This bill proposes administrative and technical updates to North Carolina laws governing state retirement systems, primarily affecting teachers, state employees, and local government workers. It reinstates previously forfeited military service credits for eligible retirees who purchase that service back after January 1, 2027, ensuring their military time counts toward their pension calculations. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that fully contributory death benefits cannot be reduced to cover overpayments or errors in other retirement benefits. The bill also introduces a contribution-based benefit cap to limit pension payments for certain members and modifies rules regarding the offset of erroneous payments against retirement allowances.
This bill allocates $10 million in recurring funds to the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to support Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapters. The money will be distributed as grants to eligible nonprofit DAV chapters across the state for renovating and expanding their facilities or providing additional resources to disabled veterans. Each chapter can receive up to $1 million per fiscal year, and the department will aim to select applicants from all regions of the state. The legislation also requires annual reports detailing the number of grants awarded, the specific chapters involved, and the amounts given, with the program becoming effective on July 1, 2026.
This bill, the Military Family Food Security and Readiness Act, aims to assist North Carolina military families by adjusting how their income is calculated for food assistance programs during deployments or activations. It would temporarily exclude certain military allowances, such as housing and subsistence pay, from income counts and allow eligible households to qualify for benefits with up to 25% higher income limits. For families who still do not meet standard criteria, the state would provide a supplemental nutrition program offering monthly benefits between $150 and $300, with an expedited application process to ensure quick access. The legislation applies to active-duty personnel, National Guard members, and reservists and includes funding to support these new provisions starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
This bill expands the property tax exemption for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses in North Carolina by increasing the excluded home value from $45,000 to the entire appraised value of the primary residence. To offset the resulting loss in local tax revenue, the state will reimburse counties and cities for the taxes they no longer collect from these exempt properties. The legislation also allocates $100,000 to cover administrative costs and sets the changes to take effect for tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
SB 1018, known as the HEAL Act, establishes a funding program in North Carolina to support three-year research studies on psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin. The bill directs up to five competitive grants of at least one million dollars each to federal or academic institutions located in the state, focusing on treating trauma-related mental health conditions in specific groups such as military veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. To oversee this initiative, the legislation creates a Breakthrough Therapies Task Force composed of state officials, medical experts, tribal representatives, and legislators to assess the potential use of these medicines and recommend future regulations. All funded research must be conducted within North Carolina, adhere to federal laws, and include measurements of pain levels alongside mental health outcomes.
This North Carolina bill proposes administrative updates to state retirement laws, primarily affecting teachers, state employees, and local government workers. It reinstates previously forfeited military service credits for eligible employees who purchase that service back, ensuring their retirement calculations reflect their full career history. Additionally, the legislation protects fully contributory death benefits from being reduced to cover any overpayments or errors in other retirement benefits. The bill also introduces a contribution-based benefit cap for future retirees, which would limit pension payouts to a specific percentage of contributions to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
This bill restores the ability of local governments in Craven, Carteret, Onslow, Jones, and Lenoir counties to propose down-zoning changes without needing permission from every property owner. Previously, a law required unanimous consent from all affected landowners to reduce development density or limit permitted uses, but this legislation removes that requirement for these specific military host counties. The change applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, meaning any down-zoning efforts initiated after that date can proceed under the new rules.
This bill allows North Carolina local governments to create special zones around major military bases to prevent incompatible development and protect military readiness. It requires that any new projects in these areas, which extend five miles from a base, must be coordinated with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to ensure they do not disrupt training or operations. Additionally, the law mandates that public hearings on such projects notify military commanders in advance and that site plans include measures to reduce light and noise impacts on the bases. The legislation also allocates $50,000 to fund a study on land use between military installations and local governments and explicitly states that it does not remove existing property owners' legal rights.
This North Carolina legislation creates a Military Sexual Trauma Study Commission and a two-year pilot program to assist survivors of military sexual trauma. The Commission will investigate barriers to reporting and support access among active duty, reserve, and veteran populations, with a requirement to submit findings to the General Assembly by April 2027. The pilot program, managed by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, provides a confidential hotline, counseling, legal referrals, and emergency assistance to affected service members and families. These provisions aim to improve care coordination and inform future statewide implementation without duplicating existing federal services.
HB 538, "Equality for All," expands North Carolina's anti-discrimination laws to protect residents in housing and employment. The bill adds sexual orientation, gender identity, military/veteran status, and genetic information to the list of protected characteristics, prohibiting discrimination by landlords, real estate agents, and employers (with 15+ employees) based on these factors. Key provisions ban refusal to rent/sell property, discriminatory advertising, denial of housing services, and employment decisions based on protected status. It applies broadly to all housing transactions and employment opportunities across the state. The law aims to ensure equal access without requiring proof of discriminatory intent.
