House amendment to the 4th edition makes the following changes.

Section 1.

Updates statutory cross references from (i) GS 126A-84(b)(1) and (2) to GS 126A-84(c)(1) and (2); (ii) GS 126A-50(4) to GS 126A-50(a)(4); (iii) GS 126A-95 to GS 126A-94 in GS 126A-15.2 (exemptions from GS Chapter 126A).

Section 4.24.

Makes a technical change by removing the depiction of the administrative duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in GS 115C-21(a)(1).

Section 5.6A (new).

Amends GS 153A-103 (number of employees in the offices of sheriff and register of deeds) to direct the board of commissioners to not designate employees of the sheriff’s office as subject to the State Human Resources Act under GS Chapter 126A. Makes a technical change.

Section 5.8 (new).

Specifies that if House Bill 171, 2025 Regular Session (Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI) becomes law, then: (1) GS 126-14.7, as enacted by the act, is recodified as GS 126A-104.5 and (2) adds the following employees to GS 126A-15.2 as exempt from GS 126A-104.5, UNC Employees and Community College System Office employees.  

Specifies that if Senate Bill 257, 2025 Regular Session (2025 Appropriations Act) becomes law, then directs the Revisor of Statutes to replace: (1) “Chapter 126” with “Chapter 126A” and “Articles 6 and 7” with “Articles 15 and 16” in GS 115C-229.45(7) as enacted by that bill; (2) “Part 10 of Article 16” with “Article 15A” in GS 126A-15, as enacted by the act; (3) “GS 126-5(c1)(43)” with “GS 126A-15(8)gg” in GS 62-14, as amended by that bill.

Specifies that if Senate Bill 257, 2025 Regular Session (2025 Appropriations Act) becomes law, then employees of the Utilities Commission under the direction of the Commission as specified, are added to the list of statutorily exempt employees under GS 126A-15.

Effective January 1, 2027, if Senate Bill 257, 2025 Regular Session (2025 Appropriations Act) becomes law, then employees of the Building Codes and Interpretations Bureau as specified, are added to the list of statutorily exempt employees under GS 126A-15.

Specifies that if Senate Bill 257, 2025 Regular Session (2025 Appropriations Act) becomes law, then expands the circumstances when Cabinet agencies may employ temporary employees outside of the JoinNC Program under GS 126A-111 to include when the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is employing temporary employees in any of the nine listed administrative divisions.

Specifies that if Senate Bill 257, 2025 Regular Session (2025 Appropriations Act) becomes law, then amends the GS 126A-41(b) as enacted the act so that each agency with an exempt policymaking or managerial position to set the salary for that position within the salary range established by the Commission plus 30% (was, 10%).