Bill > S456

This bill establishes the Healthy Start NC Program to provide financial assistance to expecting mothers and families with newborns, funded through a combination of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant funds and General Fund appropriations totaling approximately $307.9 million for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The program will provide a one-time $1,500 payment to expecting mothers during pregnancy for needs like food, prenatal care, and rent, followed by monthly $500 payments for up to one year after birth to cover baby-related expenses such as formula, diapers, and child care. The Division of Social Services will develop program guidelines, partner with a nonprofit organization to administer the funds, and use a means-based eligibility test to identify qualifying families. The nonprofit will be required to deliver funds as private gifts to minimize tax implications and social benefit impacts, and will also be expected to raise private philanthropic funds to expand the program's reach. Concurrently, the bill modifies the corporate income tax rate, setting it at a fixed 2.25% for taxable years beginning in 2025, which is intended to help offset the program's costs while keeping corporate tax rates more aligned with individual taxpayer rates.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S456