This bill strengthens traffic safety and law enforcement in Mecklenburg County by funding 12 new State Trooper positions and five additional magistrates, effective in 2026. It increases fines for failing to stop for school buses and expands the use of vehicle registration records as initial proof of driver responsibility in such cases. The legislation also restricts public access to video footage from highway cameras, allowing disclosure only to specific individuals involved in the recorded incident or their legal representatives. Furthermore, the bill raises penalties for moving over violations and street takeover incidents, establishes reckless boating as a criminal offense, and increases fines for assaulting public transit workers.
This bill updates North Carolina laws regarding driver education and commercial driver training to improve safety and oversight. It requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to provide free printed copies of the driver's license handbook to public schools, ensuring students learn about proper interactions with law enforcement during traffic stops. The legislation also imposes stricter rules on commercial driver training schools, mandating they meet public school education standards and keep their contracts available for inspection. Additionally, the bill establishes continuing education requirements for driver instructors, sets specific license renewal fees, and allocates $100,000 in state funds to help cover the costs of these new regulations.
HB 1040 updates the financial and operational rules for the Pitt County-City of Greenville Airport Authority by clarifying how the county and city fund airport operations and expansions. The bill allows the two governments to share costs for running the airport and building new facilities, using money from airport fees, land sales, or voter-approved taxes and bonds. It also confirms the authority's power to manage the property, enforce safety zoning rules, and issue debt for improvements if voters agree. This legislation primarily affects the local county and city officials who oversee the airport's budget and development plans.
This bill allocates $10 million from the state's Highway Fund to the Pitt-Greenville Airport to construct a new general aviation terminal. The funding is designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and is scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2025. The legislation directly impacts the airport by providing specific nonrecurring money for infrastructure development, while the state Department of Transportation oversees the allocation.
This bill authorizes local governments in North Carolina to borrow money to accelerate specific transportation projects that are scheduled for funding under the State Transportation Improvement Program. To access these funds early, localities must sign an expedited agreement with the Department of Transportation that outlines project details, financial forecasts, and a repayment plan. The borrowed money, known as grant anticipation notes, must be repaid solely from the future state or federal grant funds and cannot exceed the total amount of that funding. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Transportation to ensure that any changes to the state's transportation plan do not delay the repayment of these notes.
This bill creates a new grant program in North Carolina to fund public car and shuttle services in rural counties with low population density. Eligible recipients, such as counties and transit authorities, can use the funds to support commuter travel during peak hours or provide on-demand rides for medical appointments and grocery shopping during off-peak times. To receive funding, applicants must secure a local match of at least 50% and ensure that employers contribute a minimum of 20% for peak-hour commuter services. The program is financed by a $30 million appropriation from the Highway Fund and is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026.
This bill updates North Carolina laws to regulate outdoor advertising signs, primarily affecting sign owners and the state Department of Transportation. It requires the Department to issue or deny permits within 30 days, automatically approving applications if no decision is made by then, and limits permit revocations for first-time violations by mandating a 60-day cure period. Additionally, the legislation clarifies rules for cutting vegetation near highway signs, defining specific zones based on speed limits and allowing sign owners to pay a fee to remove trees outside those zones. The bill also restricts the Department from delegating its core regulatory authority to local governments while permitting cooperation on enforcement.
This bill updates North Carolina's foster care insurance rules to clarify how foster parents can remove coverage for children who no longer live with them and to create a new insurance program for foster youth. It requires the state insurance rate bureau to develop a specific policy option that allows foster children to be listed as named drivers on non-owner insurance policies, ensuring they can legally operate vehicles provided to them. Additionally, the legislation establishes a financial assistance program funded by $1 million to help cover the extra cost of adding foster children to a parent's insurance or to pay for separate non-owner policies, provided the youth has completed an approved driver's education course. These changes aim to ensure foster youth have valid liability coverage while reducing the financial burden on foster families and the state.
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This bill, known as the Hands Free NC Act, makes it illegal for drivers in North Carolina to hold a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle on public roads. The law prohibits texting, watching videos, or holding any electronic device, such as a cell phone or smartwatch, except when the vehicle is safely stationary or during specific emergencies like medical crises or unsafe road conditions. Drivers under 18 are allowed to use navigation systems if all destinations are entered before driving, while law enforcement, first responders, and emergency vehicle operators are exempt from these restrictions. Violations result in fines ranging from $100 to $200 depending on prior offenses within a 36-month period, and repeat offenders will face insurance points on their records. The legislation also prevents local governments from passing their own ordinances on this matter and requires driver education programs to include instructions on these new rules.
This bill directs North Carolina's Department of Transportation to create a new method for funding bridge replacements that operates separately from the current Strategic Mobility Formula. To accomplish this, the state will allocate $100,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the development of this alternative plan, which must include a prioritization process and a specific revenue source. The department is required to submit its proposed formula and legislative recommendations to various committees by December 1, 2026, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
