Technology

died · North Carolina · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 1042: Child Welfare/Foster Care/Child Care Funding.

This bill provides additional funding and establishes new procedures to support child welfare, foster care, and child care services in North Carolina. It allocates $250,000 to create a secure digital platform that sends automated notifications for court hearings and meetings, aiming to improve communication between attorneys, families, and social services. The legislation also directs $25 million annually toward foster care by reimbursing costs for home inspections, parent training, and essential items for children placed in care, while $75 million is designated to increase child care subsidy rates and expand care programs. Furthermore, the bill mandates a plan to implement a statewide floor for child care reimbursement rates and requires the state lottery to adhere to specific guidelines for distributing its revenues.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates $250,000 to create a secure digital platform for automated notifications, enhancing communication and utilizing information technology.85% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 1037: DIGITAL NC Act.

SB 1037, known as the DIGITAL NC Act, creates a new nine-member Board of Governors to oversee North Carolina's state information technology enterprise. This board will develop a comprehensive twenty-year plan to modernize the state's IT infrastructure, consolidate technical staff, and enhance cybersecurity defenses. The bill designates the Board's members through appointments by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President Pro Tempore, requiring specific expertise in technology leadership, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. The resulting plan will recommend significant changes, such as transitioning the state to a 'cloud-first' approach and potentially reorganizing the Department of Information Technology into a new Digital Sovereignty Authority.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates a board to modernize IT infrastructure, consolidate staff, and enhance cybersecurity defenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 965: DIT Consultation.

This bill requires North Carolina's Department of Information Technology to offer advisory and consultation services to state agencies that are currently exempt from its standard IT programs. To support this new requirement, the legislation appropriates $50,000 to create an interagency liaison network and takes effect on July 1, 2026. The law does not change the existing list of exempt agencies but ensures they can still access guidance on IT activities if they request it.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $50,000 to fund an interagency liaison network for IT consultation, directly increasing budget allocation for public services.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates funding to expand IT consultation services to exempt agencies, enhancing digital access and support within the state.85% confidence

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 930: Traffic Signal Preemption Software.

This bill allocates $2.7 million from the Highway Fund to North Carolina's Department of Transportation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds are designated to purchase and install traffic signal preemption technology, which enables emergency vehicles to communicate with traffic lights to change signals in their favor. This system aims to reduce response times for first responders and enhance safety at intersections by prioritizing their passage. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directly impacts the state's transportation infrastructure and emergency services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates $2.7M from the Highway Fund to fund traffic signal preemption technology, directly supporting budget appropriations for public safety and transportation infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds and installs traffic signal preemption technology to enhance emergency response safety.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $2.7M to purchase traffic signal preemption technology, enhancing road safety and emergency response times.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Traffic Safety Tags Public Safety

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 1088: Traffic Signal Preemption Software.

This bill appropriates $2.7 million from the Highway Fund to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding is intended to install traffic signal preemption technology that allows traffic lights to change automatically when emergency vehicles approach an intersection. This system prioritizes first responder vehicles to reduce response times and improve safety at intersections. The act becomes effective on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2.7M to fund traffic signal preemption technology, directly increasing funding for public safety and transportation services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates funding to install traffic signal preemption technology, directly advancing and strengthening the use of technology for public safety.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill appropriates funding to install traffic signal preemption technology, enhancing road safety and emergency response efficiency.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Roads & Highways Traffic Safety Tags Public Safety

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 835: Surveillance Pricing Ban.

This North Carolina legislation prohibits businesses from using personal data to set individualized prices for essential goods and services such as food, water, and hygiene products. The law defines the banned practice as using automated systems to collect information like browsing history or income to vary prices for different customers within the same day. Exceptions are allowed for loyalty discounts, shipping costs, and group-specific rates for categories like seniors or military personnel. Violations will be treated as unfair trade practices, and state funding has been allocated to support enforcement and public education beginning in October 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts use of personal data for pricing, protecting consumer privacy and limiting harmful data practices by businesses.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 1046: A.I. in Environmental Permitting.

This North Carolina bill creates a joint program for the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Management Commission to use artificial intelligence tools when drafting and reviewing environmental permits. While the law encourages using AI to speed up routine tasks, it requires human staff to independently review and modify any AI-generated work before finalizing a permit decision. The legislation mandates transparency by requiring the department to publish details about the AI systems used and to inform applicants when AI assists in their permit processing. Additionally, the bill sets specific rules for data security and prohibits using applicant information to train third-party AI models without state authorization.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enhances environmental protection by using AI to improve permit review efficiency and accuracy while maintaining human oversight.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates the use of AI tools to streamline environmental permitting, directly advancing technology adoption in government processes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 902: Free to Learn - Library Bill of Rights Act.

This bill establishes the Free to Learn Library Bill of Rights Act in North Carolina to protect residents' rights to access information, maintain privacy, and participate in library services without discrimination or undue restriction. It applies to all public libraries, including their online services and digital resources, and outlines specific rights such as unrestricted access to materials regardless of viewpoint, protection from surveillance and intimidation, confidentiality of library records, and fair access for all patrons regardless of personal characteristics. The legislation also includes anti-retaliation protections for library employees and volunteers who report violations, requires regional library systems to document compliance, and mandates strict data privacy practices for online usage tracking. Additionally, the bill appropriates funds to support implementation and directs the State Library to provide model language for interlocal agreements to ensure consistent compliance across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects library access and information rights, supporting educational access and academic freedom in public libraries and digital resources.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects digital rights, privacy, and unrestricted access to library services and online resources, strengthening digital equity and consumer protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries Data Privacy Digital Government

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passed both · North Carolina · House Jun 25, 2026

HB 349: Modify Health Care Powers of Attorney/Advance Directives.

HB 349 updates North Carolina's requirements for healthcare powers of attorney (POA) and advance health care directives (like living wills). It clarifies witness and notary rules to prevent conflicts of interest (e.g., prohibiting facility staff from witnessing), standardizes forms for easier use, and allows electronic filing of directives with the Secretary of State’s registry. The bill directly affects residents planning ahead for medical decisions, ensuring their chosen agents or instructions are legally recognized. Key changes include revised witness eligibility criteria, simplified form language, and a new online filing option to improve accessibility. The bill does not alter medical care standards but streamlines the legal process for end-of-life planning.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies witness rules and standardizes healthcare directives, strengthening patient autonomy in medical decision-making without conflicts of interest.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables electronic filing of health directives via Secretary of State registry, directly supporting electronic government services under 'INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY' and 'ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT' subjects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 722: Children's Online Safety Act/Funds.

SB 722 creates the Online Safety Division within North Carolina’s Department of Justice, the Cyberbullying Unit at the State Bureau of Investigation, and an Online Child Safety Commission. It directly affects major digital platforms with over 5 million users in North Carolina and $25 million in annual revenue, requiring them to implement parental notification systems, disable manipulative design features ("dark patterns"), and provide robust privacy tools for children. Platforms must submit annual Child Impact Assessments detailing risks to minors, limit data collection for children, prohibit targeted advertising, and default to strict privacy settings. The law authorizes civil penalties of up to $500,000 per violation for noncompliance, with funding of $5 million for 2025-2026 allocated to establish these new state units.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates privacy tools, disables 'dark patterns', and requires parental controls for child safety on major platforms, directly strengthening data privacy protections for minors.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Online Safety Social Media

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