HB 1033 reformulates the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners by changing how its members are selected and limiting their voting power. The bill requires that only dentists and dental hygienists vote on licensing decisions for their respective professions, while public consumer members cannot vote on any dental licensing matters. Additionally, the bill shifts the appointment process so that board members are chosen by the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Commissioner of Labor rather than being elected by the dental profession. These changes aim to address a previous legal ruling by ensuring the board includes public representatives and operates with a structure that balances professional expertise with consumer oversight.
This bill establishes the North Carolina Economic Forecasting Initiative within the Kenan-Flagler Business School to collect and analyze county-level economic data. It appropriates $3 million in recurring funds starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support this effort, with the goal of providing policymakers and businesses with data to foster local economic growth. The legislation requires state and local government agencies to cooperate by providing necessary data for accurate forecasting and mandates annual reports to legislative oversight committees beginning in December 2026.
This bill allocates $319 million from the state's General Fund to North Carolina's Medicaid program to cover anticipated changes in enrollment, service costs, and federal funding rates. The money is designated for the Department of Health and Human Services to use starting in the 2025-2027 fiscal year, with the funding officially beginning retroactively on July 1, 2025. By adjusting available funds based on projected healthcare shifts, the legislation aims to ensure the Medicaid program has sufficient resources to operate as demographics and costs evolve.
The CARDINAL Act establishes a new state program that provides an additional $1,000 to children born in North Carolina between 2025 and 2028 who receive federal contributions into a specific type of savings account known as a Trump Account. To fund this initiative, the bill redirects $192 million from the state's existing Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve, which was originally set aside for the 2026-2027 school year. The legislation also modifies the priority order for awarding opportunity scholarships in 2026-2027, ensuring that students who received grants in the previous year are processed first if funds are insufficient to cover all applicants.
This North Carolina bill removes state funding limits on light rail and commuter rail projects and allocates money for rail safety. It amends existing statutes to allow the Department of Transportation to provide more than the current ten percent cap on state funding for these rail initiatives. Additionally, the legislation directs one million dollars from the Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation specifically for safety and security measures on the CATS Blue Lynx rail line. The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 1192, known as the Energy and Housing Affordability Act, modifies how electric utilities in North Carolina handle changes in fuel costs and establishes rules for on-site power generation by large customers. The bill requires utilities to provide detailed data on fuel usage and emissions treatment to the Public Service Commission, which will then use a new sharing mechanism to adjust customer rates. Under this mechanism, if fuel costs rise or fall from a baseline, customers and utility shareholders will split the financial impact, with customers covering eighty percent and shareholders absorbing the remaining twenty percent of any variance. Additionally, the act appropriates funds to support a workforce housing loan program aimed at improving housing affordability.
This bill amends the City of New Bern's charter to shift regular municipal elections from odd-numbered even-numbered years to even-numbered even-numbered years, starting in 2030. The change directly affects the city's mayor and board of aldermen by altering the schedule for their nonpartisan elections and runoff procedures. Additionally, the legislation extends the terms of officials whose current mandates expire in 2029 to ensure they serve until the new election cycle begins. The act also maintains existing rules for filling vacancies on the board of aldermen through appointments or special elections.
This North Carolina bill requires that the salaries of state legislators be held in escrow if the General Assembly does not pass a budget by June 30, 2026. If the Senate and House do not ratify a state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by that deadline, the pay earned by legislators from July 1, 2026, forward will be withheld. The withheld funds will be released only after the legislature ratifies a budget or adjourns for the year. The legislation also sets aside ten thousand dollars to cover the administrative costs of managing the escrow account.
This bill authorizes the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance to create and run a state-operated health insurance marketplace. It grants the commissioner the power to set rules, manage policies, and apply for federal funding to establish this exchange, while also allowing for the creation of an advisory committee to guide the process. The legislation clarifies that other state agencies cannot enter into contracts or commit resources for a federally facilitated exchange unless the General Assembly specifically approves it, reserving the state's right to decide its level of involvement. Additionally, the bill appropriates $100,000 in recurring funds starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the initial setup and ongoing operations of the new state-run system.
This bill provides additional funding and establishes new procedures to support child welfare, foster care, and child care services in North Carolina. It allocates $250,000 to create a secure digital platform that sends automated notifications for court hearings and meetings, aiming to improve communication between attorneys, families, and social services. The legislation also directs $25 million annually toward foster care by reimbursing costs for home inspections, parent training, and essential items for children placed in care, while $75 million is designated to increase child care subsidy rates and expand care programs. Furthermore, the bill mandates a plan to implement a statewide floor for child care reimbursement rates and requires the state lottery to adhere to specific guidelines for distributing its revenues.
SB 1053 modifies how North Carolina handles criminal penalties for child care licensing violations by reducing the charge from a Class I felony to a Class A1 misdemeanor for first-time offenses, provided no child injury occurred. The bill allows prosecutors to still pursue felony charges for repeat offenders or cases involving multiple children, but requires them to consider specific factors like the number of children at risk and whether the operator took corrective action. To support these changes, the legislation allocates $75,000 to update enforcement protocols, training materials, and court forms for relevant state agencies and legal personnel.
SB 1054, titled "No Child Left Unfed," directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to allow legally operating family, friend, and neighbor child care providers to participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. The bill requires the state to take administrative steps such as identifying sponsoring organizations, simplifying application processes, and seeking federal waivers to reduce barriers for these small-scale caregivers. To support this expansion, the legislation appropriates $150,000 for initial planning and outreach, along with $500,000 in recurring funds to cover ongoing administrative costs. Additionally, the bill mandates that the department submit annual reports on enrollment numbers and barriers faced by providers, with an initial report due within 12 months of the law's effective date.
