Budgeting Accountability and Transparency.

HB 1153 aims to increase transparency in North Carolina's state budget process by requiring more public involvement before final budget votes. The bill mandates that the General Assembly hold at least one public hearing and three committee meetings while also providing a week for citizens to submit comments online. Additionally, it makes requests for funding from state agencies and legislators public records once the budget is enacted, though it preserves legal protections for attorney-client communications. To support these new requirements, the legislation allocates $250,000 annually to the Legislative Services Commission for maintaining the online comment portal and covering hearing expenses.