Bill > S440

This bill makes base budget appropriations for the current operations of state departments, institutions, and agencies for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. * **General Fund Appropriations:** * **Education:** * Community College System: $1.84 billion (FY2025-26) and $1.82 billion (FY2026-27) * Public Instruction: $12.94 billion (FY2025-26) and $13.31 billion (FY2026-27) * University of North Carolina System: $4.24 billion (FY2025-26) and $4.54 billion (FY2026-27) * **Health and Human Services:** $8.83 billion (FY2025-26) and $9.05 billion (FY2026-27) * **Justice and Public Safety:** Includes appropriations for the Judicial Department ($827.8 million FY2025-26), Indigent Defense Services ($186 million FY2025-26), Department of Justice ($90.8 million FY2025-26), Department of Public Safety ($702.8 million FY2025-26), and Department of Adult Correction ($2.18 billion FY2025-26). * **General Government:** Includes appropriations for various departments and offices, such as the Department of Administration ($74.7 million FY2025-26), General Assembly ($106.2 million FY2025-26), and Department of Revenue ($135.8 million FY2025-26). * **Highway Fund Appropriations:** Total appropriations of $3.31 billion (FY2025-26) and $3.34 billion (FY2026-27) for the Department of Transportation, primarily for maintenance ($2.23 billion FY2025-26) and State Aid to Municipalities ($185.9 million FY2025-26). * **Highway Trust Fund Appropriations:** Total appropriations of $2.49 billion (FY2025-26) and $2.55 billion (FY2026-27), primarily for the Strategic Prioritization Funding Plan for Transportation Investments ($2.22 billion FY2025-26). * **Education Lottery and Other Wagering Funds:** Total appropriations of $1.13 billion (FY2025-26) and $1.13 billion (FY2026-27) from the Education Lottery Fund, supporting programs like Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund ($258.3 million FY2025-26). * **Teacher and Principal Salary Increases:** Includes provisions for salary increases for teachers and principals, with specific schedules based on experience and school performance. * **IT Project Reserve:** $117.9 million is transferred from the Information Technology Project Reserve for various IT projects across state agencies. * **State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund:** $500 million is reserved for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. * **Federal Infrastructure Match Reserve:** Funds are transferred to various agencies to match federal infrastructure funds. * **Opportunity Scholarships:** Significant increases in funding are allocated to the Opportunity Scholarships Grant Fund Reserve, with new requirements for nonpublic schools regarding academic assessments and financial audits. * **Community College Funding:** Adjustments to the Propel NC funding model and changes to the Enrollment Growth Reserve. * **Various Programmatic Changes:** The bill includes numerous provisions related to specific programs, including changes to literacy initiatives, school safety allotments, and the expansion of diagnostic reading assessments.