Budget & Taxes (Audits & Accountability)

in committee · North Carolina · House Jun 30, 2026

HB 1121: Added Fee for Sexually Oriented Businesses.

This bill imposes a $10 fee on every customer entering sexually oriented businesses in North Carolina that also hold an alcohol permit. The collected fees must be remitted quarterly to the Department of Revenue and deposited into a fund designated for sexual assault and rape crisis services. Businesses are required to keep daily records of customer counts without collecting personal names, and they must submit these records for audit upon request. The legislation aims to address secondary impacts on public health and safety by funding support services rather than targeting the businesses' expressive content.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes a fee on businesses to fund sexual assault crisis services, directly increasing state revenue for public safety programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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signed · North Carolina · House Jul 8, 2026

HB 1094: Ferry Division Audit/DOT Omnibus.

This bill directs the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Ferry Division within the Department of Transportation. The audit will examine financial spending, operational efficiency, and the current route system to identify ways to reduce costs and increase revenue. Additionally, the review will explore options for diversifying funding sources to support capital projects and cover operating expenses. The State Auditor must submit a final report detailing these findings to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division by October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by auditing state spending to reduce costs and increase revenue.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

died · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1063: Fiscal Note for All Bills Considered.

This bill requires the North Carolina General Assembly to attach a fiscal note to every piece of legislation before it is considered, ensuring lawmakers understand the financial impact of their proposals. The Fiscal Research Division must prepare these notes to estimate costs for the first five years, with specific requirements for new state buildings, programs, and laws that increase incarceration. Bills proposing changes that could lead to more people being incarcerated or staying in prison longer must include a detailed cost analysis prepared in consultation with the Sentencing Policy and Advisory Commission. The legislation also mandates that these fiscal notes be separate documents that do not express legislative intent, while providing $50,000 in funding to cover the administrative costs of implementing this new requirement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates fiscal notes to ensure lawmakers understand financial impacts, promoting fiscal responsibility and budget transparency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House May 4, 2026

HB 1153: 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enhances budget transparency and public accountability, promoting fiscal responsibility and informed decision-making.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget Tags Government Transparency

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 902: Ferry Division Performance Audit.

This bill directs the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Ferry Division within the Department of Transportation. The audit will review financial spending, evaluate current operations and maintenance activities, and analyze the route system to identify ways to increase revenue and lower costs. Additionally, the auditor will explore options for diversifying revenue sources to support capital projects and cover operating expenses. The final report must be submitted to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division by October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates an audit to identify ways to lower costs and increase revenue, promoting fiscal responsibility.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates an audit to improve ferry division efficiency, reduce costs, and diversify revenue, strengthening transportation infrastructure.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 1112: NC Workforce Stability and Economic Protection.

This bill establishes the "NC Workforce Stability & Economic Protection Act" to monitor how federal immigration enforcement affects North Carolina's economy and businesses. It requires the state budget office to conduct an annual study on the financial impact of these operations, including tax revenue losses and supply chain disruptions, and mandates that employers notify workers within 72 hours if they receive a federal audit notice. Additionally, the Attorney General is authorized to oversee enforcement activities, create a public reporting portal for grievances, and publish an annual report on the effects on civil rights and commerce. The legislation also allocates $100,000 to fund the initial economic impact study and includes penalties for employers who fail to provide the required employee notifications.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates studies on tax revenue losses and requires employer notifications, aiming to protect state economic interests and revenue.65% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates employer notification of federal audits to protect workers from immediate disruption and requires economic impact studies to safeguard workforce stability.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Revenue State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 130: Agriculture Crops Disaster Relief.

HB 130 establishes a $475 million program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina farmers who suffered crop losses from natural disasters in 2024. It directly affects farmers in counties designated by the USDA as disaster areas, requiring verified losses of eligible agricultural commodities (like crops, livestock, or specialty plants) planted but not harvested by January 1, 2024. The program uses county and state yield/price averages to calculate payments, mandates submission of USDA Form 578 or equivalent documentation within 30 days, and allocates funds from state reserves (Stabilization, IT, and Economic Development) to cover verified losses. Farmers must provide documentation for verification, and the Department of Agriculture may audit claims to ensure proper use of funds, with refunds required for inaccurate information.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $475M for disaster relief via state budget appropriations, directly funding agricultural assistance through budgeting mechanisms per bill subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 544: State Auditor/Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

SB 544 requires the North Carolina State Auditor to conduct regular audits of crisis pregnancy centers that receive state funding. This directly affects crisis pregnancy centers (which typically offer pregnancy-related support services but do not provide abortion care) that accept state money. The bill amends state law to add this audit responsibility to the Auditor’s duties, ensuring financial oversight of these centers. The law would take effect upon enactment but is still pending in the legislative process.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires State Auditor to audit state-funded crisis pregnancy centers, ensuring fiscal oversight of public funds and promoting accountability in budget management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 25, 2025

HB 178: Budgeting Accountability and Transparency.

HB 178 requires North Carolina's state agencies and legislators to make budget-related requests public once the annual budget bill passes, removing previous confidentiality for communications about funding provisions. It mandates a one-week public comment period with an online portal, at least one public hearing, and three nonvoting committee meetings for budget debate before final votes. The bill directly affects state agencies submitting budget requests, legislators receiving those requests, and the public, who gain access to previously confidential budget discussions. Key changes include requiring legislators to receive budget drafts five days before voting and treating all budget-related documents as public records after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates public disclosure of budget requests and processes, enhancing fiscal transparency and accountability per fiscal responsibility indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability State Budget Tags Government Transparency

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 376: Increase Funding to State Auditor.

SB 376 increases funding for North Carolina's State Auditor's Office to enhance oversight of state government finances. The bill allocates $95,000 one-time for recruitment, $3 million for audit infrastructure, and $1 million for office space in 2025-2026, plus $6.7 million annually for 70 new staff, $500,000 for salary increases, and $5 million yearly for technology upgrades. These funds aim to expand audit capacity, improve fraud detection, and modernize systems for better accountability of taxpayer funds. The State Auditor must report on fund usage, including audit results and efficiency gains, by December 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $6.7M annually + $5M yearly for tech to enhance financial oversight and accountability, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates $5M yearly for technology upgrades to modernize audit systems and improve fraud detection, directly funding tech infrastructure for enhanced government accountability.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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