Bill > S326

This bill is a comprehensive economic security act aimed at improving workers' rights and economic conditions in North Carolina through multiple key provisions. The bill increases the state minimum wage to $22 per hour, with annual adjustments for inflation, and mandates equal pay for equal work by establishing new legal protections that prevent wage discrimination based on sex. It requires employers to provide paid sick leave, allowing employees to accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with limits of 32-56 hours per year depending on the business size. The legislation introduces workplace safety measures, including heat exposure protections and emergency evacuation plans, and creates new rights for employees during emergency conditions. The bill also increases unemployment insurance benefits, raising the weekly maximum from $350 to $680, and extends benefits to a flat 26 weeks. Additionally, the act reenacts the Earned Income Tax Credit at 5% and creates a new tax credit for child and dependent care expenses. It includes a "ban the box" provision to help individuals with criminal histories find employment by restricting when employers can inquire about criminal backgrounds. The bill also repeals restrictions on public employee collective bargaining, creates a presumption that first responders and healthcare workers who contract certain diseases did so through work, and provides a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for retirees in several state retirement systems.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S326