Bill Summary for S 153 (2025-2026)
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- Development, Land Use and Housing
- Property and Housing
- Education
- Higher Education
- Employment and Retirement
- Government
- State Agencies
- UNC System
- Department of Adult Correction
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Public Safety
- Office of State Auditor
- State Highway Patrol
- Local Government
- Health and Human Services
- Social Services
- Public Assistance
- Immigration
Bill Information:
| View NCGA Bill Details | 2025-2026 Session |
AN ACT TO PROTECT THE BORDERS OF THE STATE BY (I) REQUIRING COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS, (II) ENSURING STATE FUNDS ARE BEING USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF PERSONS IN THE STATE LEGALLY, (III) CREATING ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAWS RELATED TO IMMIGRATION, AND (IV) PROHIBITING UNC CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS FROM BECOMING SANCTUARY UNIVERSITIES.Intro. by Berger, Daniel, B. Newton.
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Bill summary
House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.
Section 2.
Rewrites the Section so that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) must take all steps necessary to cease providing State-funded benefits to noncitizens residing in the US without legal permission, to the extent allowed under federal law, including by developing a plan to review and update eligibility criteria for State-funded benefits to ensure that noncitizens residing in the US without permission are ineligible for State-funded benefits, including a method for verifying the immigration status of applicants prior to the initiation of benefits (was, required the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) to examine the 19 listed “covered State public benefits programs” to determine whether, and the extent to which, such benefits are being provided to unauthorized aliens).
Defines state-funded benefits to include 15 listed programs administered by or through a contract with DHHS, but excludes any benefits or services available under the programs to help eligible beneficiaries access food or meals. Now requires DHHS to submit a report to the specified NCGA committees and divisions on the four specified matters by January 15, 2026 (was, annually report to the NCGA with publication of OSBM’s findings on its website).
Section 3.
Requires the Department of Commerce (DOC)’s Housing Finance Agency (Agency) and all local housing authorities to take all steps necessary to cease providing publicly funded housing benefits to noncitizens residing in the US without legal permission, to the extent allowed under federal law, including by developing a plan to review and update eligibility criteria for all of these benefits to ensure that noncitizens residing in the US without legal permission are ineligible for publicly funded housing benefits, includint a method for verifying the immigration status of applicants prior to the initiation of benefits. Defines publicly funded housing benefits to include the 13 listed programs or assistance administered by or through a contract with the Agency and any local housing authority established under GS Chapter 157. Directs the Agency and all local housing authorities established under GS Chapter 153 to submit a report on the two specified matters to the specified NCGA committees and divisions by January 15, 2026.
Section 4.
Requires DOC’s Division of Employment Security to adopt and implement a policy to verify, for unemployment benefits purposes, that all applicants are legally authorized to reside in the United States prior to the first payment of benefits by January 15, 2026. Requires policy to conform to federal law.
Makes conforming organizational changes to account for two new sections.