Housing

HB 737 eliminates mandatory 20-hour training courses for insurance producers (agents/brokers) seeking licensure in North Carolina, replacing this requirement with a competency-based assessment. The bill also clarifies rules on insurance referral fees, updates capital calculation standards for the Department of Insurance, and restricts residential leases from requiring renters insurance. Additional provisions include adjustments to Medicare supplement licensing, continuous coverage rules for drivers with surcharges, and streamlined processes for multi-dealer registration. These changes directly affect insurance professionals, insurers, and consumers through modified licensing, coverage, and fee structures.

HB 126 requires state and local agencies to seek input from agricultural advisory boards before condemning or rezoning farmland within voluntary agricultural districts. It mandates that agencies request public hearings on such proposals, giving boards 45 days to review and submit recommendations. Agencies cannot proceed with condemnation or rezoning actions while the board is processing the request, extending the timeline to 120 days after the board submits its findings. The bill directly affects landowners in these districts and agencies making land use decisions, effective October 1, 2025.