This North Carolina bill establishes a legal right for patients to access assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, and protects healthcare providers from state interference when offering these services. The legislation explicitly states that fertilized eggs or embryos outside the human body are not considered human beings under state law, while also maintaining existing health and safety regulations for medical facilities. Additionally, the bill appropriates $500,000 in state funds to increase financial support for the Medicaid Maternal Support Services program, known as the Baby Love Program, starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
This bill directs the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction to distribute state funds to 17 local reentry councils starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The primary goal is to help individuals returning to society after incarceration by hiring new staff and providing financial support for housing and transportation. Specific provisions include funding for two new full-time positions at each council, rental assistance for those reentering the community, and transportation vouchers for people under post-release supervision. Additionally, the legislation allocates money to two community colleges to hire education navigators for justice-involved students and funds the creation of online training modules for agencies serving people with criminal records.
This bill allocates $4 million from the state's General Fund to the Lake Norman Community Development Corporation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding is divided equally, with $2 million designated for the Smithville Revitalization Plan to acquire property and build affordable homes, and another $2 million for additional affordable housing projects determined by the Corporation. Up to 15% of the total appropriation may be used for administrative expenses, and the funds become available starting July 1, 2026.
This North Carolina bill aims to increase access to quantum computing education by funding STEM programs in public schools, particularly those near military bases. It allocates $2.6 million to hire specialized teachers and create hands-on learning opportunities for students, while also establishing a $200,000 grant program for universities to partner with high schools on research projects. Additionally, the legislation creates an income tax credit for businesses that participate in these educational initiatives, though the specific details of the tax credit are not fully shown in the provided text.
This bill allows the chair of North Carolina's Environmental Management Commission to hire temporary employees using the state's Temporary Solutions Program. It updates the commission's staffing rules to give the chair more flexibility in acquiring short-term staff while keeping salary and travel expenses under existing state regulations. Additionally, the legislation reduces the recurring annual funding for dedicated commission staff by $5,000 from the state's General Fund. These changes directly affect the commission's administrative operations and its budget allocation for personnel.
This bill modifies North Carolina's sales tax rules to exempt most prepared foods from taxation starting October 1, 2026. It defines "prepared food" as items sold hot or mixed together by a retailer, while explicitly excluding raw ingredients, simple sliced foods, and products from large-scale food manufacturers. The change would remove the sales tax burden for many ready-to-eat meals and combinations sold in stores, but it preserves the tax on specific items like bakery goods from small artisan bakeries, soft drinks, and candy.
SB 798 creates a new property tax relief program for North Carolina residents who are at least 65 years old and have lived in their home for at least five years. The bill allows these qualifying owners to defer paying the portion of their property tax bill that results from increases in the home's appraised value, using the home's value from the first year of the program as a baseline. This deferral acts as a lien on the property, meaning the unpaid taxes accumulate and become due only if the owner sells the home, dies, or stops living there permanently. The legislation also clarifies that married couples can share the benefit even if only one spouse meets the age and residency requirements, while prohibiting lenders from stopping owners from using this tax relief. The changes are scheduled to take effect for tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
This North Carolina bill establishes a $250 million grant program to help small businesses recover from financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify, businesses 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 the previous year. Eligible recipients can receive a one-time payment of up to $250,000, which is capped at the amount of their verified sales tax reduction. The law requires businesses to remain open for at least six months after receiving the funds, with any unspent portion subject to repayment if operations cease prematurely.
This bill creates a new loan program in North Carolina to help nonprofit organizations prepare land for affordable housing by offering below-market interest rate loans. The funds, totaling $50 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, can only be used for site-related expenses like land acquisition, utility installation, and environmental testing, but not for building the actual homes. To qualify, borrowers must be experienced nonprofits that provide zero-interest mortgages to buyers and ensure at least 40% of units in mixed-income projects are reserved for low- and moderate-income families. The program is designed to support the development of housing for households earning up to 80% of the local area median income.
This bill appropriates $15 million to Wilson County to support its volunteer fire departments with equipment upgrades. The funds are specifically designated for improving emergency lighting on fire trucks to enhance visibility when vehicles are stationary and covering costs for maintaining or replacing fire equipment and vehicle parts. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and directs the Office of State Budget and Management to provide these nonrecurring funds to the county.