Subject
Base budget appropriations for 2025-27 biennium tied to Governor's Recommended Base Budget.
Impacted industries
All state-funded sectors
Likely lobbying principals
Catch-all baseline — too broad for targeted lobbying.
Enacted August 6, 2025·budget·Budget impact
SL 2025-89 — Mini-budget filling the gap: DAVE Act, Boom Supersonic anchor, and Medicaid rebase
An Act to Implement Various Budgetary Adjustments and to Make Other Changes in the Budget Operations of the State
Primary bill · HB 125
Primary sponsors · Lambeth, Paré, K. Hall, White (all R)
The first of four mini-budgets standing in for an unenacted 2025-27 biennium budget. Anchors most of the General Fund. Creates the State Auditor's Division of Accountability, Value & Efficiency (DAVE Act). Locks in the $118.1M FY25-26 first installment of the Greensboro airplane manufacturer megaproject.
$62.35B·14,492 line items
Quick context on the bill
SL 2025-89 (HB 125) is the first of a four-act series — followed by SL 2025-91, 92, and 97 — that together substitute for an unenacted 2025-27 biennium budget. The General Assembly did not pass a comprehensive Current Operations Appropriations Act for the 2025-2027 biennium; instead it appropriated piecemeal through this act and three mini-budgets that came after. SL 2025-89 carries the bulk of the General Fund: 14,492 line items totaling $62.35B in signed appropriations across the biennium, spread across 64 agencies. Beyond the appropriations math, two substantive policy moves sit inside this act — the establishment of the State Auditor's Division of Accountability, Value and Efficiency (the "DAVE Act") and the first $118.1M installment of a $450M six-year commitment for a transformative aviation manufacturing project at Piedmont Triad International Airport.
SL 2025-89 — Impacted industries and likely lobbying principals
Part I — Appropriations, Disaster Funding
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Base budget appropriations for 2025-27 biennium tied to Governor's Recommended Base Budget. | All state-funded sectors | Impacted industries All state-funded sectors Likely lobbying principals |
| 1.3 | Transfers $142M from Stabilization and Inflation Reserve to NCDA&CS for the Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program (Helene-related verifiable farm-infrastructure losses). | Agriculture; specialty crops; row crops; farm infrastructure contractors | Impacted industries Agriculture; specialty crops; row crops; farm infrastructure contractors Likely lobbying principals |
| 1.4 | Restricts use of Section 1.3 funds: requires recipient pursuit of insurance and federal aid, bars Governor from using these funds for budget adjustments under G.S. 143C-6-4. | Same as 1.3 | Impacted industries Same as 1.3 Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
Transfers $142M from Stabilization and Inflation Reserve to NCDA&CS for the Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program (Helene-related verifiable farm-infrastructure losses).
Impacted industries
Agriculture; specialty crops; row crops; farm infrastructure contractors
Likely lobbying principals
NC Farm Bureau; NC Agribusiness Council; NC Sweet Potato Commission; NC Pork Council; NC Cattlemen's Association; NC Cotton Producers Association; NC Christmas Tree Association; Commissioner of Agriculture (agency); county Soil & Water Conservation Districts in WNC
Subject
Restricts use of Section 1.3 funds: requires recipient pursuit of insurance and federal aid, bars Governor from using these funds for budget adjustments under G.S. 143C-6-4.
Impacted industries
Same as 1.3
Likely lobbying principals
Part II-A — Education
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2A.1 | Education Lottery Fund allocations for 2025-27 biennium: $385.9M Noninstructional Support; $78.3M Pre-K; $100M Public School Building Capital Fund; $258.3M Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund; $50M Public School Repair & Renovation; $182.2M (FY25-26) and $186.0M (FY26-27) for School Transportation. Reduces Longleaf Commitment CC Grant by $12.4M, Wartime Veterans Scholarship by $11.1M, Need-Based UNC Scholarship by $75M. Total: $1.083B (FY25-26), $1.087B (FY26-27). | K-12 public education; community colleges; UNC System; school construction; school transportation; veterans services | Impacted industries K-12 public education; community colleges; UNC System; school construction; school transportation; veterans services Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.2 | Indian Gaming Education Revenue Fund allocations: $10M textbooks; classroom materials $15.5M (FY25-26) and $3.5M (FY26-27). Reduces DPI Classroom Materials allotment by $2.5M recurring and $12M nonrecurring. | K-12; tribal gaming revenue downstream beneficiaries | Impacted industries K-12; tribal gaming revenue downstream beneficiaries Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.5A | $10M FY25-26 nonrecurring to Wilson Community College for biologics training center operation. | Community colleges; biotech workforce training | Impacted industries Community colleges; biotech workforce training Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.6 | Net reduction to DPI of ~$9.1M recurring per year. Eliminates funding for: Small Specialty High Schools ($1.8M); Learn and Earn virtual cooperative innovative high schools ($1M); Plasma Games STEM software contract ($1.8M); Beginnings nonprofit for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing ($1.5M). | K-12 STEM; ed-tech vendors; deaf/HoH education; alternative education models | Impacted industries K-12 STEM; ed-tech vendors; deaf/HoH education; alternative education models Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.7 | $104.2M recurring each year to DPI for enrollment-driven technical adjustments (salaries, special populations, low-wealth supplemental funding). | K-12; low-wealth counties | Impacted industries K-12; low-wealth counties Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.8 | Codifies state-funded coverage of copays for reduced-price school meals into G.S. 115C-264. | K-12; school nutrition; child hunger advocacy | Impacted industries K-12; school nutrition; child hunger advocacy Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.10A | $9.4M recurring each year to DPI for Uniform Education Reporting System / new student information system transition. | K-12 ed-tech; student information system vendors | Impacted industries K-12 ed-tech; student information system vendors Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.10B | Redirects $25M Helene-related school rebuild funds in Yancey County from FEMA-conditional rebuilds to broader construction/upgrade flexibility. | K-12 capital; Helene disaster recovery; Yancey County | Impacted industries K-12 capital; Helene disaster recovery; Yancey County Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.11 | Reduces UNC funding by $3.6M each year: eliminates Longleaf Commitment CC Grant ($125K — no remaining eligible students); cuts Graduate Tuition Waiver ($3.5M recurring) for nonresident graduate students. | UNC System; graduate research | Impacted industries UNC System; graduate research Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.12 | $9.5M recurring each year for NC Promise Tuition Plan enrollment growth at ECSU, Fayetteville State, UNC-Pembroke, Western Carolina. | UNC System (specifically the four NC Promise campuses) | Impacted industries UNC System (specifically the four NC Promise campuses) Likely lobbying principals |
| 2A.13 | $2.87M recurring each year + $516K nonrecurring for operation/maintenance of completed capital projects at NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, NC School of Science and Math. | UNC System | Impacted industries UNC System Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
Education Lottery Fund allocations for 2025-27 biennium: $385.9M Noninstructional Support; $78.3M Pre-K; $100M Public School Building Capital Fund; $258.3M Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund; $50M Public School Repair & Renovation; $182.2M (FY25-26) and $186.0M (FY26-27) for School Transportation. Reduces Longleaf Commitment CC Grant by $12.4M, Wartime Veterans Scholarship by $11.1M, Need-Based UNC Scholarship by $75M. Total: $1.083B (FY25-26), $1.087B (FY26-27).
Impacted industries
K-12 public education; community colleges; UNC System; school construction; school transportation; veterans services
Likely lobbying principals
NC Association of Educators (NCAE); Public School Forum of NC; Professional Educators of NC; NC School Boards Association; NC School Superintendents' Association; NC PTA; BEST NC; Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship advocates; UNC System (regarding Longleaf and Need-Based Scholarship reductions)
Subject
Indian Gaming Education Revenue Fund allocations: $10M textbooks; classroom materials $15.5M (FY25-26) and $3.5M (FY26-27). Reduces DPI Classroom Materials allotment by $2.5M recurring and $12M nonrecurring.
Impacted industries
K-12; tribal gaming revenue downstream beneficiaries
Likely lobbying principals
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Catawba Indian Nation; NC Association of Educators (regarding classroom materials reduction)
Subject
$10M FY25-26 nonrecurring to Wilson Community College for biologics training center operation.
Impacted industries
Community colleges; biotech workforce training
Likely lobbying principals
NC Community College System Office (agency); NC Biosciences Organization (NCBIO); Wilson Community College; Eastern NC biotech corridor employers
Subject
Net reduction to DPI of ~$9.1M recurring per year. Eliminates funding for: Small Specialty High Schools ($1.8M); Learn and Earn virtual cooperative innovative high schools ($1M); Plasma Games STEM software contract ($1.8M); Beginnings nonprofit for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing ($1.5M).
Impacted industries
K-12 STEM; ed-tech vendors; deaf/HoH education; alternative education models
Likely lobbying principals
Plasma Games, Inc. (registered NC principal — vendor whose state contract is being eliminated); Beginnings for Parents of Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing; NC Coalition for Charter Schools (re: cooperative innovative high schools); NC Association of Educators
Subject
$104.2M recurring each year to DPI for enrollment-driven technical adjustments (salaries, special populations, low-wealth supplemental funding).
Impacted industries
K-12; low-wealth counties
Likely lobbying principals
NCAE; NC School Boards Assoc; Public School Forum of NC; counties classified as low-wealth
Subject
Codifies state-funded coverage of copays for reduced-price school meals into G.S. 115C-264.
Impacted industries
K-12; school nutrition; child hunger advocacy
Likely lobbying principals
NC School Boards Association; School Nutrition Association of NC; Feeding The Carolinas; NCAE; NC Council of Churches
Subject
$9.4M recurring each year to DPI for Uniform Education Reporting System / new student information system transition.
Impacted industries
K-12 ed-tech; student information system vendors
Likely lobbying principals
Infinite Campus, PowerSchool, or other SIS vendors competing for the contract; Tyler Technologies (general public-sector software); DPI internal IT
Subject
Redirects $25M Helene-related school rebuild funds in Yancey County from FEMA-conditional rebuilds to broader construction/upgrade flexibility.
Impacted industries
K-12 capital; Helene disaster recovery; Yancey County
Likely lobbying principals
Yancey County Schools; NC School Boards Assoc; WNC Helene recovery coalition
Subject
Reduces UNC funding by $3.6M each year: eliminates Longleaf Commitment CC Grant ($125K — no remaining eligible students); cuts Graduate Tuition Waiver ($3.5M recurring) for nonresident graduate students.
Impacted industries
UNC System; graduate research
Likely lobbying principals
UNC System (Board of Governors); UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, and other R1 institutions disproportionately affected by graduate tuition waiver cut
Subject
$9.5M recurring each year for NC Promise Tuition Plan enrollment growth at ECSU, Fayetteville State, UNC-Pembroke, Western Carolina.
Impacted industries
UNC System (specifically the four NC Promise campuses)
Likely lobbying principals
UNC-Pembroke; Fayetteville State University; Elizabeth City State University; Western Carolina University; UNC System
Subject
$2.87M recurring each year + $516K nonrecurring for operation/maintenance of completed capital projects at NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, NC School of Science and Math.
Impacted industries
UNC System
Likely lobbying principals
UNC System; NC State; UNC-CH; NCSSM
Part II-B — Health and Human Services
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2B.1 | Reduces NC Loan Repayment Program by $2M recurring each year. | Healthcare workforce; rural health; medical/dental/behavioral providers in shortage areas | Impacted industries Healthcare workforce; rural health; medical/dental/behavioral providers in shortage areas Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.2 | Reduces Child Care Subsidy GF appropriation by $8M recurring each year, offset by TANF receipts. | Child care providers; low-income working families | Impacted industries Child care providers; low-income working families Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.3 | Repeals Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force Reserve Fund; transfers ~$41.8M nonrecurring balance into DMH/DD/SUS single-stream; reduces single-stream by ~$10M recurring; restructures Child and Family Well-Being receipts. | LME/MCO behavioral health system; DMH/DD/SUS; child case management | Impacted industries LME/MCO behavioral health system; DMH/DD/SUS; child case management Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.4 | Reduces three-way (inpatient psych) bed contract funding by $15.7M recurring — described as "savings attributable to NC Health Works." | Community hospitals with psych beds; LME/MCOs; behavioral health | Impacted industries Community hospitals with psych beds; LME/MCOs; behavioral health Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.5 | Reduces DMH/DD/SUS single-stream funding by $18.6M recurring. Requires LME/MCOs to maintain 2024-25 service utilization levels. | LME/MCO behavioral health system | Impacted industries LME/MCO behavioral health system Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.6 | Cuts State-County Special Assistance Program GF appropriation by $8.6M (FY25-26) and $2.25M (FY26-27) nonrecurring; departmental receipts also reduced. | Adult care homes; assisted living; county DSS | Impacted industries Adult care homes; assisted living; county DSS Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.7 | Uses ~$20M of Talc Settlement (J&J) funds across biennium to offset Division of Public Health appropriations. | Public health programs; AG's office (settlement administration) | Impacted industries Public health programs; AG's office (settlement administration) Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.10 | $600M recurring each year for Medicaid rebase + managed care administration, including Children and Families Specialty Plan launch (Dec 2025). | Medicaid PHPs; behavioral health providers; child welfare/foster care | Impacted industries Medicaid PHPs; behavioral health providers; child welfare/foster care Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.11 | Exempts qualified urban ambulatory surgical facilities (counties >125,000 pop, licensed pre-11/21/2025) from 4% self-pay/Medicaid charity care requirement. | Ambulatory surgical facilities (urban); hospitals competing on outpatient surgery | Impacted industries Ambulatory surgical facilities (urban); hospitals competing on outpatient surgery Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.12 | Restructures Health Advancement Receipts Special Fund quarterly transfer mechanics under HASP — gross premiums tax offset routing changes. Reduces DHB appropriation by $22.3M recurring each year. | All Medicaid stakeholders; insurance regulatory; hospitals via HASP | Impacted industries All Medicaid stakeholders; insurance regulatory; hospitals via HASP Likely lobbying principals |
| 2B.13 | Requires UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill to deposit $31.4M each year + state-owned psych hospitals to deposit IGT-style returns. | Public hospitals; state-operated psychiatric facilities | Impacted industries Public hospitals; state-operated psychiatric facilities Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
Reduces NC Loan Repayment Program by $2M recurring each year.
Impacted industries
Healthcare workforce; rural health; medical/dental/behavioral providers in shortage areas
Likely lobbying principals
NC Medical Society; NC Dental Society; NC Community Health Center Association; NC Rural Health Association; NC Healthcare Association (NCHA)
Subject
Reduces Child Care Subsidy GF appropriation by $8M recurring each year, offset by TANF receipts.
Impacted industries
Child care providers; low-income working families
Likely lobbying principals
NC Child Care Coalition; NC Early Education Coalition; NC Child; Children First/CFFCC; NC Justice Center
Subject
Repeals Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force Reserve Fund; transfers ~$41.8M nonrecurring balance into DMH/DD/SUS single-stream; reduces single-stream by ~$10M recurring; restructures Child and Family Well-Being receipts.
Impacted industries
LME/MCO behavioral health system; DMH/DD/SUS; child case management
Likely lobbying principals
Alliance Behavioral Healthcare; Partners Health Management; Trillium Health Resources; Vaya Health; NC Council of Community Programs; i2i Center for Integrative Health; Disability Rights NC
Subject
Reduces three-way (inpatient psych) bed contract funding by $15.7M recurring — described as "savings attributable to NC Health Works."
Impacted industries
Community hospitals with psych beds; LME/MCOs; behavioral health
Likely lobbying principals
NCHA; community hospitals operating three-way contracts; LME/MCOs above
Subject
Reduces DMH/DD/SUS single-stream funding by $18.6M recurring. Requires LME/MCOs to maintain 2024-25 service utilization levels.
Impacted industries
LME/MCO behavioral health system
Likely lobbying principals
Same as 2B.3: Alliance, Partners, Trillium, Vaya; NC Providers Council; NC Association of County DSS
Subject
Cuts State-County Special Assistance Program GF appropriation by $8.6M (FY25-26) and $2.25M (FY26-27) nonrecurring; departmental receipts also reduced.
Impacted industries
Adult care homes; assisted living; county DSS
Likely lobbying principals
NC Senior Living Association; LeadingAge NC; NC Assisted Living Association; NC Adult Care Licensure Section (regulated); NC Association of County Directors of Social Services
Subject
Uses ~$20M of Talc Settlement (J&J) funds across biennium to offset Division of Public Health appropriations.
Impacted industries
Public health programs; AG's office (settlement administration)
Likely lobbying principals
Office of the Attorney General (settlement); NC Public Health Association; NC Association of Local Health Directors
Subject
$600M recurring each year for Medicaid rebase + managed care administration, including Children and Families Specialty Plan launch (Dec 2025).
Impacted industries
Medicaid PHPs; behavioral health providers; child welfare/foster care
Likely lobbying principals
Blue Cross NC (Healthy Blue PHP); UnitedHealthcare; Centene (WellCare/AmeriHealth Caritas); Molina; Carolina Complete Health; NCHA; NC Medical Society; NC Pediatric Society; Benchmarks; NC Child
Subject
Exempts qualified urban ambulatory surgical facilities (counties >125,000 pop, licensed pre-11/21/2025) from 4% self-pay/Medicaid charity care requirement.
Impacted industries
Ambulatory surgical facilities (urban); hospitals competing on outpatient surgery
Likely lobbying principals
NC Ambulatory Surgical Center Association; NCHA (hospitals lose competitive cross-subsidy ground here); urban ASC operators in Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro
Subject
Restructures Health Advancement Receipts Special Fund quarterly transfer mechanics under HASP — gross premiums tax offset routing changes. Reduces DHB appropriation by $22.3M recurring each year.
Impacted industries
All Medicaid stakeholders; insurance regulatory; hospitals via HASP
Likely lobbying principals
NCHA; NC Association of Health Plans; Department of Insurance; OSBM (administering the transfers)
Subject
Requires UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill to deposit $31.4M each year + state-owned psych hospitals to deposit IGT-style returns.
Impacted industries
Public hospitals; state-operated psychiatric facilities
Likely lobbying principals
UNC Health Care System; ECU Health; NCHA
Part II-C — Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2C.1 | Establishes Sunday Opening State Historic Site Pilot Program at 13 named sites: Bentonville Battlefield, Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Fort Fisher, Aycock Birthplace, Historic Bath, Historic Edenton, Historic Halifax, NC State Capitol, Reed Gold Mine, Roanoke Island Festival Park, Somerset Place, Thomas Day Site. $114K each fiscal year. | State historic sites; heritage tourism; site-adjacent hospitality | Impacted industries State historic sites; heritage tourism; site-adjacent hospitality Likely lobbying principals |
| 2C.2 | $118.1M FY25-26 to Commerce for "qualifying transformative project" at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Requires $4.5B private investment, 14,000 eligible positions at $89,340 average wage. Allocation: $15M Authority land acquisition (up to 150 acres); $45M Authority site analysis/engineering/grading/site prep/access roads/taxiway; $7.9M DOT roadwork; $5M City of Greensboro water/sewer; $10.2M Authority hub renovation + FAA offsets; $35M Authority manufacturing/R&D facility construction. Signaled out-year appropriations: $133.9M (FY26-27) + $198M across FY27-31 — total $450M state commitment over six years. | Aerospace; supersonic aviation; airport infrastructure; commercial construction; engineering/site-prep contractors; water/sewer utilities; aviation manufacturing supply chain | Impacted industries Aerospace; supersonic aviation; airport infrastructure; commercial construction; engineering/site-prep contractors; water/sewer utilities; aviation manufacturing supply chain Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
Establishes Sunday Opening State Historic Site Pilot Program at 13 named sites: Bentonville Battlefield, Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, Fort Fisher, Aycock Birthplace, Historic Bath, Historic Edenton, Historic Halifax, NC State Capitol, Reed Gold Mine, Roanoke Island Festival Park, Somerset Place, Thomas Day Site. $114K each fiscal year.
Impacted industries
State historic sites; heritage tourism; site-adjacent hospitality
Likely lobbying principals
NC Travel and Tourism Coalition; NC Travel Industry Association; Friends of NC State Historic Sites; tourism development authorities in Brunswick, Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Wake, and Wilson counties; Roanoke Island Historical Association
Subject
$118.1M FY25-26 to Commerce for "qualifying transformative project" at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Requires $4.5B private investment, 14,000 eligible positions at $89,340 average wage. Allocation: $15M Authority land acquisition (up to 150 acres); $45M Authority site analysis/engineering/grading/site prep/access roads/taxiway; $7.9M DOT roadwork; $5M City of Greensboro water/sewer; $10.2M Authority hub renovation + FAA offsets; $35M Authority manufacturing/R&D facility construction. Signaled out-year appropriations: $133.9M (FY26-27) + $198M across FY27-31 — total $450M state commitment over six years.
Impacted industries
Aerospace; supersonic aviation; airport infrastructure; commercial construction; engineering/site-prep contractors; water/sewer utilities; aviation manufacturing supply chain
Likely lobbying principals
Boom Supersonic (the publicly identified airplane manufacturer for this PTI JDIG award); Piedmont Triad Airport Authority; Greensboro Chamber of Commerce; NC Chamber; Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina; AECOM (engineering consultants); City of Greensboro; American Honda Motor Co. and Honda North America (registered NC principals — Honda Aircraft Company at PTI is the JDIG precedent neighbor); Guilford County Economic Development Alliance
Part II-D — Justice and Public Safety
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D.1 | $10M FY25-26 nonrecurring to AOC Indigent Defense Services for the Private Assigned Counsel (PAC) Fund shortfall. | Court-appointed defense bar; indigent defense | Impacted industries Court-appointed defense bar; indigent defense Likely lobbying principals |
| 2D.2 | $5.7M (NR) + $421.5K (recurring) for opening McLeansville Readiness Center (Jan 2026); $400K nonrecurring for North Wilkesboro Readiness Center. | NC National Guard; military construction; Guilford and Wilkes county economies | Impacted industries NC National Guard; military construction; Guilford and Wilkes county economies Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
$10M FY25-26 nonrecurring to AOC Indigent Defense Services for the Private Assigned Counsel (PAC) Fund shortfall.
Impacted industries
Court-appointed defense bar; indigent defense
Likely lobbying principals
NC Advocates for Justice; NC Bar Association; NC Black Lawyers Association; private criminal defense bar; NC Sheriffs' Association (interest in jail backlog implications)
Subject
$5.7M (NR) + $421.5K (recurring) for opening McLeansville Readiness Center (Jan 2026); $400K nonrecurring for North Wilkesboro Readiness Center.
Impacted industries
NC National Guard; military construction; Guilford and Wilkes county economies
Likely lobbying principals
NC National Guard Association; Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (agency); local chambers in Guilford and Wilkes counties
Part II-E — General Government
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2E.2 | The DAVE Act. Establishes State Auditor's Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency to assess agency efficiency and recommend dissolutions/position eliminations. All agencies must report vacant-position data by Oct 1, 2025. AI-assisted analysis explicitly authorized. Reports to General Assembly by Dec 31, 2025. $6M recurring each year for 45 positions. Sunsets Dec 31, 2028. | Every executive-branch state agency; agency contractors; state employee unions | Impacted industries Every executive-branch state agency; agency contractors; state employee unions Likely lobbying principals |
| 2E.3 | Creates 7 exempt positions at the State Board of Elections (general counsel, HR director, public information manager, legislative affairs manager, internal auditor, etc.) at $1.19M recurring per year. Amends G.S. 126-5 to add SBE Executive Director to exempt-position authority alongside Council of State officers. | State Board of Elections; election administration | Impacted industries State Board of Elections; election administration Likely lobbying principals |
| 2E.5 | $15M nonrecurring FY25-26 from IT Reserve to SBE for State Election Information Management System (SEIMS) upgrade + campaign finance software upgrade. SBE issues RFP. | Election information system vendors | Impacted industries Election information system vendors Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
The DAVE Act. Establishes State Auditor's Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency to assess agency efficiency and recommend dissolutions/position eliminations. All agencies must report vacant-position data by Oct 1, 2025. AI-assisted analysis explicitly authorized. Reports to General Assembly by Dec 31, 2025. $6M recurring each year for 45 positions. Sunsets Dec 31, 2028.
Impacted industries
Every executive-branch state agency; agency contractors; state employee unions
Likely lobbying principals
State Employees Association of NC (SEANC) — public-sector layoff exposure is core to membership; NC State Employees Credit Union (indirect interest in state employee population); Office of the State Auditor (agency executing); NC Association of Educators (DPI is in scope); private consulting firms positioned to bid on AI-assisted analysis work (Deloitte, KPMG, Guidehouse, PCG)
Subject
Creates 7 exempt positions at the State Board of Elections (general counsel, HR director, public information manager, legislative affairs manager, internal auditor, etc.) at $1.19M recurring per year. Amends G.S. 126-5 to add SBE Executive Director to exempt-position authority alongside Council of State officers.
Impacted industries
State Board of Elections; election administration
Likely lobbying principals
NC Republican Party (legislatively favored on SBE control); NC Democratic Party; NC State Employees Association; Brennan Center / Common Cause / League of Women Voters as outside-monitor interests
Subject
$15M nonrecurring FY25-26 from IT Reserve to SBE for State Election Information Management System (SEIMS) upgrade + campaign finance software upgrade. SBE issues RFP.
Impacted industries
Election information system vendors
Likely lobbying principals
Tyler Technologies; ES&S (Election Systems & Software); Hart InterCivic; Dominion Voting Systems; Knowink; State Board of Elections (agency)
Part II-F — Transportation
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2F.1 | Highway Fund: $1.2M recurring FY25-26 to create 40 Driver License Examiner FTEs; $2.99M recurring FY26-27 for 21 more. | DMV operations; driver license throughput | Impacted industries DMV operations; driver license throughput Likely lobbying principals |
| 2F.2 | Highway Fund: $1.8M recurring + $11.5M nonrecurring (FY25-26) + $2.75M recurring (FY26-27) for new DMV offices in Brunswick County, Cabarrus County, Fuquay-Varina (Wake), Garland (Sampson). 24 + 12 new FTEs. | DMV operations; county economic development | Impacted industries DMV operations; county economic development Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
Highway Fund: $1.2M recurring FY25-26 to create 40 Driver License Examiner FTEs; $2.99M recurring FY26-27 for 21 more.
Impacted industries
DMV operations; driver license throughput
Likely lobbying principals
NC Automobile Dealers Association; AAA Carolinas; NC Trucking Association; Department of Transportation/DMV (agency)
Subject
Highway Fund: $1.8M recurring + $11.5M nonrecurring (FY25-26) + $2.75M recurring (FY26-27) for new DMV offices in Brunswick County, Cabarrus County, Fuquay-Varina (Wake), Garland (Sampson). 24 + 12 new FTEs.
Impacted industries
DMV operations; county economic development
Likely lobbying principals
NC Automobile Dealers Association; AAA Carolinas; NC League of Municipalities; Brunswick, Cabarrus, Wake, and Sampson county commissions; Town of Fuquay-Varina; Town of Garland
Part II-G — Miscellaneous Reductions and Adjustments
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G.1 | Vacant position elimination targets: DPI ($1.85M each year), DEQ ($2.26M FY25-26 / $2.93M FY26-27), DIT ($1.4M each year). Each agency must report eliminations by Dec 1. | State workforce; specifically DPI, DEQ, DIT | Impacted industries State workforce; specifically DPI, DEQ, DIT Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
Vacant position elimination targets: DPI ($1.85M each year), DEQ ($2.26M FY25-26 / $2.93M FY26-27), DIT ($1.4M each year). Each agency must report eliminations by Dec 1.
Impacted industries
State workforce; specifically DPI, DEQ, DIT
Likely lobbying principals
SEANC; NC Association of Educators (DPI); NC Conservation Network, Southern Environmental Law Center, NC League of Conservation Voters (DEQ vacancy elimination has environmental enforcement implications); DIT contractor ecosystem
Part III — Salary and Benefits
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | $197.5M recurring FY25-26 for state employee benefits, plus $8.5M from Highway Fund for DOT. Allocated across DPI ($115M), UNC ($29M), Community Colleges ($14.7M), DAC ($14M), AOC ($7.2M), and dozens of smaller agency lines. | All state-funded workforce | Impacted industries All state-funded workforce Likely lobbying principals |
| 3.3 | Authorizes step increases, performance bonuses, and salary schedule movements during continuing-budget-authority period beginning July 1, 2025. Keeps prior teacher-bonus and supplemental-funds authorities alive notwithstanding 2023-25 fiscal limitation. | State employees; teachers; principals | Impacted industries State employees; teachers; principals Likely lobbying principals |
| 3.6 | Sets employer retirement contribution rates for FY25-26: 17.14% (teachers/state); 17.14% (state LEOs, also +5% NC 401k); 6.84% (ORPs); 37.73% (CJRS); 18.26% (LRS). Sets State Health Plan max annual employer contribution at $8,500/covered employee. Increases State contribution to Firefighters' & Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund by $350K. | State retirement systems; public-sector health insurance | Impacted industries State retirement systems; public-sector health insurance Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
$197.5M recurring FY25-26 for state employee benefits, plus $8.5M from Highway Fund for DOT. Allocated across DPI ($115M), UNC ($29M), Community Colleges ($14.7M), DAC ($14M), AOC ($7.2M), and dozens of smaller agency lines.
Impacted industries
All state-funded workforce
Likely lobbying principals
SEANC; NCAE; NC State Highway Patrol (PBA, Troopers Assoc); NC Bar Association (AOC employees); NC Pediatric Society (state-employed clinicians)
Subject
Authorizes step increases, performance bonuses, and salary schedule movements during continuing-budget-authority period beginning July 1, 2025. Keeps prior teacher-bonus and supplemental-funds authorities alive notwithstanding 2023-25 fiscal limitation.
Impacted industries
State employees; teachers; principals
Likely lobbying principals
NCAE; SEANC; Professional Educators of NC; NC Principals & Assistant Principals' Association
Subject
Sets employer retirement contribution rates for FY25-26: 17.14% (teachers/state); 17.14% (state LEOs, also +5% NC 401k); 6.84% (ORPs); 37.73% (CJRS); 18.26% (LRS). Sets State Health Plan max annual employer contribution at $8,500/covered employee. Increases State contribution to Firefighters' & Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund by $350K.
Impacted industries
State retirement systems; public-sector health insurance
Likely lobbying principals
State Health Plan / Treasurer's office (agency); State Retirement Systems; NC Firefighters' Association; NC State Firefighters' Association; NC Association of Rescue & EMS; NC Police Benevolent Association; NC Troopers Association
Part IV — Information Technology
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Adds State Board of Elections and State Highway Patrol to the list of entities exempt from Article 15 (DIT consolidation). Extends State Bureau of Investigation / Division of Emergency Management DIT exemption pilot through June 30, 2027. | State IT consolidation; specific exempt agencies; private IT vendors holding their contracts | Impacted industries State IT consolidation; specific exempt agencies; private IT vendors holding their contracts Likely lobbying principals |
| 4.2 | Expands Broadband Pole Replacement Program to include underground placement of broadband facilities as eligible reimbursement. Adds utility-owned poles to "pole" definition. Adds "previously served but disaster-damaged" to "unserved area" definition. | Broadband ISPs; municipal utilities; rural broadband; Helene recovery in WNC | Impacted industries Broadband ISPs; municipal utilities; rural broadband; Helene recovery in WNC Likely lobbying principals |
| 4.3 | Repeals existing GREAT fixed-wireless/satellite program statutes (G.S. 143B-1373.2 and 1374). Authorizes DIT to use those funds for satellite-internet installation-material grants prioritized to Helene-affected counties. Authorizes emergency funding to providers for rebuilding Helene-damaged broadband infrastructure (up to $50M from Broadband Make Ready Accelerator). | Broadband ISPs (especially Helene-affected); satellite internet; fixed wireless providers | Impacted industries Broadband ISPs (especially Helene-affected); satellite internet; fixed wireless providers Likely lobbying principals |
| 4.4 | Amends BEAD Program definitions (low-cost broadband service option ties to NTIA guidance rather than NC-specific spec); extends timing rules. | Broadband ISPs eligible for BEAD subgrants | Impacted industries Broadband ISPs eligible for BEAD subgrants Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
Adds State Board of Elections and State Highway Patrol to the list of entities exempt from Article 15 (DIT consolidation). Extends State Bureau of Investigation / Division of Emergency Management DIT exemption pilot through June 30, 2027.
Impacted industries
State IT consolidation; specific exempt agencies; private IT vendors holding their contracts
Likely lobbying principals
State Board of Elections; State Highway Patrol; State Bureau of Investigation; Division of Emergency Management; vendors holding agency-specific IT contracts outside DIT framework
Subject
Expands Broadband Pole Replacement Program to include underground placement of broadband facilities as eligible reimbursement. Adds utility-owned poles to "pole" definition. Adds "previously served but disaster-damaged" to "unserved area" definition.
Impacted industries
Broadband ISPs; municipal utilities; rural broadband; Helene recovery in WNC
Likely lobbying principals
NC Cable Telecommunications Association; NC Broadband Association; AT&T NC; Charter Communications; Brightspeed (CenturyLink/Lumen successor in NC); MCNC; rural electric cooperatives; municipalities owning poles
Subject
Repeals existing GREAT fixed-wireless/satellite program statutes (G.S. 143B-1373.2 and 1374). Authorizes DIT to use those funds for satellite-internet installation-material grants prioritized to Helene-affected counties. Authorizes emergency funding to providers for rebuilding Helene-damaged broadband infrastructure (up to $50M from Broadband Make Ready Accelerator).
Impacted industries
Broadband ISPs (especially Helene-affected); satellite internet; fixed wireless providers
Likely lobbying principals
MCNC ($12M direct grant in SL 2025-92 was for MCNC fiber rebuild); Starlink/SpaceX (satellite); NC Broadband Association; NC Cable Telecommunications Association; NC Association of Electric Cooperatives; volunteer fire departments and local-government broadband applicants in WNC
Subject
Amends BEAD Program definitions (low-cost broadband service option ties to NTIA guidance rather than NC-specific spec); extends timing rules.
Impacted industries
Broadband ISPs eligible for BEAD subgrants
Likely lobbying principals
Same as 4.2/4.3 — major ISPs, MCNC, and the broadband trade associations watching BEAD eligibility criteria
Part V — Capital
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | $823.6M FY25-26 nonrecurring from State Capital and Infrastructure Fund to OSBM, allocated across UNC System capital projects and other state capital priorities. (SL 2025-92 later amended this upward to $888.6M; UNC-Pembroke Regional Emergency Response Center named at $5M.) | UNC System capital; state-owned facilities; construction contractors | Impacted industries UNC System capital; state-owned facilities; construction contractors Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
$823.6M FY25-26 nonrecurring from State Capital and Infrastructure Fund to OSBM, allocated across UNC System capital projects and other state capital priorities. (SL 2025-92 later amended this upward to $888.6M; UNC-Pembroke Regional Emergency Response Center named at $5M.)
Impacted industries
UNC System capital; state-owned facilities; construction contractors
Likely lobbying principals
UNC System; UNC-Pembroke; NC State Construction Office (agency); major NC general contractors (Skanska, Balfour Beatty, Whiting-Turner); architectural firms on UNC System bench
Part VI — General Government
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | $300K recurring to Office of State Fire Marshal (Department of Insurance) for three administrative positions. | Fire services regulation; insurance regulation | Impacted industries Fire services regulation; insurance regulation Likely lobbying principals |
| 6.2 | $20.85M FY25-26 + $850K FY26-27 nonrecurring from IT Reserve to OSBM for purposes specified in that section. | State IT infrastructure; OSBM operations | Impacted industries State IT infrastructure; OSBM operations Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
$300K recurring to Office of State Fire Marshal (Department of Insurance) for three administrative positions.
Impacted industries
Fire services regulation; insurance regulation
Likely lobbying principals
NC State Firefighters' Association; NC Association of Fire Chiefs; Department of Insurance (agency)
Subject
$20.85M FY25-26 + $850K FY26-27 nonrecurring from IT Reserve to OSBM for purposes specified in that section.
Impacted industries
State IT infrastructure; OSBM operations
Likely lobbying principals
OSBM (agency); IT contractors holding state-level enterprise contracts
Part VII — Information Technology (separate from Part IV)
| Section | Subject | Impacted industries | Likely lobbying principals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | Companion to Part IV broadband sections — additional federal broadband fund allocations and MCNC fiber grant administration. | Same as Part IV 4.2-4.4 | Impacted industries Same as Part IV 4.2-4.4 Likely lobbying principals |
Subject
Companion to Part IV broadband sections — additional federal broadband fund allocations and MCNC fiber grant administration.
Impacted industries
Same as Part IV 4.2-4.4
Likely lobbying principals
Same: MCNC; NC Cable Telecommunications Association; broadband trade groups
Methodology
The industries and principals in this chart are Lapel’s editorial readings of who is likely lobbying which provisions, drawn from NC Secretary of State lobbyist-principal registration data and the public bill history of the underlying legislation. These are not direct attestations from the principals named, and the chart does not claim that every party listed worked the section.