Technology

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 80: Broaden Electronic Notice Authorization.

SB 80 allows specific North Carolina towns (including Apex, Cary, and Wake Forest) to use electronic notices - like posting on city websites - for public hearings and required notices, replacing traditional methods like printed notices. It directly affects these 11 towns by expanding their notice options while preserving existing requirements for mail notices to certain groups and property postings. The bill does not change current rules for mail notices or property sign requirements but lets local governments choose electronic methods for other public notices. It applies only to the listed towns and becomes effective when signed into law. The bill is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEnables electronic notices for local government, expanding tech use in public communications without restrictions per bill title and subjects including INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY and ELECTRONIC MEDIA.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 327: NC Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act.

SB 327, the North Carolina Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act, authorizes the State Treasurer to allocate up to 10% of public funds into Bitcoin as a long-term strategic reserve. It requires the Treasurer to hold Bitcoin in secure offline storage with multi-signature protection, establish a dedicated department for management, and create an advisory board of industry experts. The reserve can only be used during severe financial crises, for approved infrastructure projects, or Bitcoin-related economic development, and requires a two-thirds vote by both legislative chambers to liquidate. The Treasurer must provide quarterly public reports on the reserve’s value and security, while complying with all federal and state cryptocurrency regulations.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill authorizes state allocation of public funds into Bitcoin reserve, directly promoting cryptocurrency adoption as a strategic asset per its subjects and purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 857: Create Alert/Missing Person with Disability.

HB 857 creates North Carolina's Missing with Disability Alert System, requiring law enforcement to issue rapid statewide alerts for missing persons or children with disabilities (as defined by state law) who face potential harm, neglect, or exploitation. The system mandates that alerts include only essential recovery information while protecting sensitive health details, and requires coordination with broadcasters and highway message signs for public dissemination. All law enforcement agencies and the state missing persons center must develop new guidelines and training procedures to implement the alert system. This policy change directly affects law enforcement, broadcasters, and individuals with disabilities who go missing.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProtects sensitive health details in alert system, aligning with data privacy (support indicator) as part of emergency telecommunications protocol.85% confidence

Tags People with Disabilities

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signed · North Carolina · Senate Sep 30, 2025

SB 245: Expand Remote Drivers License Services.

SB 245 would allow residents to apply for or renew driver's licenses remotely, without visiting a physical office. This directly affects people who face challenges traveling to license centers, such as those with disabilities, rural residents, or individuals with busy schedules. The bill would establish a secure online process for these transactions, including identity verification and document submission. Currently pending in the Senate's Rules and Operations committee (after being withdrawn and re-referred to Health Care), it has not yet advanced to a vote.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes secure electronic government services for driver's licenses, directly advancing technology-enabled access and digital equity per IT/Internet subjects.95% confidence

passed · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 38: Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act.

House Bill 38, known as the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, prohibits payment card networks from using a specific "firearms code" to identify or track purchases made at firearms merchants in North Carolina. It also forbids these networks from knowingly maintaining records of individuals in the state who own firearms. The bill aims to prevent the separate tracking of lawful firearm and ammunition purchases and protect the financial privacy of individuals exercising their right to bear arms. Payment card networks are also prohibited from discriminating against firearms merchants based on code assignment. Violations can lead to civil penalties assessed by the Attorney General or civil lawsuits from affected merchants or individuals.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPrevents payment networks from tracking firearm purchases via financial data, directly protecting financial privacy as a data privacy measure.90% confidence

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 376: Increase Funding to State Auditor.

SB 376 increases funding for North Carolina's State Auditor's Office to enhance oversight of state government finances. The bill allocates $95,000 one-time for recruitment, $3 million for audit infrastructure, and $1 million for office space in 2025-2026, plus $6.7 million annually for 70 new staff, $500,000 for salary increases, and $5 million yearly for technology upgrades. These funds aim to expand audit capacity, improve fraud detection, and modernize systems for better accountability of taxpayer funds. The State Auditor must report on fund usage, including audit results and efficiency gains, by December 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $6.7M annually + $5M yearly for tech to enhance financial oversight and accountability, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates $5M yearly for technology upgrades to modernize audit systems and improve fraud detection, directly funding tech infrastructure for enhanced government accountability.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 685: Rural NC Reinvestment Act.

HB 685, the Rural NC Reinvestment Act, allocates $605 million in nonrecurring state funds for rural North Carolina communities during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides grants for water/sewer infrastructure ($200M), law enforcement/fire equipment ($10M), economic development land ($20M), rural school construction ($200M), broadband expansion ($50M), early childhood education ($100M), and physician placement ($5M). Local governments, schools, emergency services, and healthcare providers in rural areas directly receive these funds, with allocations prioritized based on need, efficiency, and community impact. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, focusing on tangible infrastructure and service improvements without creating new regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $605M in state funds for rural infrastructure, education, and services, directly advancing budget allocation for public programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $200M for rural school construction and $100M for early childhood education, directly funding educational infrastructure and access per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds water/sewer infrastructure ($200M), directly supporting pollution control and environmental protection per subjects list and summary.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $5M specifically for physician placement in rural areas, directly improving healthcare access and addressing provider shortages per bill's summary and subjects.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates $50M specifically for broadband expansion, directly advancing internet access in rural areas per bill summary and subjects list.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Broadband Access Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 164: Parental Consent to Release Child Autopsies.

HB 164 requires parental or guardian consent before releasing autopsy records for children under 18. It makes all autopsy-related materials - including photos, videos, and reports - confidential, except when disclosure is needed for public health, research, legal compliance, or to address safety concerns. If parents withhold consent, a court may override this through a special proceeding after reviewing factors like public interest and privacy intrusion. The bill also allows public access to autopsy recordings (with supervision) unless parents request confidentiality under this law. It applies to all child deaths under 18 in North Carolina, affecting medical examiners, families, and entities seeking autopsy records.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates confidentiality of medical records including digital media, aligning with data privacy protections in technology policies.85% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 361: Fight Deed and Title Fraud/Funds.

HB 361 allocates $1.8 million for training county register of deeds employees, $500,000 for a public awareness campaign about real property fraud, and $30 million in grants to county offices for technology upgrades. The grants will fund digitizing records, purchasing scanning equipment, upgrading software, enhancing digital security, and improving network systems to prevent deed and title fraud. An additional $1 million is reserved for county offices without existing fraud detection systems. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, directly affecting county register of deeds offices and the public through reduced fraud risks.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $30M+ in grants for county tech upgrades to prevent fraud, directly addressing budgetary appropriations and enhancing public service infrastructure per bill subjects.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates $30M for tech upgrades including digital security, enhancing cybersecurity to prevent fraud, directly aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 124: State Hiring Accessibility and Modernization.

SB 124 aims to make North Carolina state government hiring more accessible by reducing unnecessary barriers. It requires the State Human Resources Commission to review job requirements starting October 2025, removing mandatory four-year degree requirements where practical experience (like military service or trade school) is sufficient. The bill also modernizes the application process by allowing resume uploads to auto-fill forms and simplifies job postings to limit additional qualifications to five, ensuring applicants clearly see basic requirements. These changes apply to all state agencies hiring staff, directly affecting job seekers and hiring managers across North Carolina's government workforce.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves unnecessary degree barriers for state hiring, expanding employment access for workers with military/trade experience per bill's focus on accessibility and modernization.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyModernizes hiring with tech features like auto-fill forms and resume uploads, listed under Information Technology subject.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly removes degree barriers for military service experience in state hiring, directly advancing veterans' employment access per subjects list and summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees