued transportation funding stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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