SB 183 appropriates $30,000 annually from North Carolina's General Fund to fund a part-time Veteran Services Officer (VSO) position in Jones County for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. This bill directly affects Jones County veterans by providing dedicated local support through a VSO who assists with benefits and services. The key provision is the recurring annual funding to cover the salary and operational costs of this specific role within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not alter existing veteran service policies.
HB 651 reduces parent cost-sharing for subsidized child care in North Carolina by lowering the copayment rate from 10% to 7% of gross family income. This change directly affects families enrolled in state-subsidized child care programs who pay a portion of their care costs. The bill appropriates $25 million annually from the General Fund for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to fund this reduction, effective July 1, 2025. It also specifies adjusted copayment rates for blended-rate and part-time care scenarios.
HB 671 establishes a four-year pilot program (2025-2026 through 2028-2029) that provides grants to North Carolina public high schools (grades 9-12) to form or support competitive speech and debate teams. Schools can receive up to $10,000 per team annually, covering coach stipends (capped at $2,500 for lead coaches and $1,500 for assistants) and competition expenses like travel and league fees. Participating schools must join the Tarheel Forensic League and National Speech and Debate Association, and the program allows students from schools without teams to join the nearest team (with students covering their own transportation). Funded by $500,000 yearly from the General Fund, the Department of Public Instruction will administer the program and report annually on grant usage and student academic outcomes.
HB 574 establishes a Workforce Development Pilot Project in North Carolina. This bill provides funds to the Office of State Budget and Management to be allocated to the North Carolina Workforce Development Coalition (NCWDC). The NCWDC will then provide grants to eligible North Carolina-based employers, with 20 to 1,500 employees, to support employer-sponsored training programs. These grants aim to increase job creation, reduce employee turnover, improve wages, and upgrade worker skills, especially in industries with identified training gaps. Employers can receive up to 50% of eligible training costs or $2,000 per trainee, with a maximum of $40,000 annually per employer.
HB 393 appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund to The Arts Council, Inc. for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support Winston-Salem's annual 1Love Festival. The festival, a three-day event celebrating diversity through music, arts, and entertainment, will receive this directed grant for operations. The funding is nonrecurring and becomes effective July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects The Arts Council, Inc. and the community hosting the festival.
HB 389 establishes a two-year pilot program to create free child care workforce academies across North Carolina, directly affecting individuals seeking careers in child care with no prior experience. The program provides free training, credentialing support (including health screenings and background checks), and stipends ($150 upon completion, $500 after one year of employment) to help participants become lead teachers in licensed child care centers. It allocates $738,000 annually from the General Fund for 2025-2027 to cover tuition and stipends, requiring local partnerships to contribute 25% match. The pilot will launch in Johnston and Wayne counties plus 10 additional regions, with progress reports due by 2026 to evaluate expansion potential. (Note: The bill title "Continuing Budget Operations Part III" appears inconsistent with the actual content; the text focuses on child care workforce training.)
HB 812 appropriates $10 million from North Carolina's General Fund to fund a presidential library honoring Donald Trump at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). The bill directs UNCP to use these nonrecurring funds for constructing the library, with optional partnership coordination with the federal National Archives. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and does not alter existing state policies or require further legislative action beyond the funding allocation. This is a procedural funding measure focused solely on capital construction for the library.
HB 715 appropriates $13.3 million annually from the General Fund to expand access to North Carolina's Prekindergarten (NC Pre-K) program for eligible children. The funding, allocated to the state's child development agency, will create additional program slots for children seeking enrollment starting July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects low-income 4-year-olds who qualify for the NC Pre-K program by increasing available spots through dedicated state funding. The legislation focuses solely on providing financial resources for program expansion, with no changes to eligibility criteria or program structure.
HB 621 appropriates $1.5 million from North Carolina's General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide a directed grant to Safe Alliance, Inc. for its Umbrella Center in Charlotte. The funds will directly support the center's services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking by enabling additional land acquisition and a deceleration lane. The bill requires the funds to be used specifically for expanding these victim services and infrastructure. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the House Appropriations Committee.
HB 642 appropriates $35 million from the state General Fund for Scotland County's wastewater treatment plant improvements during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are designated for specific upgrades to the county's wastewater infrastructure, directly benefiting Scotland County residents and local water management systems. The bill establishes a one-time, nonrecurring appropriation with no new regulatory requirements. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, after passing its first reading in the House.
