Modify Emergency Judge Provisions.

This bill expands the circumstances under which retired judges in North Carolina can serve as emergency judges to fill court vacancies. It allows retired judges to be assigned when there is a need for court coverage due to holdover sessions, administrative duties, or conflicts of interest for sitting judges. The legislation sets specific limits on the number of active emergency judges for superior and district courts while authorizing the Chief Justice to manage these lists and assign judges as needed. Additionally, the bill appropriates $500,000 in state funds to cover the costs associated with employing these emergency judges starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.