Enacts Article 52, the “Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act,” to GS Chapter 66 authorizing any person or entity, whether public or private, including an internet or application-based company, to voluntarily contribute funds to a portable benefit account for an independent contractor. Defines portable benefit plan as one that is administered by a third-party benefit plan provider chosen by the independent contractor and assigned to a beneficiary rather than to a hiring party and includes, but is not limited to (1) health, unemployment, income replacement, disability, or life insurance and (2) retirement benefits. Defines four other terms. Clarifies that contributions by a hiring party to any portable benefit account cannot be treated as evidence that a worker is an employee of the hiring party under State unemployment insurance, worker's compensation, taxation, or labor laws. Specifies two means of making contributions to a portable benefits fund, including the hiring party’s funds or a percentage of funds withheld from compensation owed to an independent contractor under the conditions described. Authorizes the hiring party to deduct 100% of the amount contributed to a portable benefit plan during the appliable tax year. Authorizes an independent contractor to deduct 100% of the amount contributed by the hiring party during the applicable tax year.

Effective July 1, 2026, appropriates $10,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Labor for 2026-27 to educate the general public about the act.

Effective July 1, 2026.