Part I.

Amends GS 7B-2901(a) regarding confidentiality of juvenile abuse, neglect, and dependency cases to expand the confidentiality requirements to all cases brought under Subchapter I of GS Chapter 7B, including proceedings involving placement on or expungement from the responsible individuals list (RIL). Revises the listed persons and entities who may examine and obtain copies of juvenile records under subsection (a) without a court order to explicitly include juveniles who have reached 18 or been emancipated and their attorney, the Division of Social Services of the Department of Health and Human Services (Division, DHHS), and any party named in the action and their attorney (replacing the previous inclusion of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian).

Amends GS 50-13.2, enacting new subsection (g) to require a court to order a custody matter sealed where the physical or mental health, substance use, or abuse or maltreatment against the minor child is raised. Allows release without a court order to parties to the custody proceeding and their attorneys, a court of competent jurisdiction hearing or reviewing the custody matter, and a department of social services (dss) providing protective services pursuant to GS 7B-300 when the child is alleged to be abused, neglected, or dependent. Requires a showing of good cause for a court to order release of sealed records to any other person or agency not listed. Applies to actions filed on or after October 1, 2026.

Part II.

Amends GS 7B-200 establishing exclusive, original jurisdiction over proceedings involving placement on or expungement from the RIL (was limited to review of placement on the RIL).

Amends GS 7B-325(b) concerning petitions for expungement from the RIL. Specifies a copy of the petition is required to be delivered to the dss director who determined the abuse or serious neglect and identified the petitioner as a responsible individual.

Part III.

Amends GS 7B-900.1 concerning findings a court must make when transferring venue after the adjudication of a juvenile as abused, neglected, or dependent. Where current law allows for a finding that the Division Director or their designee has made a determination as to each county's responsibility for the provisions of financial support and services in the event the dss directors involved have not reached such an agreement, alternatively allows for a finding that the Division Director has appointed a county department to assume management of the case pursuant to the Chapter's provisions governing conflicts of interest, GS 7B-302.1.

Amends GS 7B-901(d) to explicitly establish that once a court determines reunification efforts are not required, reunification is excluded as a permanent plan. Instead, requires a court to order a permanent plan as soon as possible after each party is provided a reasonable opportunity to prepare and present evidence at a permanency planning hearing. Clarifies that the court is required to hold a permanency planning hearing to address the permanent plan within 30 days from completion of the initial dispositional hearing. 

Amends GS 7B-903.1(c), concerning the requirement for dss to make reasonable efforts to place juvenile siblings removed from the home in the same placement, to specify that the requirement applies to juvenile siblings removed and placed in dss custody (was nonsecure custody). 

Makes technical changes to GS 7B-906.1, GS 7B-906.2, and GS 7B-908 to clarify that a court can order one permanent plan, rather than concurrent plans, when reunification is not identified as a permanent plan. Makes a technical correction to GS 7B-906.1(e).

Amends GS 7B-909.2 governing post-adoption contact agreements to direct that the agreement and order approving the agreement are not to be filed in the underlying juvenile proceeding. Regarding disclosure of the civil record, specifies that the minor adoptee or their attorney may examine the record only after the adoptee turns 18 or is otherwise emancipated, or by court order.

Amends GS 7B-909.3, which bars appeal of an order terminating, modifying, or enforcing post-adoption contract agreements and orders. Adds a new provision granting a party the right to appeal an order finding the party in contempt of the post-adoption contract agreement order pursuant to GS Chapter 5A. Makes conforming changes to the statute's caption.

Applies to actions filed on or after October 1, 2026.

Part IV.

Amends GS 7B-1101.1 to modify the required appointment of a Rule 17 guardian ad litem (GAL) for a minor respondent parent in a termination of parental rights (TPR) proceeding. Now requires appointment of a Rule 17 GAL for any parent who is under 16 and allows for appointment for any parent who is 16 or 17 years old who is not married or otherwise emancipated on motion of any party or the court's own motion (currently, requires appointment for any parent under age 18 who is not married or emancipated).

Amends GS 7B-1103 to establish standing for any dss who receives a safety surrendered infant to file a TPR petition or motion. Clarifies standing under subdivision (a)(4) applies to juveniles relinquished (was, surrendered) for adoption. 

Corrects a statutory cross-reference in GS 7B-1112 concerning rights over the placement of a juvenile in the custody of dss or a child-placing agency and post-TPR review orders.

Part V.

Amends GS 7B-1905 with regard to authorized temporary residential placements for juveniles who are runaways or are alleged to be undisciplined or delinquent juveniles, meet the criteria for secure custody and the court finds nonsecure placement to be in the juvenile's best interest. Clarifies that the authorized options listed are available to the dss with placement responsibility, not another person to whom the court order's nonsecure custody. Adds facilities licensed to provide care to juveniles to the permissible placements and specifies that the existing placement option of any other home or facility approved by the court and designated in the order includes the home of a parent, relative, nonrelative kin, or other person with legal custody of a sibling of the juvenile. Prohibits dss from placing the juvenile in an unlicensed facility or any facility not licensed to provide care for the juvenile without prior court approval and designation in the court order.

Amends GS 7B-2001 to specify that a court may appoint a guardian of the person for a juvenile at any time during the delinquency case. Prohibits appointment of dss as a guardian of the person for a juvenile. Adds a new requirement for the court to consider whether a limited guardianship would meet the needs and best interests of the juvenile and if so, specify the powers and duties of the limited guardian over the juvenile while the parent, guardian, or custodian retains certain legal rights and privileges such as physical custody, educational and medical decision-making, and religious upbringing. Excepts instances where the court orders limited guardianship (was generally instances where the court orders otherwise) from the listed powers and duties of a guardian under the statute. Makes organizational changes.

Part VI.

Authorizes municipal and county governments to contract with third-party vendors to supply required background checks for individuals applying for employment involving work with children pursuant to state law. Terminates such contracts on the later of December 1, 2026, or the date by which the State Bureau of Investigation's request for proposal is awarded. Directs the SBI to prescribe minimum requirements for contracted background checks.

Part VII.

Amends GS 7B-302 regarding dss assessment of reports alleging abuse, neglect, or dependency. Establishes a new requirement for immediate referral of a case to the dss director when the department has received and screened out three reports within six months or five reports within one year regard the same juvenile or the juvenile's household. Prohibits the dss director from delegating review of the screened out reports and requires the director to determine whether the reports require an assessment, and if that determination is made, direct that an assessment be initiated.

Part VIII.

Appropriates $250,000 in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), Office of Indigent Services (IDS) for 2026-27 to contract with an approved vendor to implement a secure web and mobile based communications platform for abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings and related TPR proceedings. States the purpose of the platform is to ensure compliance with federal and State requirements related to described advance notice of court hearings and interagency team meetings, and communication between attorneys, their clients, and parties to the proceedings. Effective July 1, 2026.

Directs AOC, Indigent Services of NC, the GAL Program, the Division, and other necessary state or local entities to enter into a data sharing agreement to enable the selected vendor to receive data necessary for timely notification and communication.

Part IX.

Amends GS 108A-77.1, which defines terms applicable to Article 3A governing Child Advocacy Centers (CAC). Amends Department (defined by statutory cross-reference to GS 7B-101(8a), meaning a county dss) to include the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Public Health and Human Services Department of Human Services. Adds to the required composition of a CAC's multidisciplinary team the tribal prosecutor for the EBCI in the alternative to the county district attorney or assistant district attorney.

Amends GS 108A-77.4 to allow disclosure of CAC information and records to a tribal prosecutor of the EBCI.