NCPoliSearch — NC Legislation Made Simple

CARDINAL Act

This bill creates a state program to contribute $1,000 to Trump Accounts (a new federal retirement savings account) for eligible North Carolina children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 whose families earn up to 300% of the federal poverty line. It also redirects $192 million from the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve to finance this program and changes the priority order for awarding remaining opportunity scholarships in 2026-2027.

Senate2026-05-07

S779Introduced

Medicaid Rebase

This bill appropriates $319 million in annual recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for Medicaid, beginning in the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The funds are designated to cover projected increases in Medicaid enrollment, changes in the mix of enrollees, service costs, capitation costs, and shifts in federal matching funds.

Senate2026-05-07

S1054Introduced

No Child Left Unfed

This bill directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care providers who are legally operating but currently excluded from the program. The bill appropriates $150,000 for planning and $500,000 in recurring funds to support implementation, and requires annual reporting on participation and barriers.

Senate2026-05-06

S1055Introduced

Carolina Housing Promise Act

The Carolina Housing Promise Act is a comprehensive bill that addresses housing affordability and accessibility in North Carolina through multiple approaches: increasing funding for affordable housing programs, allowing accessory dwelling units and streamlining approvals for affordable developments, establishing tax credits and down payment assistance for homebuyers, directing resources toward hurricane recovery and rental assistance, and investing in construction workforce development and fair housing enforcement.

Senate2026-05-06

S1053Introduced

Child Care Licensing Penalty Reform

This bill changes how North Carolina punishes child care facility licensing violations. First-time violations become Class A1 misdemeanors instead of Class I felonies, while prosecutors gain discretion to charge repeat violations or those posing substantial risk of harm as felonies based on specific factors.

Senate2026-05-06

S981Introduced

AI in Ed Task Force and Standards

This bill creates a task force to study how artificial intelligence should be used and regulated in North Carolina schools, and requires the State Board of Education to develop standards for teaching students about AI in kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill also provides $250,000 in funding for teacher training on AI instruction.

Senate2026-05-05

S1052Introduced

Amend Child Care Definitions/FFN Providers

This bill adds a legal definition for license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care providers in North Carolina law. The definition clarifies the status of informal caregivers like relatives and close family friends who provide child care outside the licensed system, and allocates $30,000 to update state materials and data collection systems to reflect this definition.

Senate2026-05-05

S1034Introduced

Fund Drug Treatment/Mental Health Courts

This bill appropriates $8.4 million in recurring state funding to create and support specialized courts that serve people in the criminal justice system with substance use disorders and mental health conditions. These drug treatment courts and mental health courts would provide court-supervised treatment plans and monitor participants' progress as an alternative to traditional criminal prosecution.

Senate2026-05-05

S1029Introduced

Tax Relief on Essentials for Working Families

This bill exempts feminine hygiene products, diapers, and most groceries from North Carolina's sales tax, effective October 1, 2026. It also appropriates $1.6 million to regional councils of government to educate the public about these tax relief measures.

Senate2026-05-05

S1033Introduced

NC Children's Safe Screens Act/Funds

This bill creates new state protections for children online by establishing an Online Safety Division in the Attorney General's office and a North Carolina Online Child Safety Commission. It requires large social media and tech platforms (those with over 5 million North Carolina users and $25+ million annual revenue) to implement safety features like parental controls, restrict manipulative design practices called "dark patterns," protect children's data, and submit annual safety assessments. The bill appropriates $18 million total for enforcement and education.

Senate2026-05-05

S1028Introduced

NC Airport Security Continuity

This bill establishes a $25 million emergency fund to provide interest-free loans to TSA officers and air traffic controllers at North Carolina airports who have not been paid for 14 or more days due to federal government funding lapses. The loans would be automatically repaid when the federal government issues back pay to these workers.

Senate2026-05-05

S1059Introduced

Military Family Food Security & Readiness Act

This bill creates temporary food assistance programs for North Carolina military families during active duty deployments or activations lasting 30+ days. It allows the Department of Health and Human Services to exclude certain military pay (housing, subsistence, and hazard pay) from income calculations for food benefits and establishes a state-funded supplemental nutrition program ($150-$300 monthly) for military households that don't qualify under federal income limits but face financial hardship.

Senate2026-05-05

S1051Introduced

Don't Zone Out Child Care

This bill protects licensed family child care home operators from restrictions imposed by homeowners associations, landlords, and local governments. It declares such family child care homes as residential uses that cannot be prohibited or heavily restricted, and allows operators to sue for damages and attorney's fees if their rights are violated.

Senate2026-05-05

S1072Introduced

Constitutional Amendments - Cannabis

This bill proposes two separate constitutional amendments for North Carolina voters to decide on in November 2026. The first would decriminalize possession of limited amounts of cannabis for personal use, and the second would allow patients with qualifying medical conditions to possess cannabis for medical purposes. Both amendments would require the General Assembly to pass additional laws specifying the details of possession limits and regulations.

Senate2026-05-05

S1058Introduced

Critical Funds for Mecklenburg County

This bill appropriates $29 million in one-time state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support various projects and organizations in Mecklenburg County, including a new library, community health center, road interchange planning, affordable housing, a community services center, and a nature museum.

Senate2026-05-05

S1056Introduced

NC Small Business Capital & Jobs Act

This bill establishes the North Carolina Small Business Capital Access Program, a comprehensive initiative to help small businesses and companies in underserved communities access funding through loan guarantees, direct investments, technical assistance, and other support mechanisms. The bill creates a new Office of Small Business Capital Access within the Department of Commerce, an oversight board, and a $50 million fund to implement six main program components. It also modifies state tax credit laws to provide incentives for investments in eligible businesses that receive assistance from the program.

Senate2026-05-05

S975Introduced

State Digital Asset Payments Study Act

This bill directs North Carolina's Department of State Treasurer to study whether the state could accept digital asset payments (like certain cryptocurrencies) for state fees, and to study costs associated with residents sending money internationally. The bill appropriates $50,000 for these studies and requires reports back to the legislature by January 2027, but does not require the state to actually accept digital assets.

Senate2026-05-05

S1068Introduced

Supporting Small Farmers for NC's Future Act

This bill establishes a grant program within the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to provide financial assistance to small farmers, defined as those with gross cash farm income of $1 million or less. The program would receive $15 million in state funding for fiscal year 2026-2027 and distribute grants to eligible farmers for equipment, inputs, and operational improvements, with the Commissioner setting priorities based on farm size, income levels, and economic hardship.

Senate2026-05-05

S980Introduced

Adopt Official Hip-Hop Song

This bill designates the censored version of 'Raise Up' by North Carolina rapper Petey Pablo as the official hip-hop song of North Carolina. It also appropriates $6.5 million to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for a music heritage and tourism initiative that includes promotional campaigns, festivals, a hip-hop music trail, and a mobile app across several North Carolina cities.

Senate2026-05-05

S1030Introduced

Community Scale Weatherization + Health

This bill expands North Carolina's Weatherization Assistance Program to include health and safety improvements for low-income households and allows for community-scale projects that serve multiple homes in the same area. The bill appropriates $10 million in state funding and requires the Department of Environmental Quality to adopt rules for implementing these expanded services.

Senate2026-05-05

S1061Introduced

Protect Moms Who Serve

This bill directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on health issues affecting women who serve in the military, with a focus on maternity care, mental health, and reducing maternal mortality. The department will work with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, gather input from military mothers, and report findings and legislative recommendations by April 1, 2027. The bill appropriates $100,000 for this study.

Senate2026-05-05

S1060Introduced

Milit. Sexual Trauma/Study Comm./Pilot Prog

This bill establishes a Military Sexual Trauma Study Commission to research sexual assault and harassment in North Carolina's military populations and creates a two-year pilot program providing support services including a 24/7 hotline, counseling, legal referral, and peer support to active duty service members, National Guard members, veterans, and military families. The bill appropriates $3 million total to implement both initiatives.

Senate2026-05-05

S1020Introduced

Affordable Housing Efficiency Grant Program

This bill establishes the Affordable Housing Efficiency Grant Program, which provides grants to affordable multifamily housing buildings to fund energy efficiency upgrades (like insulation and efficient HVAC systems) and electric building upgrades (like heat pumps and electric vehicle charging). The program allocates $5 million annually and is administered by the State Energy Office within the Department of Environmental Quality.

Senate2026-05-05

S988Introduced

Protecting Workers in the Age of AI Act

This bill creates a new AI Workforce Transition Program within the Department of Commerce to help workers displaced by artificial intelligence and automation through job retraining, credentialing, and education programs. It requires employers receiving state economic incentives to report layoffs caused by AI or automation, and appropriates $50 million in existing state funds to support these workforce transition initiatives.

Senate2026-05-05

S987Introduced

Lower Healthcare Costs

This bill creates a special fund to help state employees and teachers maintain their take-home pay when health insurance premiums increase. It transfers $150 million from the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve to pay for premium supplements, ensuring employees' net income doesn't decline due to higher health plan costs.

Senate2026-05-05

S1015Introduced

Child Care Omnibus

This bill makes sweeping changes to North Carolina's child care system by increasing subsidy payment rates to the 75th percentile, establishing a $110 million recurring funding stream, creating multiple pilot programs for child care access, establishing a new North Carolina Child Care Finance Agency to help fund child care facility construction, and providing tax exemptions and subsidies for certain worker categories including child care employees.

Senate2026-05-05

S1004Introduced

Family Support for Those Who Serve Act

This bill expands tuition waivers at North Carolina community colleges to include children (ages 17-24) of law enforcement officers, experienced correctional officers, and firefighters who are actively serving. Previously, tuition waivers were limited to survivors of officers killed in the line of duty or children of officers permanently disabled in service. The new provision applies to all children of these public safety employees, regardless of disability or death status.

Senate2026-05-04

S954Introduced

Learning & Enrichment in Afterschool Programs

This bill establishes the Learning and Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP) Grant Program, which provides funding to community organizations, schools, and local governments to offer afterschool and summer youth activities. It creates an advisory council to guide the program and appropriates $19.5 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with grants directed toward rural and underserved communities.

Senate2026-05-04

S1016Introduced

Fair Share for Public Schools Act

This bill creates a new 7% income tax on individual income above $1 million per year in North Carolina. All revenue collected from this tax, minus administrative costs, would be distributed to the state's public school fund and allocated to local school districts based on the number of students they serve.

Senate2026-05-04

S958Introduced

Safe Parks Act

The Safe Parks Act creates a new funding account to clean up environmental contamination at public parks caused by old landfills and hazardous sites. It increases the solid waste disposal tax from $2 to $4 per ton and redirects a portion of corporate income tax revenue to pay for park remediation, requiring local governments to match every $4 in state funds with $1 of local funding.

Senate2026-05-04

S950Introduced

School Meals for Every Child

This bill requires all public schools in North Carolina to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student. The state would appropriate $116 million annually starting in 2026-2027 to fund these meals, with the State Board of Education distributing funds to school districts based on factors like school size and number of low-income students.

Senate2026-05-04

S959Introduced

Study Student Loan Forgiveness Program/SEAA

This bill directs the State Education Assistance Authority to study whether North Carolina should create a student loan forgiveness program for graduates of public universities and community colleges in the state. The study must examine program structure, costs, eligibility requirements, and how it might help retain graduates in North Carolina, with a report due by October 1, 2027. The bill appropriates $150,000 to conduct this study.

Senate2026-05-04

S964Introduced

Expanded Acc. to Doulas and Midwives/BC Lic

This bill expands access to doula and midwifery services in North Carolina by requiring Medicaid to cover doula services during pregnancy and postpartum, establishing a licensing system for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), and creating a licensure process for birth centers. The bill appropriates $1.55 million for implementation and support services.

Senate2026-05-04

S997Introduced

Nursing Fellows & Curric. Support Funds/WSSU

This bill establishes the Nursing Fellows Program at Winston-Salem State University to provide forgivable loans to nursing students pursuing Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degrees in nursing. The program aims to recruit and support future nurses and nursing instructors in North Carolina, with loans forgiven through years of service in the state. The bill also appropriates $1.4 million for the program and $650,000 for nursing curriculum support services.

Senate2026-05-04

S949Introduced

Fully Fund School Psychologists & Counselors

This bill appropriates $359.3 million in annual state funding to hire additional school psychologists and counselors in North Carolina public schools. The goal is to achieve statewide ratios of at least one school psychologist per 700 students and one school counselor per 250 students, as called for in the Leandro education funding plan.

Senate2026-05-04

S910Introduced

Expanding Insurance Coverage/Fertility Care

This bill expands insurance coverage for fertility care in North Carolina by requiring health insurance plans to cover fertility diagnostic care and treatment (including up to four egg retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers), directs the state to seek Medicaid coverage for basic fertility services, appropriates $45 million for Medicaid implementation, establishes a fertility care resource hub, requires medical provider training on LGBTQ+ family building options, and protects the right to access assisted reproductive technology and contraceptives.

Senate2026-04-30

S895Introduced

Nonprofit Hospitals Tax Exemption

This bill modifies how nonprofit hospitals receive property tax and sales tax exemptions in North Carolina. Instead of exempting all hospital property from taxes, the bill limits exemptions to an amount equal to the actual cost of charity care the hospital provides to low-income uninsured and underinsured patients (those earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level).

Senate2026-04-30

S904Introduced

Save SNAP Act

This bill appropriates $16 million and $69 million in state funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to replace lost federal funding for SNAP administrative costs due to changes in federal law (Public Law 119-21). It also appropriates $10 million for grants to develop projects aimed at reducing SNAP payment errors.

Senate2026-04-30

S943Introduced

Kids Over Corporations Act

This bill repeals North Carolina's scheduled phase-out of the corporate income tax and sets a permanent corporate income tax rate of 5% instead of allowing it to reach 0%. Currently, the state reduces the corporate tax rate each year, scheduled to eliminate it entirely after 2029. This bill stops that reduction and locks in a 5% rate.

Senate2026-04-30

S915Introduced

2026 Governor's Budget

This is North Carolina's budget bill for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It appropriates approximately $35.4 billion in General Fund spending for state operations, includes tax policy changes, sets employee salaries and compensation, funds K-12 and higher education, and authorizes capital improvement projects. The bill also modifies existing tax rates and creates new tax credits.

Senate2026-04-30

S898Introduced

Citizens' Tax Relief Circuit Breaker Mods

This bill appropriates $250,000 to help counties advertise North Carolina's property tax relief programs and modifies the Property Tax Homestead Circuit Breaker program by raising the income eligibility limit to $45,000 (with an additional allowance for married couples) and adjusting it annually for cost-of-living increases.

Senate2026-04-30

S944Introduced

Keep Families Fed Act

This bill appropriates $6 million in recurring state funding to six regional food banks across North Carolina, beginning in fiscal year 2026-2027. The funding is intended to address food insecurity and ensure these programs continue operating regardless of annual budget passage.

Senate2026-04-30

S935Introduced

Increase Number of Magistrates/Mecklenburg

This bill increases the number of magistrates in Mecklenburg County from 38.5 to 43.5 positions and appropriates $236,140 in recurring annual funding to hire five additional magistrates. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Senate2026-04-30

S899Introduced

School Mental Health Support Act

This bill establishes two programs to increase mental health support in North Carolina schools and recruit mental health workers to underserved areas. It appropriates $50 million for school mental health grants to public school units and $50 million for a loan repayment program for mental health professionals working in high-need areas.

Senate2026-04-30

S922Introduced

Fund International Black Theatre Festival

This bill appropriates $200,000 in state funds to the City of Winston-Salem to support the planning and operations of the International Black Theatre Festival scheduled for July and August 2026. The money comes from the General Fund and is designated as a one-time grant for that specific fiscal year.

Senate2026-04-30

S945Introduced

Safe Camps Act

The Safe Camps Act establishes a statewide permitting and safety program for youth camps in North Carolina. It creates minimum health and safety requirements for youth camps, generally prohibits cabins in floodplains with limited exceptions, requires comprehensive emergency planning and warning systems, and mandates regular inspections. The bill also applies similar floodplain and emergency planning requirements to campgrounds.

Senate2026-04-30

S942Introduced

Reenact EITC

This bill reenacts North Carolina's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which had previously expired. The credit allows eligible working individuals to receive a state tax credit equal to a percentage of the federal EITC they qualify for, with the credit being refundable if it exceeds the taxpayer's state income tax liability.

Senate2026-04-30

S912Introduced

Menopause Omnibus

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework to address menopause in North Carolina through four main components: funding menopause research and education, providing tax incentives for doctors to take menopause training, requiring health insurance and Medicaid to cover menopause-related care without cost-sharing, and protecting workers from discrimination based on menopause-related conditions.

Senate2026-04-30

S903Introduced

Public Employees Deserve A Voice Act

This bill repeals North Carolina's ban on collective bargaining agreements between public employees and labor unions. Currently, state law declares such agreements illegal; this bill would remove that prohibition, allowing public employees to negotiate collectively with their employers starting July 1, 2026. The bill also appropriates $100,000 to inform public employees about the change.

Senate2026-04-30

S907Introduced

The Ciji Graham Act

The Ciji Graham Act establishes four interconnected programs to improve maternal health outcomes in North Carolina: a care navigation program using licensed nurses in six Medicaid regions, a statewide hotline providing clinical consultation to healthcare providers, a digital information hub with clinical guidelines and provider directories, and standardized referral pathways for high-risk pregnancies. The bill appropriates $10 million in recurring annual funding to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, beginning in fiscal year 2026-2027.

Senate2026-04-30

S924Introduced

Reenact the Earned Income Tax Credit

This bill restores North Carolina's state Earned Income Tax Credit, which expired in 2014. The credit would provide eligible low- to moderate-income working individuals a tax refund equal to 5% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit they receive, with the credit becoming refundable starting in 2026.

Senate2026-04-30

S900Introduced

Small Business Investment Grant

This bill appropriates $250 million to create a COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Program that provides one-time grants to qualifying small businesses that experienced at least a 25% drop in sales tax collections in 2020 compared to 2019. Grants are capped at $250,000 per business or the amount of actual sales tax loss, whichever is less, and recipients must maintain operations for at least six months or repay a proportional amount.

Senate2026-04-30

S917Introduced

MELT Act: Support Immigrant Legal Defense

This bill repeals a previous law expanding local jail cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, requires federal immigration officers to obtain judicial warrants (approved by judges based on probable cause) rather than administrative warrants to arrest or detain people in North Carolina, and appropriates $4 million to nonprofit organizations providing legal services to immigrants in removal proceedings and asylum cases.

Senate2026-04-30

S897Introduced

NC CROWN Act

The NC CROWN Act expands North Carolina's employment discrimination law to explicitly prohibit employers from discriminating against workers based on natural hairstyles and hair characteristics associated with race, including braids, locks, twists, and bantu knots. The bill also adds protections against retaliation for employees who report violations and provides $100,000 in funding for employer and employee education.

Senate2026-04-30

S906Introduced

MOMnibus 3.5

MOMnibus 3.5 is a comprehensive maternal health bill that allocates $20.5 million to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, particularly among Black women in North Carolina. It establishes grant programs for community organizations, requires implicit bias training for perinatal healthcare providers, funds lactation support training at historically Black colleges and universities, and creates a mobile health initiative to improve access to maternal care in underserved areas.

Senate2026-04-30

S909Introduced

The BUMP Act

The BUMP Act directs the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to provide free, evidence-based educational materials on stillbirth prevention to all pregnant patients and training to prenatal care providers. It also appropriates $600,000 annually to fund these educational programs and launch a statewide 'Count the Kicks' campaign focusing on fetal movement monitoring, with priority given to areas with higher stillbirth rates.

Senate2026-04-30

S871Introduced

Community Emergency Response Training

This bill appropriates $3 million in recurring state funds to the Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management to expand the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program and training. The funds will support training sessions conducted through local community organizations and develop outreach strategies to increase community participation in emergency response training.

Senate2026-04-29

S870Introduced

Funds for Veterans/HBOT

This bill appropriates $3 million in state funding for fiscal year 2026-2027 to provide free hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment to North Carolina veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The funding will be directed to a nonprofit called HBOT 4 HEROES to deliver an estimated 15,000 treatments to approximately 350 veterans, with program oversight and outcome reporting required.

Senate2026-04-29

S853Introduced

Create Dept. of Housing and Comm. Development

This bill creates a new cabinet-level Department of Housing and Community Development in North Carolina state government. The department would be organized into four divisions (Operations, Community Development, Housing, and Policy/Legislative) with a mission focused on housing production, community revitalization, broadband expansion, and assistance to low- to moderate-income residents. The bill appropriates $30 million in recurring annual funding starting in fiscal year 2026-2027.

Senate2026-04-29

S856Introduced

Const Amend: Legislative Terms/Compensation

This bill proposes five constitutional amendments to be voted on by North Carolina voters in November 2026. The amendments would: (1) tie legislators' salaries to teachers' average starting salary, (2) limit consecutive service to 16 years per chamber, (3) change State Senate elections from every 2 years to every 4 years, (4) cap legislative sessions at 120 days in odd years and 90 days in even years, and (5) withhold legislator pay if the state budget isn't passed by June 30.

Senate2026-04-29

S882Introduced

Reenact EITC

This bill reenacts North Carolina's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which expired in 2014. The credit would provide eligible working individuals a refundable state tax credit equal to a percentage of the federal EITC they claimed, with the credit taking effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Senate2026-04-29

S850Introduced

Pay Teachers What They're Worth Act

This bill increases teacher salaries across North Carolina using a new monthly salary schedule for the 2026-2027 school year, reinstates education-based salary supplements for teachers with advanced degrees, establishes a $5,000 student teaching grant program to help future teachers during their training, and requires a study on long-term educator compensation strategies. The bill appropriates $1.693 billion in state funding for these initiatives.

Senate2026-04-29

S868Introduced

Medicaid Innovations Waiver Slot Expansion

This bill increases the number of available slots in North Carolina's Innovations waiver program by 1,000 slots, starting July 1, 2026. The bill appropriates $36.2 million in recurring funds to pay for these additional waiver slots.

Senate2026-04-29

S875Introduced

No Firearm Possession After DV Misdemeanors

This bill prohibits people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offenses from purchasing or possessing firearms. It expands the definition of domestic violence relationships to include intimate partners, and appropriates $1 million for a domestic violence education program.

Senate2026-04-29

S890Introduced

Keep Immigrant Talent in NC

This bill creates a High-Skilled Talent Retention Fund within the North Carolina Department of Commerce that would provide grants to immigrant workers to help pay for costs associated with maintaining their employment-based visa status, such as visa renewal fees and legal processing costs. The bill allocates $1 million in recurring state funds to administer the program and cover eligible applicants' immigration-related expenses.

Senate2026-04-29

S887Introduced

Compensation for Wrongfully Detained Persons

This bill creates a legal process for people who were unlawfully detained by North Carolina state or local governments to seek compensation. People who have a court finding of unlawful detention can petition the Industrial Commission for monetary damages up to $750,000, plus potential educational assistance and job training.

Senate2026-04-29

S840Introduced

Teacher Licensure Modifications

This bill removes testing requirements for entry into teacher preparation programs, allows teachers to pass licensing exams within their first three years of teaching instead of before, permits teachers with positive student growth data to skip exams for permanent licensure, and streamlines out-of-state teacher licensing by requiring only three years of experience and good standing rather than additional testing.

Senate2026-04-29

S891Introduced

Small Business Investment Grant

This bill appropriates $250 million from the state budget to create a COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Program administered by the Department of Commerce. Eligible small businesses (those with $8 million or less in annual receipts and at least 25% sales decline in 2020) can receive one-time grants up to $250,000 to help recover from pandemic-related losses.

Senate2026-04-29

S867Introduced

Increased Admin Fund for Medicaid

This bill appropriates $6.5 million in state funds to the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to help county departments of social services cover increased administrative costs in the Medicaid program. The funds are designated as nonrecurring (one-time) money and are exempted from certain standard funding requirement procedures.

Senate2026-04-29

S888Introduced

Immigration Data Privacy

This bill prohibits North Carolina state departments and agencies from sharing immigration-related data with federal, state, or local law enforcement for civil immigration enforcement purposes unless the individual consents or a court issues a judicial order, subpoena, or warrant. The bill requires state agencies to notify individuals when their immigration data is requested and to report all such requests annually to the Attorney General.

Senate2026-04-29

S849Introduced

Real Tickets, Real Fans Act

This bill prohibits the use of bots to purchase tickets, bans the sale of speculative tickets (those not yet owned by the seller), and requires ticket sellers to clearly disclose total prices and seat locations. It also prevents deceptive marketing practices like using entertainer names or logos without permission, and establishes enforcement through the Attorney General with civil penalties up to $15,000 per day of violation.

Senate2026-04-28

S845Introduced

Luggage for Children Placed in Foster Care

This bill requires North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services to provide new luggage (suitcases, duffel bags, or backpacks) to children entering or currently in foster care when they are removed from a household. The bill appropriates $142,000 in recurring annual funds and $335,880 in one-time funds starting in fiscal year 2026-2027, and requires annual reporting on luggage distribution and any instances where disposable bags were used instead.

Senate2026-04-28

S838Introduced

The Frontline Mental Health Support Act

This bill establishes the Frontline Mental Health Support Program to provide free, confidential mental health counseling services to teachers and first responders (including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, and correctional officers) in North Carolina. The bill appropriates $10 million to run the program and $3 million in grants to expand the behavioral health workforce to support it.

Senate2026-04-28

S836Introduced

Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act

This bill makes three main changes to North Carolina family law: it shortens the separation period required for divorce from one year to six months (with exceptions), allows domestic violence victims to divorce immediately without a separation period if they provide evidence, and eliminates the civil lawsuits for 'alienation of affection' and 'criminal conversation.' The bill also appropriates $3 million to expand family planning education programs.

Senate2026-04-28

S792Introduced

Kayla's Act: Protecting Dom. Violence Victims

Kayla's Act modifies North Carolina's domestic violence laws in three main ways: it allows courts to use prior statements from witnesses who become unavailable due to the defendant's wrongdoing, extends the statute of limitations for certain domestic violence misdemeanors to 10 years, and permits domestic violence victims to testify remotely (outside the defendant's physical presence) in criminal proceedings. The bill also appropriates $2 million to the courts for implementation and public awareness.

Senate2026-04-23

S784Introduced

Ensure Same-Sex Domestic Violence Prot. Order

This bill expands North Carolina's domestic violence protective order law to include same-sex couples by removing language that limits protections to opposite-sex relationships. It also appropriates $500,000 for a public awareness campaign about domestic violence in same-sex relationships.

Senate2026-04-23

S820Introduced

Safe Schools and Educational Access Act

This bill protects students' access to public K-12 schools, community colleges, and UNC universities regardless of immigration status or national origin. It prohibits schools from requiring immigration documentation for enrollment, restricts immigration enforcement actions on school grounds without judicial warrants, and allocates $181 million in state funding for English language instruction and support services for students with limited English proficiency.

Senate2026-04-23

S791Introduced

Enhanced Penalty/Dom. Violence Strangulation

This bill increases penalties for assault by strangulation in North Carolina by moving certain offenses to more severe felony classifications. Assault with serious bodily injury by strangulation would change from a Class F to Class E felony, assault inflicting physical injury by strangulation would change from Class H to Class G felony, and the bill allocates $3 million for a public awareness campaign about these enhanced penalties, effective December 1, 2026.

Senate2026-04-23

S793Introduced

Right to IVF

This bill protects access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) like in vitro fertilization (IVF) by prohibiting the state and its subdivisions from blocking or unreasonably limiting patients' right to use ART or health care providers' right to offer it. The bill also specifies that fertilized eggs or embryos outside the uterus are not considered human beings under state law, and appropriates $500,000 in state funds to expand Medicaid maternal support services.

Senate2026-04-23

S780Introduced

Modernize Medicaid Primary Care Rates

This bill appropriates $48 million in state funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services in North Carolina to match Medicare rates, effective July 1, 2026. The increased payments would apply to primary care services as defined by the state's Primary Care Payment Reform Task Force.

Senate2026-04-23

S825Introduced

School-Based Complaint/SROs

This bill defines what a school resource officer (SRO) is in North Carolina and requires all SROs to complete specific training in mental health, disabilities, racial equity, and de-escalation. It also requires that complaints about student misconduct filed by SROs must be approved by a school administrator or social worker before going to juvenile court. The bill provides $1 million in grants to help schools cover costs related to these new requirements.

Senate2026-04-23

S786Introduced

Protect NC Prosperity & Health

This bill establishes two statewide awareness initiatives: one through the Department of Justice to educate North Carolinians about consumer finance fraud risks, and another through the Department of Health and Human Services to provide information about reproductive, LGBTQIA+, gender, and racial health issues. Both initiatives include creating websites, toolkits for local communities, and outreach programs, with a combined appropriation of $7 million in recurring funds starting in fiscal year 2026-2027.

Senate2026-04-23

S782Introduced

Safe Schools Transparency Act

This bill requires North Carolina public schools to immediately notify parents when credible threats target their children, school staff, or campus security. It establishes penalties for schools that fail to notify parents, reinstitutes a Task Force for Safer Schools, and creates a $25 million School Safety Fund to help schools purchase safety equipment and provide crisis services to students.

Senate2026-04-23

S802Introduced

Agency Vacant Property

This bill requires the Department of Administration to create a system for identifying, cataloging, and disposing of vacant and surplus state-owned properties. The bill establishes criteria for determining which properties are surplus, mandates that surplus properties be sold within six months or auctioned/transferred to local governments, and directs that sale proceeds be split between the state General Fund and property repair projects.

Senate2026-04-23

S805Introduced

Increase Oral Health Care Access in NC

This bill appropriates $80 million in recurring state funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental services, which have not been meaningfully increased since 2008. The goal is to encourage more dentists to accept Medicaid patients and improve access to oral health care for low-income North Carolinians.

Senate2026-04-23

S783Introduced

School Mental Health Support Act

This bill creates two programs to increase mental health support in North Carolina schools: a $50 million grant program for public school units to hire mental health professionals, and a $19 million loan repayment program that provides up to $15,000 annually to school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses working in high-need areas who graduated from UNC schools.

Senate2026-04-23

S789Introduced

Homes for Heroes

This bill creates two programs to support public servants in North Carolina. First, it establishes a homebuyers' assistance program through the Housing Finance Agency that provides up to $25,000 in down payment and mortgage insurance assistance to first-time homebuyers who work full-time as teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, active duty military members, or veterans. Second, it allows volunteer firefighters and rescue squad workers to claim an income tax credit of up to $5,000 for unreimbursed expenses related to their volunteer work.

Senate2026-04-23

S788Introduced

Guarding Freedoms & Public Safety Act

This bill adds several firearm regulations in North Carolina: it prohibits people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from possessing firearms, requires universal background checks for all firearm sales (including between private citizens), reinstates the pistol purchase permit law, requires parents to certify safe firearm storage at home, and provides $3 million in funding for firearm safety programs and public awareness.

Senate2026-04-23

S785Introduced

Opt-In to Student Health

This bill clarifies which health screenings schools can conduct without parental consent and which require consent. Schools can perform vision, hearing, dental, and developmental screenings without advance consent but must notify parents at the beginning of the school year and share results. The bill also requires schools to obtain parental consent for other health care services and to notify parents before using student well-being questionnaires in grades K-3.

Senate2026-04-23

S827Introduced

Hate Crimes Prevention Act

This bill expands North Carolina's hate crime laws by increasing penalties for crimes motivated by a victim's race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality, country of origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation. It also requires the State Bureau of Investigation to track hate crime statistics, mandates law enforcement training on identifying and reporting hate crimes, and requires prosecutor training on prosecuting hate crimes.

Senate2026-04-23

S822Introduced

Every School Has Resources Act

This bill creates a three-year grant program to help North Carolina school districts hire a Development Director who seeks external funding sources like grants and donations. The state would cover 100% of the position's cost in year one, 50% in year two, and 25% in year three, with districts covering the remaining costs through matching funds. The program targets rural, small, and lower-wealth school districts that currently lack dedicated grant-writing staff.

Senate2026-04-23

S787Introduced

AI Ethics and Literacy Across Education

This bill requires North Carolina public schools to teach students in kindergarten through 12th grade about artificial intelligence, including how AI works, its real-world uses, and ethical issues like privacy and bias. The State Board of Education must develop age-appropriate standards for these lessons, which can be integrated into computer science courses, and the state will provide $100,000 in funding to support these programs starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Senate2026-04-23

S781Introduced

Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit

This bill creates a state tax credit for North Carolina businesses that pay wages to help employees cover health insurance premiums. Eligible businesses can claim up to $400 per qualifying full-time employee, with a statewide cap of $5 million in total credits per year distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Senate2026-04-22

S790Introduced

Small Business Capital Improvement Account

This bill allows small businesses in North Carolina (those with annual gross receipts under $10 million) to deduct a portion of revenue from state income taxes if they deposit that money into a designated capital improvement account for property upgrades. The deduction is tiered: 5% of income up to $1 million, 2% between $1-2 million, and 1% between $2-3 million, with unused funds being added back to taxable income.

Senate2026-04-22

S794Introduced

NC Victims of Crime Assistance Act

This bill creates the North Carolina Victims of Crime Assistance Fund and a competitive grant program administered by the Governor's Crime Commission to provide funding to public and nonprofit organizations that help crime victims. The bill funds this program by increasing criminal court costs by $3.50 per case and marriage license fees by $5.00, with these increases taking effect December 1, 2026.

Senate2026-04-22

S797Introduced

Hands Free NC

Hands Free NC replaces existing distracted driving laws with a comprehensive ban on using wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers cannot hold devices in their hands, watch videos, or text, with exceptions for emergency calls and certain professionals performing official duties. Violations result in fines ($100-$200) and potential insurance points, with stricter penalties for school bus operators and repeat offenders.

Senate2026-04-22

S804Introduced

Fair Maps Act

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor from the redistricting process and establish an independent North Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission to redraw state legislative and congressional districts after each 10-year census. The commission would be composed of 15 citizens selected through a process designed to ensure partisan and demographic balance, and would follow specific criteria prioritizing equal population representation, constitutional compliance, and community preservation.

Senate2026-04-22

S378Engrossed

Align Medicaid Eligibility with Federal Law

This bill directs North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services to terminate Medicaid contracts with Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its associated entities, and to arrange for other Medicaid providers to deliver services that Planned Parenthood currently provides.

Senate2025-10-23

S77Passed

School Contracted Health Services

This bill allows parents to choose which nurse provides nursing services to their child if those services are required by the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP), under specific conditions. The school district must use the parent's chosen nurse if the child previously received services from that nurse, the nurse is willing and qualified, the nursing agency meets standard contract requirements, and the cost is competitive with other contracted nurses.

Senate2025-07-01

S124Passed

State Hiring Accessibility and Modernization

This bill modernizes North Carolina's state hiring system by reducing educational barriers to state jobs, streamlining job applications, simplifying job postings, and giving state agencies more flexibility in recruiting, hiring, and compensating employees. It also allows agencies to hire temporary employees permanently and rehire qualified candidates from previous postings without reposting positions.

Senate2025-07-01

S402Engrossed

Allow Lottery Winners To Be Confidential

This bill allows North Carolina lottery winners who win $5 million or more to request that their identity be kept confidential for 90 days after claiming their prize. The winner's name and identifying information would be protected from public disclosure during this period, though certain government agencies (like the IRS and state tax authorities) and debt collection programs would still have access as required by law.

Senate2025-06-24

S89Introduced

AEDs and CPR in Schools

This bill requires all North Carolina public schools, charter schools, and participating nonpublic schools to install at least two automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in each school building and provide training to school staff on how to use them. The State Board of Education will establish rules for installation, maintenance, and training, and the bill appropriates $12 million to help schools purchase AEDs and train personnel.

Senate2025-05-01

S369Engrossed

Medicaid Telehealth Services

This bill allows telehealth providers who are licensed in North Carolina to become Medicaid providers without needing to have a physical office or location within the state. It applies to both individual providers and provider groups that exclusively offer telehealth services.

Senate2025-04-28

S372Passed

Confirm McKinley Wooten, Sec. of Rev

This Senate resolution confirms McKinley Wooten, Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Revenue for North Carolina. The Secretary oversees the state agency responsible for tax collection, revenue administration, and related fiscal operations. This confirmation allows Wooten to officially assume the leadership role.

Senate2025-04-17

S760Passed

Confirm Lee Lilley, Sec. of Commerce

This Senate resolution confirms Lee Lilley as Secretary of the Department of Commerce, the state agency responsible for economic development, business regulation, and workforce programs in North Carolina. The confirmation requires Senate approval of the Governor's Cabinet appointment.

Senate2025-04-17

S507Engrossed

Auto Enrollment in Advanced ELA Courses

This bill expands North Carolina's automatic enrollment policy for advanced courses to include English Language Arts (ELA) in addition to mathematics. Students who score at the highest level on end-of-grade or end-of-course tests will be automatically enrolled in advanced ELA courses for the next school year, unless parents provide written consent to opt out. The bill also requires the Department of Public Instruction to report data on student demographics and socioeconomic status in advanced course placements.

Senate2025-04-14

S508Introduced

LL to CPL/Apprenticeship Program

This bill creates a Teacher Apprenticeship Program that allows people with bachelor's degrees to work as paid apprentices in classrooms while earning teaching credentials, removes the exam requirement for converting limited teaching licenses to continuing professional licenses for teachers with positive student growth data, and directs university and community college systems to develop an expedited pathway for high school students to enter teaching.

Senate2025-04-09

S145Introduced

Mecklenburg Transportation Referendum

This bill authorizes Mecklenburg County to hold a referendum asking voters whether to approve an additional 1% local sales tax dedicated to funding roadway and public transportation systems. If approved by voters, 40% of revenue would go to eligible municipalities for road maintenance and improvements, while 60% would support a regional transit authority, with specific requirements for completing the Red Line rail project.

Senate2025-04-07

S584Introduced

Local Govt Transportation System Financing

This bill creates a new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority that can be established in North Carolina counties with over 1 million residents that border another state and operate a light rail system. It also authorizes local sales tax revenue for public transportation and establishes governance structures, powers, and financial mechanisms for this new authority to finance, operate, and maintain public transportation systems.

Senate2025-04-07

S260Passed

Confirm Dr. Devdutta Sangvai/DHHS

This Senate Resolution confirms Dr. Devdutta Sangvai as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the state agency overseeing health, mental health, social services, and child welfare programs. The confirmation requires Senate approval and, once adopted, makes Dr. Sangvai the head of this cabinet-level department.

Senate2025-04-03

S97Introduced

Support Firefighters Fighting Cancer

This bill adds stomach cancer to the list of cancers presumed to be occupationally related to firefighting under North Carolina's Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act. When a firefighter dies from stomach cancer, their death will be legally presumed to have occurred in the line of duty, making their family eligible for death benefits. The bill allocates $500,000 annually for the 2025-2027 fiscal period to cover these benefits.

Senate2025-04-01

S361Introduced

Protecting First Responders Act

This bill increases criminal penalties for assaulting emergency responders, creates new felony charges for intentionally exposing first responders to fentanyl or harmful chemicals, and appropriates $10.35 million in grants for bulletproof vests and backpack plates for paramedics and EMTs.

Senate2025-04-01

S580Introduced

Competency-Based Education Grant Program

This bill establishes a grant program to help North Carolina schools transition to competency-based education (CBE), where students progress based on demonstrated mastery rather than seat time. The program will award $330,000 grants to 10 participating schools over a four-year period (2025-2029), provide professional development and resources, and create a statewide network to develop proficiency scales and share best practices.

Senate2025-04-01

S585Introduced

Local Govts/Mental Health/ CC Tuition Waiver

This bill allows mental health clinicians and peer support specialists who work in municipal and county emergency medical services, rescue, or lifesaving departments to receive a waiver of tuition and registration fees when attending community college courses. The waiver applies to specialized courses approved by the State Board of Community Colleges that support these departments' training needs.

Joyce Waddell

Joyce Waddell

Sponsored Bills (18)

Extreme Heat/Ban Utility Disconnections

Janell Green Smith Maternal Health Acc. Act

Restore Benefits to Educators/State Employees

Restore State Emp/Teacher Retiree Med Benefit

Elderly Prop. Tax Appreciation Exclusion

25-Year LEO Retirement With Full Benefits

Living Wage Guarantee Act

Funds for Charlotte Nature Museum

Revise Various Laws/Work 1st Cash Assistance

SchCalFlex/Char-Meck/CC

Elderly Prop. Tax Appreciation Exclusion

Funds for McCrorey YMCA/Flying Classroom

Funds For Johnson C. Smith Tech Project

Restore State Emp/Teacher Retiree Med Benefit

Funds for Mecklenburg Council of Elders

Funds for the Males Place

Funds for My Brother's Keeper

40th Senatorial District Local Act-1

Cosponsored Bills (347)

Continuing Budget Adjustments

Charitable Orgs. Privacy Protection Act

Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners Amendments

CARDINAL Act

Medicaid Rebase

No Child Left Unfed

Carolina Housing Promise Act

Child Care Licensing Penalty Reform

AI in Ed Task Force and Standards

Amend Child Care Definitions/FFN Providers

Fund Drug Treatment/Mental Health Courts

Tax Relief on Essentials for Working Families

NC Children's Safe Screens Act/Funds

NC Airport Security Continuity

Military Family Food Security & Readiness Act

Don't Zone Out Child Care

Constitutional Amendments - Cannabis

Critical Funds for Mecklenburg County

NC Small Business Capital & Jobs Act

State Digital Asset Payments Study Act

Supporting Small Farmers for NC's Future Act

Adopt Official Hip-Hop Song

Community Scale Weatherization + Health

Protect Moms Who Serve

Milit. Sexual Trauma/Study Comm./Pilot Prog

Affordable Housing Efficiency Grant Program

Protecting Workers in the Age of AI Act

Lower Healthcare Costs

Child Care Omnibus

Family Support for Those Who Serve Act

Learning & Enrichment in Afterschool Programs

Fair Share for Public Schools Act

Safe Parks Act

School Meals for Every Child

Study Student Loan Forgiveness Program/SEAA

Expanded Acc. to Doulas and Midwives/BC Lic

Nursing Fellows & Curric. Support Funds/WSSU

Fully Fund School Psychologists & Counselors

Expanding Insurance Coverage/Fertility Care

Nonprofit Hospitals Tax Exemption

Save SNAP Act

Kids Over Corporations Act

2026 Governor's Budget

Citizens' Tax Relief Circuit Breaker Mods

Keep Families Fed Act

Increase Number of Magistrates/Mecklenburg

School Mental Health Support Act

Fund International Black Theatre Festival

Safe Camps Act

Reenact EITC

Menopause Omnibus

Public Employees Deserve A Voice Act

The Ciji Graham Act

Reenact the Earned Income Tax Credit

Small Business Investment Grant

MELT Act: Support Immigrant Legal Defense

NC CROWN Act

MOMnibus 3.5