North Carolina HB 1096: Recurring Funding for Human Relations Comm'n.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1096

Short Title: First in Flight Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Reives, Ross, Loftis, and Cervania (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 30, 2026
*H1096-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO CREATE THE AVIATION CAPITAL PROJECT ACCOUNT AND THE ONE 2
NORTH CAROLINA CAPITAL PROJECT PROGRAM, TO CREATE THE AEROSPACE 3
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND AEROSPACE DUAL ENROLLMENT 4
PROGRAMS, TO PROVIDE VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES WITH FUNDING TO 5
SUPPORT THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AND AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND 6
TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES. 7
Whereas, North Carolina holds a singular place in the history of aviation as First in 8
Flight, when Wilbur and Orville Wright launched the first controlled, sustained flight of a 9
powered, heavier-than-air aircraft at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and that 10
legacy remains a source of pride, economic strength, and technological leadership for the State; 11
and 12
Whereas, the aerospace industry offers high-wage employment opportunities across 13
manufacturing, maintenance, repair, overhaul, avionics, research, logistics, and related fields; 14
and 15
Whereas, continued growth in the aerospace sector depends upon modern airport 16
infrastructure, ready industrial sites, efficient supply chains, and strong partnerships among 17
employers, airports, community colleges, and institutions of higher education; and 18
Whereas, North Carolina is well-positioned to compete for additional aerospace 19
investment by aligning workforce training, apprenticeship opportunities, dual-enrollment 20
pathways, university research capacity, and targeted infrastructure improvements; and 21
Whereas, supporting airport authorities and aerospace businesses can strengthen 22
regional economies, expand opportunities in both urban and rural communities, and promote 23
long-term job creation throughout the State; and 24
Whereas, investments in aerospace education and applied research will help ensure 25
that North Carolina develops the skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem necessary to 26
remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industry; and 27
Whereas, it is in the best interest of the State to make strategic investments that 28
reinforce North Carolina's historic leadership in aviation and position the State for continued 29
success in aerospace manufacturing, aerospace research, and related economic development; 30
Now, therefore, 31
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 32
33
PART I. AVIATION INVESTMENT GRANT 34

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1096-First Edition
SECTION 1.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 1
Commerce the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 2
fiscal year to be allocated to the One North Carolina Aviation Capital Project Account under 3
G.S. 143B-437.71(d), as created by subsection (b) of this section. 4
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 143B-437.71 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 5
"(d) One North Carolina Aviation Capital Project Account. – There is created in the One 6
North Carolina Fund a special account, the One North Carolina Aviation Capital Project Account, 7
to be used for the One North Carolina Aviation Capital Project Program, as specified in Part 2K 8
of Article 10 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes." 9
SECTION 1.(c) Article 10 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by 10
adding a new Part to read: 11
"Part 2K. One North Carolina Aviation Capital Project Program. 12
"§ 143B-437.125. One North Carolina Aviation Capital Project Program. 13
(a) Program. – There is established the One North Carolina Aviation Capital Project 14
Program to be administered by the Department in consultation with the North Carolina 15
Department of Transportation, Division of Aviation. In order to modernize the State's airport 16
infrastructure and improve capacity for aerospace manufacturing, maintenance, repair, overhaul, 17
and advanced aerospace research and design, the Department may provide grants to airports to 18
offset costs incurred for airport projects in accordance with this section. Grants under this section 19
shall be paid from the One North Carolina Aviation Capital Project Account established in 20
G.S. 143B-437.71. 21
(b) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 22
(1) Airport. – As defined in G.S. 63-1. 23
(2) Airport facility. – As defined in G.S. 143-215.57A. 24
(3) Airport project. – As defined in G.S. 143-215.57A. 25
(4) Department. – The Department of Commerce. 26
(5) Eligible aerospace business. – A business that (i) designs, manufactures, 27
repairs, or operates aircraft and (ii) has entered into a company performance 28
agreement approved by the Depart