North Carolina Legislature: Update May 2026

Most of the information in this article has been graciously provided by Representative Matthew Winslow, District 7.

In May, North Carolina legislators appear to have secured a historic budget deal:

• The largest teacher pay raises in 20 years, taking NC to #1 in the Southeast for starting teacher pay. The average across-the-state pay increase for teachers: 8%.
• Pay raise for state law enforcement and correctional officers. (Larger targeted increases ranging from 10% to 20% depending on the specific agency and role (e.g., 20% for SBI and ALE officers, 18% for state troopers, and 15% for correctional officers).
• Bonuses for local law enforcement officers. ($1,750)
• Pay raises and bonuses for state employees. (An average raise of 3%, bonuses of $1,000-$1,750.)
• COLA bonuses for state retirees. (2.5% cost-of-living adjustment to pensions)
• Tax Relief for North Carolinians. (From 4.25% to 3.99% for the 2026 tax year.)
• Repeals the data center sales tax exemption on electricity.

 

Other recent bill activity in the North Carolina legislature:

HB 1019: Mike Clampitt 1st Responder Tax Fairness Act.

Date: 5/14/2026

Status: Regular Message Sent To Senate

 

HB 356 (= SB  271): Permitted Trade Practices/Insurance Rebates.-AB

Date: 5/12/2026

Status: Re-ref to Commerce and Insurance. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

 

HB 390: Medicaid Prepaid Health Plan Practices.

Date: 5/12/2026

Status: Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

HB 433: SFRF/NCPRO Revisions.

Date: 5/12/2026

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2026-3

 

HB 727: Limit Medicaid Reimb. for Facility Fees.

Date: 5/12/2026

Status: Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

HB 198: Amend Law on Notice of ABC Violation.

Date: 5/7/2026

Status: Re-ref to Judiciary. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

 

HB 308: Criminal Law Changes.

Date: 5/7/2026

Status: Re-ref to Judiciary. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

 

HB 696: Medicaid & HHS Adjust./Other Critical Needs.

Date: 4/30/2026

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2026-1

 

HB 301: Social Media & AI Safety.

Date: 4/29/2026

Status: Re-ref Senate Com On Judiciary

 

HB 369: Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act.

Date: 4/29/2026

Status: Re-ref to State and Local Government. If fav, re-ref to Agriculture, Energy, and Environment. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

 

HB 56: UNC Enrollment.

Date: 4/21/2026

Status: Failed Concur In Senate Com Sub

 

HB 268: Additional Capital Appropriations.

Date: 4/21/2026

Status: Failed Concur In Senate Com Sub

 

HB 328: Regulate Hemp-Derived Consumables.

Date: 4/21/2026

Status: Failed Concur In Senate Com Sub

 

HB 562: Healthcare Investment Act.

Date: 4/21/2026

Status: Failed Concur In Senate Com Sub

 

HB 832: Education Omnibus.

Date: 4/21/2026

Status: Failed Concur In Senate Com Sub

 

HB 434: Lower Healthcare Costs.

Date: 4/6/2026

Status: Conferees Changed

 

HJR 1016: Amend Adjournment Resolution.

Date: 12/15/2025

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

 

HB 491 (= SB  403): Medicaid Rebase Funding.

Date: 10/23/2025

Status: Held by House Clerk

 

HB 926: Regulatory Reform Act of 2025.

Date: 10/6/2025

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2025-94

 

HB 307: Iryna's Law.

Date: 10/3/2025

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2025-93

 

HB 358 (= SB  51): Continuing Budget Operations Part II.

Date: 9/30/2025

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2025-92

 

HB 693: Interstate Massage Compact.

Date: 9/25/2025

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

 

SB 587: Clarify Nonconforming Uses.

Date: 5/14/2026

Status: Re-ref to the Com on State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 355: Support the Dept. of Adult Correction.-AB

Date: 5/13/2026

Status: Re-ref House Com On Judiciary 2

 

SB 59 (= HB  126): Revise Voluntary Ag. District Laws.

Date: 5/12/2026

Status: Re-ref to the Com on Agriculture and Environment, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 164 (= SB  365): Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency.

Date: 5/12/2026

Status: Re-ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 394: Prohibit Foreign Ownership of NC Land.

Date: 5/12/2026

Status: Re-ref House Com On Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs

 

SB 808: Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners Amendments.

Date: 5/12/2026

Status: Re-ref to the Com on Regulatory Reform, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 889: Property Tax Reappraisal Moratorium.

Date: 5/11/2026

Status: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 214: Various Local Provisions VII.

Date: 5/7/2026

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2026-2

 

SB 229: College Sports Updates.

Date: 5/6/2026

Status: Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 316: Lower Healthcare Costs.

Date: 5/6/2026

Status: Re-ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 310: Religious Property - Tax Exemption.

Date: 5/5/2026

Status: Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 693: Veteran Access, Liberty, Options for Recovery.

Date: 4/29/2026

Status: Re-ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 648 (= HB  620) : AOC Agency Requests.-AB

Date: 4/27/2026

Status: Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

 

SB 595: Various Revenue Laws Changes.

Date: 4/22/2026

Status: Conferees Changed

 

SB 378: Align Medicaid Eligibility with Federal Law.

Date: 10/23/2025

Status: Held by House Clerk

 

SB 405: Healthcare Investment Act.

date: 10/23/2025

Status: Held by House Clerk

 

SB 449: Continuing Budget Operations Part IV.

Date: 10/23/2025

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2025-97

 

SB 599: State Teacher/Employee Pay & Local LEO Bonus.

Date: 10/23/2025

Status: Held by House Clerk

 

SB 777: General Assembly Appointments.

Date: 10/23/2025

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2025-96

 

SB 249: Realign Congressional Districts 2025.

Date: 10/22/2025

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2025-95

 

SB 245: Expand Remote Drivers License Services.

Date: 9/30/2025

Status: Became Law/Ch. SL 2025-91

 

SB 13: Political Terrorism Prevention Act.

Date: 9/25/2025

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

 

SB 403 (= HB  491): Additional Medicaid Funds and Requirements.

Date: 9/25/2025

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate