North Carolina HB 125: NC Health and Human Services Workforce Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025

SESSION LAW 2025-89
HOUSE BILL 125

*H125-v-5*
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT VARIOUS BUDGETARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TO MAKE
OTHER CHANGES IN THE BUDGET OPERATIONS OF THE STATE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. APPROPRIATIONS

BASE BUDGET AND OTHER APPROPRIATIONS
SECTION 1.1. State funds, as defined in G.S. 143C-1-1(d)(25), are appropriated for
each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to all budget codes listed in the Governor's
Recommended Base Budget for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, as submitted pursuant to
G.S. 143C-3-5, up to the amounts specified, and as adjusted by the General Assembly in this act
or in another act of the General Assembly.

AGRICULTURAL DISASTER CROP LOSS PROGRAM TECHNICAL CORRECTION
SECTION 1.2. Section 2A.3(a)(1)a. of S.L. 2025-26 reads as rewritten:
"a. Twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for the Agricultural
Disaster Crop Loss Program (Program) established in Section 2D.1 of
S.L. 2025-2. These funds shall only be used for verifiable losses of
farm infrastructure, as that term is defined in Section 2D.1(g) 2D.2(g)
of S.L. 2025-2, in the affected area. These funds are not subject to the
Commissioner of Agriculture's discretion under Section 2D.1(h)
2D.2(h) of S.L. 2025-2. The reporting requirements of the Program
apply to these funds. The Department of Agriculture may apply these
funds to existing applicants who have applied for farm infrastructure
losses in the affected area prior to the date this act becomes law and
shall open a new application period for these funds."

DISASTER FUNDING
SECTION 1.3.(a) Statewide Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Funding. – The State
Controller shall transfer from the Stabilization and Inflation Reserve to the Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services (Department) the sum of one hundred forty-two million
dollars ($142,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the Agricultural
Disaster Crop Loss Program (Program), established in Section 2D.2(a) of S.L. 2025-2, for
verifiable losses from an agricultural disaster in 2024. The funds transferred in this subsection
are appropriated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the Department for the Program.
SECTION 1.3.(b) Funding Requirements. – Funds allocated to the Program under
this section shall be subject to all requirements of Section 2D.2 of S.L. 2025-2, except for
subsection (h) of that section. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall
include these funds in the reporting requirements set forth in Section 2D.2(i) of S.L. 2025-2.

DISASTER FUNDING DIRECTIVES AND RESTRICTIONS

Page 2 Session Law 2025-89 House Bill 125
SECTION 1.4.(a) Receipt of Allocations. – A recipient of State funds under Section
1.3 of this Part shall use best efforts and take all reasonable steps to obtain alternative funds that
cover the losses or needs for which the State funds are provided, including funds from insurance
policies in effect and available federal aid. State funds paid under Section 1.3 of this Part are
declared to be excess over funds received by a recipient from the settlement of a claim for loss
or damage covered under the recipient's applicable insurance policy in effect or federal aid.
Where a recipient is an institution of higher education or a non-State entity, the requirement
regarding alternative funds and the calculation of alternative funds received under this subsection
includes seeking private donations to help cover the losses or needs for which State funds are
provided. An agency awarding State funds for disaster relief shall include a notice to the recipient
of the requirements of this subsection.
SECTION 1.4.(b) Remittance of Funds. – If a recipient obtains alternative funds
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the recipient shall remit the funds to the State agency
from which the State funds were received. A recipient is not required to remit any amount in
excess of the State funds provided to the recipient under Section 1.3 of this Part. The State agency
shall transfer these funds to the Savings Reserve.
SECTION 1.4.(c) Contract Requirements. – Any contract or other instrument
entered into by a recipient for receipt of funds under Section 1.3 of this Part shall include the
requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
SECTION 1.4.(d) Limitation on Powers of Governor. – The Governor may not use
the funds described in Section 1.3 of this Part to make budget adjustments under G.S. 143C-6-4
or to make reallocations under G.S. 166A-19.40(c). Nothing in Section 1.3 or 1.4 of this Part
shall be construed to prohibit the Governor from exercising the Governor's authority under these
statutes with respect to funds other than those described in Section 1.3 of this Part.
SECTION 1.4.(e) Directive. – The Governor shall ensure that funds allocated in
Section 1.3 of this Part are expended in a manner that does not adversely affect any person's or
entity's eligibility for federal