Budget & Taxes

died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 903: Public Employees Deserve A Voice Act.

This bill repeals a North Carolina law that currently bans public employees from collectively bargaining with their employers. By removing this prohibition, the legislation allows government workers to negotiate contracts with unions or labor organizations representing them. The act also allocates $100,000 from the state General Fund to educate public employees about these new rights starting July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $100,000 from the state General Fund to educate public employees about new collective bargaining rights, directly advancing fiscal management and appropriations.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes prohibition on collective bargaining for public employees, directly advancing workers' rights and union organizing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · North Carolina · House May 19, 2026

HB 1110: Early Intervention School Attendance Pilot.

This bill establishes a two-year pilot program in North Carolina to test data-driven systems aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism, which currently affects one in four public school students. The Department of Public Instruction will select a single public school unit serving up to 15,000 diverse students to implement a vendor-provided platform that offers real-time monitoring, automated family communication, and targeted intervention strategies. Appropriated funds totaling $75,000 will cover technology costs, staff training, and program evaluation, with the pilot running from the 2026-2027 fiscal year through the 2027-2028 fiscal year. By the end of the program, the department must report findings on attendance improvements and operational efficiencies to determine if the initiative should be expanded statewide.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $75,000 to fund a pilot program for reducing chronic absenteeism, directly increasing funding for public education services.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds a pilot program to reduce chronic absenteeism, enhancing student access and educational outcomes.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds and implements a data-driven technology platform to improve school attendance, directly advancing technology use in education.85% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 790: Small Business Capital Improvement Account.

This bill creates a tax incentive for small businesses in North Carolina by allowing them to deduct contributions made to a special savings account designated for property improvements. To qualify, a business must have gross receipts under $10 million and deposit funds into a federally insured bank account specifically for projects that add value to real estate, extend its useful life by at least 10 years, or adapt it for new uses. The deduction is calculated as a percentage of the business's income, ranging from 5% for deposits up to $1 million down to 1% for amounts up to $3 million, and the benefit is only available for taxable years starting on or after January 1, 2026. If any money withdrawn from this account is not used for the specified improvements, the amount must be added back to the business's taxable income in the year of withdrawal.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax incentives for small businesses, offering deductions for capital improvements, which supports business growth and economic activity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Incentives Tags Small Business

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 800: Zero-Based Budgeting.

This bill requires North Carolina state agencies to use zero-based budgeting on a rotating eight-year schedule starting in 2026. Under this method, agencies must justify every dollar of spending from scratch by listing specific activities, their legal basis, and the costs needed to maintain minimum or current service levels, rather than simply adjusting previous budgets. The Office of State Budget and Management will provide technical assistance to agencies as they prepare these plans, which must include data on program outcomes and the potential negative impacts of discontinuing any activity. Funding of $10,000 is allocated to the budget office to support the administration of this new requirement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates zero-based budgeting to improve fiscal management and accountability, aligning with the indicator of promoting fiscal responsibility.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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died · North Carolina · House May 13, 2026

HB 1131: More Adult Protective Services Staff to Address Elder Abuse.

This bill proposes to allocate $2,178,000 in state funds to hire at least 25 additional Adult Protective Services workers across North Carolina counties starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The money is intended specifically to cover salaries and benefits for new staff who will investigate reports of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, with distribution based on factors like case volume and the number of seniors in each area. The legislation explicitly prohibits using these funds to replace existing staff or for any purpose other than paying the new workers. Although the bill was withdrawn from committee in May 2026, its primary function is to increase state funding for local social services agencies to address a growing demand for elder abuse investigations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $2.178M in state funds to hire additional Adult Protective Services workers, directly increasing funding for public services.95% confidence

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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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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 922: Fund International Black Theatre Festival.

This bill allocates $200,000 from the state's General Fund to the City of Winston-Salem to help plan and operate the International Black Theatre Festival in 2026. The money is designated for nonrecurring expenses related to cultural programming and festival operations during July and August of that year. The funding becomes available on July 1, 2026, and is intended to support the event held in Winston-Salem.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates $200,000 from the state General Fund to fund a cultural festival, directly advancing the appropriations and budgeting topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 1031: Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch.

HB 1031 mandates that all public schools in North Carolina, including charter and laboratory schools, provide free breakfast and lunch to every student starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill requires the State Board of Education to allocate state funds based on factors like school size, student eligibility for free meals, and the quality of food served, while ensuring these funds supplement rather than replace existing resources. An initial appropriation of $116 million is designated to support this program, with the legislation taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates free meals and requires state fund allocation to supplement existing resources, directly increasing public spending for education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates free meals for all students, expanding educational access and improving student nutrition programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Student Health

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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 900: Small Business Investment Grant.

This North Carolina bill establishes the COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Program to provide financial assistance to small businesses that suffered significant economic losses due to the pandemic. To qualify, a business must have had annual receipts of $8 million or less in 2019 and experienced at least a 25% drop in sales tax collections in 2020 compared to 2019. The program offers one-time grants of up to $250,000, with the total funding capped at $250 million, and requires recipients to keep their operations running for six months to avoid having to repay a portion of the grant.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $250M in grants to small businesses, directly increasing funding for economic recovery programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tags Small Business

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