Amends GS 7B-1111 to allow for a court to terminate parental rights upon finding that the parent has willfully left the juvenile in foster care or placement outside of the home for more than nine months (was, for more than 12 months) without showing to the satisfaction of the court that reasonable progress under the circumstances has been made in correcting the conditions which led to the juvenile's removal. Effective July 1, 2023.

Enacts GS 131D-10.2C, establishing limits to the number of children allowed in a foster care. Prohibits a family foster care home or any therapeutic foster home from providing care to more than six children in foster care at any time, excluding the foster parent's own children, children kept for babysitting, or any other children residing in the home for purposes of determining this limitation. Allows for exceeding this limitation if (1) written documentation is submitted to the licensing authority that siblings will be placed together; (2) the out-of-home family services agreement for each sibling specifies that the siblings will be placed together and addresses the foster parents' skill, stamina, and ability to care for the children; and (3) the foster care home submits written documentation that the home complies with fire and building safety and any waiver granted by the licensing authority in addition to all other licensing requirements. Effective October 1, 2023, or if a State Plan amendment is necessary for implementation, effective on the date that the family foster care home maximum is increased to six as approved by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Directs the Social Services Commission to adopt temporary and permanent rules consistent with new GS 131D-10.2C. Directs the Division of Social Services of the Department of Health and Human Services (Division) or another appropriate agency to submit an updated State Plan to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services for approval to maintain federal funding for foster care maintenance payments, if necessary to implement new GS 131D-10.2C. Directs the Revisor to report on the increase in the maximum as specified.

Appropriates $500,000 to the Division for each year of 2023-25 to assist in increasing the capacity and options for foster youth in North Carolina. Effective July 1, 2023.