In this edition of The Legislative Review, the NC House considers legislation covering a wide array of topics including: disaster recovery, property rights, and regulatory reform in the sessions conducted June 16-27.
When the House gaveled into session, we voted on the following legislation:
– SB449: Fisc Resp & K-20 Tech Plan/Centr Offic Salary, would require all public school units, community colleges, and constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina to evaluate long-term costs when buying new technology. Public school units would also be required to report on the break/fix rate of school technology devices. Additionally, SB 449 would add the provisions of HB 56 which would require local boards of education to publish total compensation and position for central office employees on their websites. I voted in favor of the bill, and SB449 passed the House by a vote of 76-36.
– SB118: Military and Veteran Support Act, would do the following:
- Reduce concealed handgun fees for certain veterans.
- Provide additional time for military families to provide proof of residency for public school enrollment.
- Prohibit discriminatory admissions policies regarding active duty service members and veterans, require military admissions deferment for certain persons admitted to constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina, and provide in-state tuition to certain honorably discharged veterans.
- Regulate compensation for services related to veterans’ benefits matters.
- Authorize remote drivers license renewals for active duty military and their families.
- Authorize sheriffs to send a concealed handgun permit expiration notice via email.
SB118 passed the House by unanimous consent.
– HB612: Fostering Care in NC Act, would do the following:
- Make changes to child welfare and adoption laws.
- Expand guardianship assistance program eligibility to youth 10 years of age.
- Revise laws regarding permanent no-contact orders and felony child abuse.
- Require criminal history record checks for applicants offered employment with a city or county in any position working with children.
HB612 passed the House by unanimous consent.
– HB948: The P.A.V.E. Act, which would enact the projects for Advancing Vehicle-Infrastructure Enhancements (PAVE) Act. I voted in favor and it passed by a vote of 104-5.
– SB321: Accounting Workforce Development Act, would modify the education and work experience required to be licensed as a certified public accountant. SB321 successfully passed the House, 109-0.
– HB369: Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act, would do the following:
- Prohibit local governments from requiring a minimum number of off-street parking spaces and amend the current restriction on the regulation of parking space dimensions to apply to off-street parking spaces.
- Authorize local governments that hold NPDES MS4 permits to implement additional stormwater control measures for certain preexisting development and redevelopment.
HB369 passed the House, 107-0.
– HB517: Modify Nonprofit Corp. Act/Charitable Org., would make various changes to laws governing nonprofit corporations. I voted in the affirmative and HB517 passed the House by a vote of 107-1.
– HB96: Expedited Removal of Unauthorized Persons, would create an expedited removal process for the removal of an unauthorized person from residential property. I voted in favor and HB96 passed the House, 76-32.
– HB1012: The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part II, invests an additional $700 million to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts across Western North Carolina.
This latest round of funding builds upon more than $1.4 billion already allocated, bringing the total to over $2.1 billion.
Key funding provisions include:
- $270M allocated from DOT budget specifically toward Helene WNC repairs
- $70M to continue pulling down critical federal disaster recovery funding
- $75M towards construction and reimbursement of privately owned roads and bridges
- $65M towards repair and rebuild of damaged schools
- $50M in additional no-interest loans for impacted units of local government
- $70M in funding for local government capital repairs
- $25M to upgrade and enhance regional airports to support disaster responses
- $18M to invest in fire stations across WNC to prepare for a high-risk fire season
- $18M to support frontline volunteer organizations
- $12.25M to repair damaged state park facilities
- $10M to support impacted public and private colleges and universities in the region
- $8M to support apple growers in Western North Carolina
- HB1012 passed the House by unanimous consent.
Upon session adjournment, the House largely concluded its business for the week and is now in summer recess.