Housing (Property Taxes)

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 212: Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Granville and Wake.

SB 212 restores local government authority to initiate down-zoning in Granville and Wake Counties without requiring written consent from affected property owners. Down-zoning refers to changes that reduce development density or limit permitted land uses (e.g., from commercial to residential). The bill specifically applies to properties within these two counties and their municipalities, reversing a prior requirement that down-zoning amendments needed owner consent. It takes effect immediately upon enactment but applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, to restore pre-existing zoning ordinances affected by a previous law. This policy change directly impacts property owners in Granville and Wake Counties by altering how local governments can modify zoning regulations.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingRestores down-zoning authority without owner consent, reducing development density and limiting housing supply in target counties.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Property Taxes Zoning Tags Local Government

Track

died · North Carolina · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 59: Modify Homestead Exclusions.

HB 59 would increase the income eligibility limit for North Carolina's elderly or disabled property tax homestead exclusion from $25,000 to $48,000 for taxable years beginning July 1, 2026. This change would directly affect homeowners aged 65 or older, or those who are totally and permanently disabled, who meet other criteria (like being a North Carolina resident and owning their home as a permanent residence). The bill modifies the existing rule that currently limits eligibility to those with incomes under $25,000, raising the threshold to $48,000 while maintaining the exclusion amount as the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the home's appraised value. The change aims to expand access to this property tax relief for qualifying low-to-moderate income homeowners. (Note: The bill was withdrawn in June 2025 and has not become law.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands property tax exemption for elderly/disabled homeowners, reducing tax burden for moderate-income residents. Directly modifies tax exclusion rules under taxation policy.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases property tax relief for elderly/disabled homeowners, reducing financial burden to maintain housing stability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes

Track

passed · North Carolina · House May 7, 2025

HB 94: Disabled Veteran Homestead Exclusion Prequalification.

HB 94 allows disabled veterans and their unremarried surviving spouses to prequalify for the disabled veteran property tax homestead exclusion. This means individuals can apply to determine their eligibility for the tax benefit before they purchase a permanent residence. Applicants submit a prequalification form with their disability certification, and the county assessor must notify them of their eligibility within 30 days. The bill aims to help taxpayers and lenders account for this tax relief when making home purchase decisions. After prequalification, a separate application for the exclusion is still required once a permanent residence is acquired.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides property tax exemption for disabled veterans, reducing their tax burden and aligning with tax relief indicators for lower-income groups.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides property tax exemption prequalification for disabled veterans purchasing homes, reducing housing costs and promoting affordability for a vulnerable group.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill enables disabled veterans to prequalify for property tax exclusion, removing barriers to accessing financial benefits through streamlined eligibility determination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Homeownership Property Taxes Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

Track

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SB 135: Expand Homestead Exclusion Inc. Elig. Limit.

This bill increases North Carolina's income limit for the property tax homestead exclusion for elderly or disabled homeowners from $25,000 to $48,000, effective for taxes due in 2025. It applies to qualifying homeowners whose income would otherwise disqualify them from the exclusion. The new limit will automatically adjust annually based on Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, rounded to the nearest $100. This change directly affects low-to-moderate-income elderly or disabled homeowners seeking property tax relief.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands property tax exemption for low-income elderly/disabled homeowners, providing direct tax relief and reducing their tax burden under state tax policy.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases property tax exemption income limit for elderly/disabled homeowners, reducing tax burden and supporting housing affordability for vulnerable groups.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes

Track

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 184: System Development Fees/Exemption.

SB 184 allows North Carolina local governments to exempt properties being developed for affordable housing from system development fees (such as those for water and sewer infrastructure). It requires local units to establish their own criteria for determining which housing projects qualify as "affordable" for the exemption. The bill does not change existing fee structures but gives localities flexibility to support affordable housing development. This directly affects developers building affordable housing projects and local governments that set these fees.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts affordable housing projects from development fees, lowering costs for developers to build such units and directly advancing affordable housing goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Building Codes Property Taxes

Track

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 432: Home Ownership Market Manipulation.

SB 432 prohibits large business entities from purchasing 100 or more single-family homes in qualifying counties (population over 150,000) for rental use. It directly affects real estate investment firms and corporations that buy homes solely as rentals, aiming to prevent artificial inflation of home prices by limiting excessive bulk acquisitions. The law defines "single-family home" as detached, semi-detached, or townhomes meeting specific separation criteria and imposes civil penalties of up to $100 per day per home for violations. Enforcement is handled by the Attorney General or individuals through civil lawsuits, with remedies including damages, attorney fees, and joint liability for affiliated entities. The bill applies to home purchases occurring on or after its effective date.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits corporate bulk home purchases to prevent artificial price inflation, directly advancing affordable housing access by limiting market manipulation affecting homeownership.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Property Taxes Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 708: Working Families Act.

SB 708, the "Working Families Act," directly affects low- and middle-income North Carolina families by reducing child care costs, increasing tax credits, raising wages, and providing housing assistance. It cuts parent copayments for subsidized child care to 7% of gross income (down from 10%), reenacts a refundable child tax credit with income-based payments up to $250 per child, and raises the statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour starting September 1, 2025 - while allowing cities to set higher local rates. The bill also increases income limits for property tax relief and creates a homebuyers' program offering assistance to first-time public servant homebuyers (including teachers, firefighters, police, and EMTs). These changes aim to reduce living costs and support working families through concrete financial adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirectly reduces child care copayments, increases refundable child tax credits, and raises minimum wage - fiscal measures supporting low/middle-income families.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly provides housing assistance for low/middle-income families, directly aligning with housing funding and affordability indicators in its summary and subjects list.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRaises minimum wage to $15/hr (2025), expands refundable child tax credits, and reduces child care costs - directly advancing worker compensation and financial support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Property Taxes Minimum Wage

Track

passed · North Carolina · House May 5, 2025

HB 913: Liability/Unfair/Deceptive Development Actions.

HB 913 aims to hold local governments accountable for development decisions by allowing or mandating the recovery of attorneys' fees and, in some cases, punitive damages for parties who successfully sue them. It directly affects local governments and individuals or entities involved in development projects. The bill mandates attorneys' fees if a local government intentionally violates development laws, intentionally delays approvals, or acts deceptively to provoke legal action. Additionally, punitive damages, up to ten times the proven harm, can be awarded if a local government acts in a flagrantly unfair or deceptive manner with the intent to cause legal action. However, local governments are protected from these awards if they acted in reasonable reliance on court orders or Attorney General opinions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingHolds local governments accountable for delaying development approvals, potentially accelerating housing projects by reducing bureaucratic barriers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Property Taxes

Track

in committee · North Carolina · House Sep 23, 2025

HB 118: Disabled Veterans Tax Relief Bill.

HB 118 modifies North Carolina's property tax exemption for disabled veterans, replacing a flat $45,000 exclusion with a percentage-based system tied to the veteran's VA disability rating. It directly affects veterans with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating (or surviving spouses under specific conditions), allowing them to exclude a portion of their home's appraised value from property taxes - equal to their disability percentage. For example, a veteran with a 70% disability rating would exclude 70% of their home's value from taxes. The bill takes effect for taxes due in 2025 and prohibits combining this relief with other property tax exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill modifies property tax exemption to provide tax relief for disabled veterans, reducing their tax burden through percentage-based exclusion based on disability rating.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingTax exemption reduces housing costs for disabled veterans, increasing affordability for a specific group within housing policy.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransReplaces flat $45k tax exclusion with percentage-based system (50%+ disability), increasing relief for disabled veterans, directly expanding benefits per bill summary and subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Property Taxes Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

Track