House committee substitute to the 1st edition replaces the content of the previous edition with the following. 

Changes the act’s titles.

Amends GS 7B-903 (regarding disposition alternatives for abused, neglected, or dependent juveniles) as follows. Clarifies that a court must determine, instead of considering, whether a relative of the juvenile is willing and able to provide proper care and supervision of the juvenile in a safe home. Requires that a court must make a best interest determination (was, finding) regarding such placement. Allows a court to compare all placement options to determine which option is the juvenile’s best interest if a juvenile has been placed in out-of-home care with a non-relative.  Adds an appropriate former foster parent and other persons with legal custody of a juvenile’s siblings to those nonrelatives a court may order placement of the juvenile with (was, only nonrelative kin). Makes technical changes by moving language mandating that the court consider if it is in the juvenile’s best interest to remain in their community of residence and that the placement with a relative outside of the state be in accordance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children when placing a juvenile in out-of-home care to its own subsection and adds the requirement that the court make written findings of fact to support the determination. Also requires that all findings and determinations made by the court under this statute be supported by written findings of fact. Applies to petitions filed on or after October 1, 2025.

Requires that all funds received by the NC State Bar, administered by the Board of Trustees for the North Carolina Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts, from banks because of interest earned on general trust accounts established by lawyers under the specified rule, or interest earned on trust or escrow accounts maintained by settlement agents, must not be encumbered or expended for awarding grants or for any purpose other than administrative costs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.