Budget & Taxes

died · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1068: Supporting Small Farmers for NC's Future Act.

This bill establishes the Small Farmers Support Grant Program to provide financial assistance to North Carolina residents who are small farmers earning $1 million or less annually. The program offers grants to help eligible individuals purchase essential inputs, equipment, and make operational improvements to their farms, with funding prioritized based on factors like farm size and economic hardship. An initial $15 million in recurring funds is allocated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support these efforts, and the bill creates an advisory committee to monitor the program's effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $15M in recurring funds to establish a grant program for small farmers, directly advancing state budget appropriations for essential agricultural support.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Jun 30, 2026

HB 1213: Protect Taxpayers and Local Governments.

HB 1213 removes tax exemptions for data centers in North Carolina, meaning these facilities will no longer be exempt from state sales and use taxes. The bill directly affects data center operators and the businesses that purchase equipment for them, requiring them to pay applicable taxes on new purchases starting July 1, 2026. By repealing specific sections of state tax law, the legislation ensures that data centers contribute to state revenue in the same way other commercial entities do.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes tax exemptions for data centers, closing a loophole to ensure they contribute to state revenue like other commercial entities.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill removes tax exemptions for data centers, increasing operational costs and potentially hindering technology infrastructure growth.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Sales Tax

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 920: SNAP Administrative Funding/Forsyth County.

This bill appropriates $3,888,010 from North Carolina's General Fund to help Forsyth County cover lost federal money for running the SNAP program. The funds are specifically designated to reimburse the county for administrative expenses that were reduced due to changes in federal law. The state Department of Health and Human Services will distribute the money directly to Forsyth County, but only up to the exact amount of the loss incurred. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring the county has financial support for its social services operations during the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds to reimburse a county for lost federal SNAP money, directly funding an essential public service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1058: Critical Funds for Mecklenburg County.

This bill directs state funding to several nonprofit organizations and entities in Mecklenburg County for specific projects during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates money to construct a new main library, complete a community health center, plan a highway interchange, support affordable housing, fund operational costs for a community center, and improve facilities at a nature museum. The funds are drawn from various state accounts, including the General Fund and the Highway Fund, and the legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly directs state funding to construct libraries, health centers, and housing, directly advancing budget allocations for public services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly allocates state funding to support affordable housing projects in Mecklenburg County.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates state funds specifically for constructing a highway interchange, directly advancing transportation infrastructure.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Affordable Housing Roads & Highways

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passed · North Carolina · House May 22, 2026

HB 1042: Affordable Housing Exemption Modifications.

HB 1042 updates North Carolina's property tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations that provide housing for low- or moderate-income individuals. The bill clarifies that land held by nonprofits for future affordable housing projects can remain tax-exempt for up to five years, with unpaid taxes deferred until the project is completed or the land is no longer used for this purpose. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new specific exemption for affordable rental housing, defining it as developments where more than half the units are rented to tenants earning at or below 80% of the area median income. These changes aim to provide clearer tax incentives for nonprofits developing and operating affordable rental properties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands property tax exemptions for affordable housing nonprofits, reducing tax burdens on essential low-income housing programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill extends property tax exemptions for nonprofits providing affordable housing, facilitating development and funding for low-income housing projects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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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 Apr 29, 2026

SB 869: Reduce County Share/SA In-Home Program.

This bill directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to use $500,000 in state funds to lower the portion of costs that counties must pay for the Special Assistance in-home program. Starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the state will cover more of the expenses for this service, which supports individuals who need assistance at home. The change is designed to reduce the financial burden on local governments while maintaining the availability of the program. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $500k to reduce county costs for home health services, strengthening local fiscal capacity and funding essential social programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates state funds to reduce county costs for in-home health services, expanding access and funding for home care programs.90% confidence

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 962: Investing in North Carolina Act.

This bill, titled the Investing in North Carolina Act, establishes a new salary schedule for public school teachers and provides raises for state employees, community college staff, and University of North Carolina employees. The proposed teacher salary schedule sets monthly pay based on years of experience, ranging from $4,600 for new teachers to $6,370 for those with 29 or more years of service, while also adding specific supplements for certified teachers, school nurses, counselors, and other instructional support personnel. These salary increases are contingent on the failure of the 2026-2027 Current Operations Appropriations Act to pass, meaning the changes would only take effect if that budget bill does not become law. Additionally, the bill includes a 6% cost-of-living adjustment for eligible state-funded employees effective July 1, 2026, and allocates $921.2 million in recurring funds to implement the teacher salary raises.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases funding for public education and state employees through salary raises, directly advancing the budget topic.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes new salary schedules and provides raises for public school teachers and higher education staff, directly enhancing educator compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House May 5, 2026

HB 1194: Winston-Salem/Forsyth Joint Emergency Operations Center Funds.

This bill appropriates $1 million in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to help Forsyth County and the City of Winston-Salem build a shared emergency operations center. The money will be given as a grant to the county to improve how the city and county coordinate their responses during emergencies. The legislation becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and does not include any conditions on how the funds must be spent beyond supporting the creation of the joint facility.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $1M in nonrecurring funds to build a shared emergency operations center, directly increasing funding for public safety and emergency services.90% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 958: Safe Parks Act.

This bill establishes a new fund called the Contaminated Parks Remedial Account to help clean up environmental hazards in public parks across North Carolina. It directs money from taxes on trash disposal and corporate income to pay for assessing and fixing pre-1983 landfills or other inactive hazardous sites that make parks unusable. Local governments that own the affected parks must contribute one dollar for every four dollars provided by the state to share the cost of cleanup. The program is scheduled to begin in 2026, with funding amounts gradually increasing over time as more tax revenue is generated.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a new fund to clean up hazardous sites in parks using specific tax revenues, directly advancing funding for public services and environmental remediation.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates a fund to clean up hazardous sites and pollution in public parks, directly protecting the environment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Parks & Recreation Waste Management

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