Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes. Makes organizational changes. Makes conforming changes, including to Part headings.

Part IA.

Now requires the State Controller to transfer all unencumbered (was, unexpended) funds remaining in Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Fund to the Savings Reserve in Section 2B.2 of SL 2025-2. Extends the deadlines and the limits for extension of deadlines by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) for the Agricultural Crop Loss Program under Section 2D.2 of SL 2025-2 from 45 days to 60 days.  Authorizes local government units that received loans under Section 1.5 of SL 2018-138 or Section 1.2 of SL 2019-250 for cashflow management assistance while awaiting federal reimbursement to apply to the Department of Public Safety (DPS)’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ORR) for loan forgiveness, as described, so long as three listed conditions are met, including that FEMA denied the local government’s request for reimbursement (either in whole or in part) and any appeals or active arbitrations pertaining to that process have concluded.  

Part II.

Now requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to develop and maintain, with the assistance of the NC Collaboratory (NCC), an online reporting portal for the described fire departments (was, OSFM assisted NCC with the reporting portal) under GS 58-82B-10. Makes conforming changes to GS 116-255 and Section 8.10 of SL 2021-180. Authorizes NCC to use any unspent remainder the nonrecurring funds allocated to it under Section 8.18 of SL 2021-21(study on cyanobacterial algal bloom treatment) for other research projects related to the study, analysis, and improvement of surface water quality in the State, including research projects related to nutrient-impaired coastal waters.  

Part IV.

Now reallocates $3 million of the funds allocated to the City of Oxford for the Kerr Lake Regional Water project by Section 12.2(e)(136) of SL 2023-134 to the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority for one or more water or wastewater projects (was, the same purpose).

Transfers $4 million of the funds allocated by Section 12.2(e)(139) of SL 2023-134 to the Town of Pembroke to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) to (1) the Stokesdale Fire District, Inc.; (2) Rockingham County; and (3) Alamance County Sheriff's Office in the specified amounts for the purposes described.

Instructs for funds provided to the City of Archdale, the City of Asheboro, the City of Randleman, Randolph County, and the City of Trinity (local governments) by Section 12.2(e) of SL 2023-134 to be transferred to OSBM to provide grants in the same amounts to the same local governments for water and wastewater projects.

Directs that funds allocated to the City of Claremont for the Lyle Creek Sewer Project by Section 12.2 of SL 2023-134 to instead be used for any regional wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Amends Section 11.11 of SL 2022-74, as amended, concerning a competitive grant program for the development of megasites for major manufacturing opportunities, including the aerospace, automotive, clean energy, food processing, semiconductor, and life science industries, as follows. Modifies the infrastructure purpose of the Megasite Readiness Program (Program) so that it can be used on infrastructure projects, not just those that are public, to meet the needs of prospective employers for megasites. Replaces reference to “electrical utility lines” with “electric infrastructure.”  Expands the type of nonprofits that are eligible to partner with local governments under the Program to include 501(c)(12) organizations (certain local benevolent ditch or irrigation companies, telephone companies, or other like organizations). Directs for funds be transferred quarterly in equal installments from the North Carolina Megasite Fund to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) Makes conforming changes.

Amends Section 11.12 of SL 2023-134, concerning the Selectsite Readiness Program, as follows. Now specifies that the appropriated $10 million for 2024-25 should also be used for assisting local governments or partnerships of local governments to: (1) acquire newly identified or existing selectsites; (2) analyze, plan, install, or upgrade the specified infrastructure as modified by the act (was, public infrastructure), including electric infrastructure (was, electrical utility lines) necessary to meet the needs of prospective employers for selectsites; and (3) fund the specified on-site preparations. Amends the purpose of the grant program to include identifying and evaluating up to 20 (was, 15) selectsites of less than 1,000 acres for preferred development and marketing; and includes supporting local governments or a partnership of local governments to analyze, plan, install, or upgrade infrastructure, no longer limiting this to public infrastructure. Allows EDPNC to use a similar selectsite process authorized by the General Assembly in authorizing funds for the above described purposes (was, just the process set forth in Section 11.11 of SL 2023-134). Directs for funds be transferred quarterly in equal installments from the North Carolina Selectsite Fund to EDPNC (was, funds “may” be disbursed, and no requirement it be quarterly). Makes conforming changes.

Part V.

Modifies the State Highway Patrol’s (SHP) authority to adopt rules under Section 5.1 of the act, concerning the transfer of the NC Center for Missing Persons to SHP, so that it is clear that its rulemaking authority only pertains to Section 5.1 (was, the act). Removes provisions (1) transferring personnel from DPS and the Department of Information Technology (DIT) to SHP and (2) transferring certain non-sworn personnel from the license and theft bureau of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to SHP. Raises the age that a parent may abandon their child pursuant to GS 14-322.2 from less than seven days old to less than 30 days old and not be prosecuted under GS 14-318.2 (misdemeanor child abuse).

Part VI.

Removes provisions assigning space in the Archdale Building to SHP.

Sets an expiration date of December 31, 2026, for the NC State Bar Grievance Review Committee (GRC) established under Section 27.11 of SL 2023-134 (was, expiration upon submission of its required report). Removes provisions requiring the GRC to submit a report to the specified NCGA committee by April 1, 2024.

Part VII.

Specifies that the grant funds provided to Appalachian State University under Section 40.8 of SL 2023-134, as amended by the act, for the addition and renovation project at Peacock Hall are a total project authorization increase of $2.5 of the previously authorized amount.

Further amends Section 40.17(a) of SL 2021-180, as amended, which amended grants and funds allocated from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund in the 2021 Appropriations Act, by removing the requirement that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) use funds appropriated to it to purchase land for the Charlotte Hawkins Brown State Historic Site in Guilford County (Site), so that is just allocated for purposes of the Site.

Appropriates from the funds available in the OSBM Flexibility Funds established in SL 2021-180 and described under project code FLEX21 to the UNC School of the Arts Foundation $4.5 million for 2025-26 to be used to purchase the described real property and improvements for a new loading dock. Effective July 1, 2025.

Expands the sources where the Wildlife Resources Commission can obtain matching state funds for the described project code under Section 40.1 of SL 2023-134 so that it can come from other available receipts, in addition to the WRC’s endowment.

Part IX.

Recodifies GS 105-130.34 to GS 105-130.34A (credit for certain real property donations-C Corporations).  Adds terms allocated credit, qualified real property interest (was, real property interest), and total allocated credits. Modifies terms nonprioritized credit request, maximum amount, qualified donation, and total requested credits. Clarifies that it is the taxpayer’s burden to prove eligibility and amount of the credit available under GS 105-130.34A (was, specified that the corporation had the burden). Modifies the cap on the allocated credit so that it cannot exceed the amount of the tax against which it’s claimed (was imposed by this Part) for the taxable year as reduced. Specifies that the allocated credit may only carryforward if it exceeds the statutory cap, as described. Prohibits an allowed credit from being transferred. Also requires the Department of Revenue (DOR) to include information on the total amount of qualified donations in its economic incentives report, in addition to four other listed matters. Makes technical, clarifying, organizational, and conforming changes. Makes conforming change to GS 105-130.9 to update statutory citation to GS 105-130.34A.

Amends GS 105-153.11 (credit for certain real property donations-individuals or pass-through entities), as follows. Specifies that a pass-through entity must pass through the credit to its owners using the process set forth in GS 105-153.11, not to exceed the limitations provided under the statute.  Adds terms allocated credit, pass-through entity, qualified real property interest (was, real property interest), and total allocated credits. Modifies terms maximum amount, nonprioritized credit request, qualified donation, prioritized credit request, and total requested credits. Clarifies that it is the taxpayer’s burden to prove eligibility and amount of the credit available under GS 105-153.11 (was, specified that the individual or pass-through entity had the burden). Changes the timeframe governing the limitations on the credit allowed under the statute for individuals and pass-through entities from a taxable year to a calendar year. Caps the allocated credit to couples where only one spouse is required to file a NC income tax return at not more than $250,000. Requires a pass-through entity to pass through to each of its owners the owner's distributive share of the credit for which the pass-through entity qualifies, not to exceed the amounts described in GS 105-153.11(f)(1)-(2). Authorizes the pass-through entity to allocate the credit only to an owner that was an owner of the pass-through entity as of the last day of the calendar year in which the credit was allocated. Modifies the cap on the allocated credit so that it cannot exceed the amount of the against which it’s claimed (was imposed by this Part) for the taxable year as reduced. Specifies that the allocated credit may only carryforward if it exceeds the statutory cap, as described. Prohibits an allowed credit from being transferred, except by will, bequeath, or other instrument of transfer that, requires upon the taxpayer's death, the unused allowable credit to be transferred to a designated beneficiary.  Also requires DOR to include information on the total amount of qualified donations in its economic incentives report, in addition to four other listed matters. Makes technical, clarifying, organizational, and conforming changes. Makes conforming change to GS 105-153.5 (deductions to individual adjusted gross income). 

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Further amends GS 115C-84.2 by no longer requiring local boards to identify the statutory exemption allowing an earlier school start date in their reports on their instructional calendar submitted to the Superintendent of Public instruction and State Board of Education and to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. Specifies that the local boards' duty to determine the dates for opening and closing public schools includes year-round schools. 

Amends GS 115C-84.3 allowing a public school in a county with a local school administrative unit that has been closed eight days per year during any four of the last 10 years because of severe weather conditions, energy shortages, power failures, or other emergency situations (was, in a county with a local school administrative unit that has received a good cause waiver for the school year) to use up to 15 remote instruction days or 90 remote instructional hours when schools can't open because of severe weather, energy shortages, power failures, or other emergency situations and may use that time towards the required instructional days or hours for the school calendar. 

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Instead of authorizing the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) to add the Gullah Geechee Greenway/Blueway Heritage Trail (Heritage Trail) in Brunswick County to the State Parks System as a State trail, states that the NCGA authorizes the Heritage Train. Requires the State, instead of DNCR, to support, promote, encourage, and facilitate the establishment of trail segments on State park lands and on lands of other federal, State, local, and private landowners. Makes conforming deletions. Amends the act's long title.

House amendment to the 3rd edition makes technical changes to new GS 57D-2-26 (exemptions for LLC's owned by deployed members of the US Armed Forces). 

House amendment to the 2nd edition makes the following changes. Further expands the list of charged Class A1 misdemeanors triggering an examination into a detained person’s citizenship/residency status under GS 162-62 to include those charged under Article 6A (concerning unborn victims) and Article 7B (concerning rape and other sex offenses) of GS Chapter 14. Makes conforming change to GS 15A-534.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Changes references from “summer flounder” to “flounder” throughout. Changes the end date of the recreational season for flounder and red snapper from July 31st to November 15th. Amends the act’s long title.

House amendment to the 3rd edition makes a technical change to the number of new GS 128-38.45, governing beneficiaries under the death benefit plan. 

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Clarifies in Section 1.(b) the portions of GS 58-3-190 being repealed are subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (g).

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Amends GS 90-21.1 to allow a physician assistant and nurse practitioner (in addition to the already allowed physician) to render treatment to a minor without getting consent from a parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis in the specified circumstances. Amends those circumstances by making conforming changes and by adding when the physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner has a reasonable belief the treatment is for a condition, disease, or injury triggering an obligation to report under the specified laws. Makes additional conforming changes.

Amends the definition of treatment under GS 90-21.2 to also include the specified procedures or treatment ordered by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner (in addition to the already listed physician). Makes conforming changes.

Further amends GS 90-21.4, concerning responsibility, liability, and immunity, to also make it appliable to physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Further amends GS 90-21.5 to also allow a minor to give consent to a physician assistant or nurse practitioner (in addition to the already allowed physician) for services for the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy. Adds that a minor age 16 or older may give effective consent to a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner for the diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases and other diseases reportable under GS 130A-135 if the disease can be treated with a prescription with a duration of 10 days or less.

Removes proposed new GS 90-21.5A (limited exception for examination without parental consent in cases of suspected abuse or neglect).

Amends proposed new GS 90-21.5B, concerning a parent’s access to minors’ medical records, to also extend the provisions to a minor’s legal guardian. Provides that patents and legal guardians do not have the right to access and review a minor’s medical records if the records are of a health care described in GS 90-21.1(5) (for a condition, disease, or injury triggering an obligation to report) or GS 90-21.5(a) (diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy) (was, described in now deleted GS 90-21.5A). Adds that medical records include any documentation of treatment regardless of medium, whether paper, electronic, or database storage.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Amends Section 1.(c) which makes Section 1, now including only the amendments to GS Chapter 7B, effective when it becomes law and applicable to petitions filed before, on, or after that date (was, December 1, 2025, in 1st edition).

Makes Section 2, now including only the amendments to GS 48-3-203, effective when it becomes law and applicable to petitions and placements for adoption and opportunities to become an adoptive parent requested, filed, or submitted before, on, or after that date. (was, December 1, 2025, in 1st edition).

Amends GS 131D-10.1(a1)(2), added in the first edition, to prohibit agencies or other state entities from denying or delaying the opportunity to become a foster parent or the placement of a child in foster care on the basis of the foster (was, adoptive) parents’ refusal, unwillingness, or lack of support to enable the child to engage in gender transition. Makes Section 3, now including only the amendments to GS 131D-10.1, effective when it becomes law and applies to placements in foster care and opportunities to become a foster parent requested, filed, or submitted before, on, or after that date (was, December 1, 2025, in 1st edition).

Amends GS 14-318.2(d), a subsection added in the first edition, specifying that any parent or other person providing care to or supervision of a child less than 18 (was, 16) is not guilty of a violation of GS 14-318.2 concerning misdemeanor child abuse, for raising a child consistent with the child’s biological sex. Makes technical change to refer to GS 14-318.2(d) as a subsection (was, section).

Amends GS 14-318.4(c1), a subsection added in the first edition, specifying that any parent or other person providing care or supervision of a child less than 18 (was, 16) is not guilty of a violation of GS 14-318.4 concerning felony child abuse, for raising a child consistent with the child’s biological sex.

Makes Section 4, which includes the amendments to GS 14-318.2 and GS 14-318.4, effective July 1, 2025, and applicable to offenses committed before, on, or after that date (was, December 1, 2025, and applicable only to offenses committed on or after that date).

Makes changes to numbering of the act’s sections throughout to account for addition and reorganization of sections. 

Except as otherwise provided, the act is effective when it becomes law (was, December 1, 2025, in 1st edition).

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. 

Deletes the changes to GS 58-50-61 (Utilization review) which would have defined “urgent healthcare service”, created a new timeline for utilization reviews of non-urgent healthcare services and urgent healthcare services, and required insurers to disclose utilization review documents in detail and in easily understandable language, as well as requiring that an insurer make current utilization review requirements and restrictions readily accessible on its website.

Removes the requirement of the State Treasurer and Executive Administrator of the State Health Plan to review all practices and all contracts with and practices of third parties conducting any utilization review on behalf of the State Health Plan to ensure they comply with the changes of this act. Removes the appropriation to the Department of State Treasurer for the State Health Plan. 

Removes the provision that required DHB to ensure urgent prior authorization requests are approved or denied within 24 hours after DHB receives all information necessary to complete a review and for DHB to complete all non-urgent prior authorization requests within 72 hours after DHB receives all information necessary to complete a review.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Changes the proposed language for GS 130A-443.12(d) to specify that the statute’s requirement to complete a youth sports injury education course does not apply to any of the listed healthcare practitioners who have completed advanced trauma life support training.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Amends GS 115C-366 by no longer requiring that the student live with a parent or legal guardian on active military duty in order to be allowed to register to enroll in the public schools of that unit by remote means before living in the local school administrative unit when specified conditions are met. Also amends those conditions as follows. Requires that the parent or guardian be separating from active military duty within a 12-month period (was, be separating from active duty service within the next 12 months and intend to establish residency in the State). Allows the parent or legal guardian to provide a copy of the official separation orders (new requirement) or an official military document showing the anticipated date of separation or date of projected Permanent Change of Station to the State (was, an official military document showing an anticipated date of separation) as an alternative to the official military order transferring to a military installation or reservation located in the state. No longer allows each local school administrative unit to determine the document or documents sufficient to establish an anticipated date of separation so long as the document required is easily accessible by the parent or legal guardian. Requires parent or legal guardian to complete and submit the local school administrative unit's required enrollment forms and documentation other than proof of residency and documentation related to disciplinary actions for suspension or expulsion from attendance at a private or public school in this or any other state or has been convicted of a felony in this or any other state. Adds the condition that a parent or legal guardian must submit proof of residency and documentation related to those disciplinary actions upon the child commencing attendance. Requires when proof of residency has not yet become available because the parent or legal guardian and child are residing in temporary housing, for the local school administrative unit to: (1) allow the child to enroll and begin attending school in that unit of anticipated domicile for a period of up to one year from (a) the parent or legal guardian's reporting-for-duty date, separation date from active military duty, or anticipated separation date from active military duty or (b) through the end of the school year before being considered a resident of another local school administrative unit and (2) allow a child who is a high school junior or senior to enroll and begin attending school in that unit of anticipated domicile through high school graduation. Makes conforming changes and organizational changes.

Removes the changes that would not have allowed a registered student enrolled pursuant to these provisions to attend school in the local school administrative unit the later of (1) one year from the parent or legal guardian's reporting-for-duty or separation date or (2) the end of the school year in which the student began attending the school. Also removed the provision allowing a student to attend a high school through graduation if the student begins attending a school in grade 11 or 12.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Changes the proposed language in GS 160D-917(e)(4) that makes an accessory dwelling unit exempt from the statute if it is not connected to water and sewer by including those not connected to “well and septic”. 

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Makes conforming changes, including to act’s long title. Makes organizational changes.

Part II.

Makes organizational changes to GS 14-415.10 (definitions provisions). Removes conforming changes to GS 17C-6 and GS 14-269.

Part IV.

Clarifies that the motion that a sheriff or licensed qualified arms dealer must file under GS 50B-3.1 upon learning that a background check provides grounds precluding a defendant from owning or possessing a firearm should request that the court determine whether the defendant is precluded from owning or possessing a firearm.

Part V.

Enacts new GS 14-409.44, authorizing a federal firearms licensee to enter into a safety hold agreement with a firearm owner. Defines federal firearms licensee as a person licensed as a dealer, manufacturer, or importer under 18 U.S.C. § 923, and safety hold agreement as a private agreement in which a licensee takes possession of an owner’s lawfully possessed firearm at the owner's request for an agreed-upon period of time. Provides that such agreements shall not require the payment of a fee. Grants immunity to licensees for any act or omission arising from a safety hold agreement that results in personal injury or death, except for actions resulting from the negligent or reckless storage of a firearm or otherwise unlawful conduct on the part of the licensee. Provides that licensees may sell or otherwise dispose of firearms unclaimed at the termination of an agreement. Requires the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to develop and make available a form for such agreements. Provides that agreements are confidential and not a public record under GS Chapter 132. Clarifies that nothing in the new statute requires a licensee to take possession of an unlawfully possessed firearm or to return a firearm to a person prohibited by law from possessing it. Requires the SBI to adopt rules consistent with the act. Effective July 1, 2025.

Part VI (was, Part V).

Modifies the definition of defensive device under GS 115C-105.52 so that it no longer includes firearms, but instead includes a non-lethal device, in addition to the other weapons listed. Specifies that the act’s changes to GS 14-269, GS14-269.2, and GS 115C-105.52 are effective January 1, 2026, and apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

Part VII.

Broadens the door lock exemptions under the NC State Building Code under GS 143-143.4 so that it includes any business entity licensed to sell automatic weapons as a federal firearms dealer that is in the business of selling firearms or ammunition (currently, has to be such an entity that also operates a firing range which rents firearms and sells ammunition).

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Amends Section 9 by removing its starting language, “notwithstanding GS 116-143.1 or any other provision of law", and adding that the requirements of this section must be completed by January 15, 2026. Amends who the section applies to so that itis applicable to the governing bodies of the University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Community College System (was, the governing bodies of all institutions of higher education in North Carolina receiving state funds). Amends the policy adoption and implementation requirement to include verifying that all applicants for enrollment (was, all applicants) are legally authorized to reside in the United States for determining eligibility for in-state tuition and financial aid, to the extent allowed by federal law (was, for tuition and educational benefits purposes without reference to federal law).

Amends Section 10 by adding that the Department of Commerce must adopt and implement the policy to verify applicants are legally authorized to reside in the United States prior to the first payment of unemployment benefits by January 15, 2026 (was, no deadline detailed).

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Changes the language in proposed GS 90-21.15B(c)(1) to specify the statute does not exempt nurses from acts or omissions which are not in accordance with the practice standards in GS 90-21.12 are not exempt from the statute, replacing the previous reference to “duty to exhibit professional conduct” in that subsection.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Modifies the exceptions to GS 93B-15.3, which grants certain occupational licenses for individuals licensed in neighboring states, so that State agency boards overseeing all health care practitioners licensed under GS Chapter 90 are excluded from the statute’s requirements (was, just those overseeing chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, physicians, and podiatrists). Makes a technical change.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Instead of amending GS 115C-83.15, GS 115C-83.16, and GS 115C-83.17, repeals those statutes in their entirety.

Adds the following.

Enacts new GS 115C-83.17A requiring the State Board of Education (State Board) to award school performance scores that are calculated as provided in this statute. Sets out points related to assessment scores, progress in proficient, and growth that are to be assigned for nine different measures available to schools serving grades K-5; points related to assessment scores, progress in proficient, and growth that are to be assigned for nine different measures available to schools serving grades 6-8; and points related to assessment scores, progress in proficient, and growth that are to be assigned for ten different measures available to schools serving grades 9-12. Sets out procedures that the State Board must following calculating the performance scores.

Requires the State Board to award school performance grades of A-F based on the listed scale, and prohibits modifying the grades or adding any other designation related to other performance measures.

Requires the State Board to establish the minimum number of students in a subgroup served by a school that is necessary to disaggregate information on student performance and determine a subgroup performance score and grade for the following subgroups: (1) economically disadvantaged students; (2) students from major racial and ethnic groups; (3) children with disabilities; and (4) English learners. Also requires calculating school performance scores and determining corresponding school performance grades for each subgroup for schools serving a minimum number of students in a subgroup. Prohibits including school performance scores for subgroups from the calculation of the school performance scores.

Enacts new GS 115C-83.17D requiring the State Board, using EVAAS, to designate a school that has met, exceeded, or not met expected growth and display that information on the annual school report card. Requires the State Board to provide public access to the annual report cards on the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) website. Sets out five categories of information that must be displayed on the annual report card, including the percentage of schools receiving a performance grade of A-F by local school administrative unit and statewide, and the percentage of schools that have met, exceeded, or not met expected growth by local school administrative unit and statewide. Requires subgroup performance scores and grades to be reported separately on the report card in a way that provides the specified information. Requires schools serving grades K-8 to report separately on their performance scores in reading and math, and schools serving grades 9-12 to report the percentage of students who meet at least one of the criteria related to passing grades on exams in advanced courses, passing grades in a dual enrollment courses through Career and College Promise, industry certifications or credentials, and Armed Services Qualification Test scores or credits in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps courses.

Enacts new GS 115C-83.17E requiring the State Board to use the school performance scores and grades to satisfy the federal requirement under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to meaningfully differentiate the performance of schools on an annual basis.

Makes conforming changes to GS 115C-12, GS 115C-47, GS 115C-105.34, GS 115C-105.37, GS 115C-105.39, GS 115C-105.39A, GS 115C-150.11, GS 115C-218.65, GS 115C-218.94, GS 115C-285.1, GS 115C-289.2, GS 115C-310.9, GS 116-239.8, and GS 116-239.13.

Applies to school performance schools and grades calculated based on data from the 2025-26 school year.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Makes organizational changes to the act and to GS 48-9-107. Removes provisions authorizing the State Registrar to issue new adoptee birth certificates to county registers of deeds. Instead, directs the State Registrar to provide registers of deeds with access to adoptee birth certificates in the electronic birth registration system so that registers of deeds may issue certified copies or abstracts. Authorizes a register of deeds receiving a request for an adoptee birth certificate that has not been digitized to request the digitization of the record from the State Registrar. Requires the State Registrar to fulfill such requests within two business days. Prohibits registers of deeds from adding adoptee birth certificates to their files or indexes. Specifies that adoptee birth certificates are not open for public examination or inspection. Prevents the State Registrar from charging a fee to a register of deeds who issues an adoptee birth certificate. Requires registers of deeds and their staff who issue certified copies of adoptee birth certificates to complete initial and annual training as described. Prevents county registrars of their designees from issuing any adoptee birth certificates until the training is complete. Changes the effective date to January 1, 2026, and specifies that it would apply to adoptee birth certificates available in the electronic birth registration system or awaiting entry into the electronic birth registration system before, on, or after that date (was, effective October 1, 2025, and intended to apply to new birth certificates of persons adopted before, on, or after that date).

Instructs the State Registrar to have the initial training available by no later than November 1, 2025, and the annual training available by July 1, 2026. Requires registers of deeds to have completed the initial training by January 30, 2026.

Makes conforming and organizational change to GS 130A-99 (register of deeds to provide birth and death records) to account for changes to GS 48-9-107. Effective January 1, 2026.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Makes technical changes to new GS 115C-83.20. Makes conforming changes to act’s long title. Changes defined term explicit math instruction to explicit instruction in GS 115C-83.22. Removes term high-quality math instructional materials. Clarifies that mathematical deficiency refers to when a student does not meet the minimum mathematical skills for their grade level as defined by the standard course of study (was, student didn’t meet State standard math skills). Reorganizes the lists that the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) must maintain as part of its mathematics support system for all students in kindergarten through grade eight and teachers of students in those grades in new GS 115C-83.24 into three lists: (1) one or more high-quality mathematics assessment and support systems; (2) high-quality mathematics instructional systems; and (3) high-quality professional learning offerings supported by research demonstrating positive student outcomes in the four described modalities (was, four lists). Requires that DPI’s approved list of high-quality mathematics assessment and support systems are supported by research that has demonstrated positive student outcomes. Removes references to those systems as being “supplemental.” Revises the requirements for DPI’s approved list of high-quality mathematics instructional systems so that it must meet twelve listed criteria, including nine new criteria. Makes organizational, clarifying, and technical changes.

Enacts GS 115C-83.26, requiring local school administrative units to select and implement the following from DPI’s approved lists: (1) a high-quality mathematics assessment and support system for screening and progress monitoring toward grade-level mathematics; (2) a high-quality mathematics instructional system to be used for mathematics support, as described; and (3) high-quality professional learning offerings for mathematics teachers in kindergarten through eighth grade.   

House committee substitute replaces the 1st edition in its entirety with the following.

Amends GS 122C-268(c), concerning inpatient commitment district court hearings, so that the clerk has to give notice of the place and time of the hearing to the chief district judge and district attorney in the county where the defendant was found incapable of proceeding if the custody order indicates that the respondent was charged with a violent crime. Specifies that if the DA elects to represent the State's interest, upon motion of the DA, the venue for the hearing and any rehearings or supplemental hearings will be in the county where the respondent was found incapable of proceeding. Makes language gender neutral. Requires the facility where a respondent was initially committed because of conduct resulting in the respondent being charged with a violent crime to notify the DA of the district where the respondent was found incapable of proceeding (in addition to the clerk of the specified superior court) of his or her determination regarding the proposed conditional release or discharge under GS 122C-277(b). Specifies that if the DA elects to represent the State's interest, upon motion of the DA, the venue for the hearing and any rehearings or supplemental hearings will be in the county where the respondent was found incapable of proceeding. Applies to commitment hearings initiated on or after the act becomes law. Amends the act's titles.

House committee substitute to the 1st edition deletes the content of the previous edition and replaces it with the following. Makes conforming changes to the act’s long title.

Enacts new GS 132-20 allowing a judicial official to request, in writing, that all personal identifying information be removed from any website, online computer database, or geographical information system maintained by any public agency and available to the general public; sets out information that must be included in the request. Defines a judicial official as any of the following individuals, while serving in that capacity: a magistrate, a justice or judge of the general court of justice, a district attorney or assistant district attorney, an assistant attorney general employed by the North Carolina Department of Justice, a US Attorney, Assistant US Attorney, or Special Assistant US Attorney, a public defender or assistant public defender, a federal judge, a clerk of the superior court, or a resource prosecutor employed by the Conference of District Attorneys. Defines personal identifying information as, excluding the name of the individual, any of the following: a physical residential address, a personal phone number, any identifying information as defined in GS 14-113.20(b), a birth certificate, and a marriage certificate. Requires public agencies to create a process for requesting removal of information. Allows requests to also include a request to remove the personal identifying information of the person’s spouse. Requires the agency to remove the information if requested and prohibits making the removed information available online again unless the agency receives a written revocation from the official who made the original request. Specifies that information removed continues to be a public record if it would otherwise be subject to disclosure under GS Chapter 132. Specifies that neither the removal request nor the revocation of the requires is a public record and it must be kept confidential. Provides immunity for a public agency and its officers, officials, employees, and agents, both past and present, in their official and individual capacity, from liability in any action brought by or on behalf of any person injured or harmed by the action or inaction, in good faith, of the public agency or its officers, officials, employees, and agents in implementing the provisions of this section; however, if their actions that resulted in harm were not within the course and scope of their duties, they may be subject to liability as an individual to the extent permitted by the laws of this State.

Makes conforming changes to GS 132-6.1.

Amends GS 132-10 requiring counties and cities to comply with new GS 132-20 to remove personal identifying information from a geographical information system database upon request of a judicial official.

Amends GS 153A-98 and GS 160A-168 prohibiting counties and cities from disclosing county or city law enforcement officer employee's information concerning the officer's residence (previously prohibited from disclosing information that might identify the residence).

Effective January 1, 2027.