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HB 859NORTH CAROLINASession 2025State Billpassed chamber

Passed

North Carolina bans local governments from implementing guaranteed income programs

Original title: Local Govts/Guaranteed Income Programs.

Last action · May 8, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action)Sponsor: Cody Huneycutt

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina counties and cities are prohibited from adopting or enforcing any ordinance, resolution, or policy that provides unconditional cash payments to individuals under a , unless expressly authorized by state law.

Why it matters

Local municipalities and counties lose the legal authority to distribute unconditional cash assistance to residents unless the General Assembly passes specific authorizing legislation.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Counties and Cities

Local governments lose the legal authority to enact or enforce guaranteed income initiatives unless given specific state legislative authorization.

Directly affected

Local Residents

Key Facts

Counties are prohibited from adopting or enforcing ordinances, resolutions, or policies providing unconditional cash payments to individuals.
Cities are similarly prohibited from adopting or enforcing guaranteed income programs.
A 'guaranteed income program' is defined as issuing unconditional cash payments on a regular basis to be used for any purpose.
Programs requiring recipients to seek reemployment, perform work, or attend training as a condition of payment are explicitly excluded from the ban.

Show all 6 facts

The restriction does not apply if a guaranteed income program is expressly authorized by general or local law.
The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this ban apply to all cash assistance programs run by local governments?

No. Programs that require an individual to seek reemployment, perform work, or attend training as a condition of receiving cash payments are exempt from the ban.

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News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

16 actions

May 8, 2025Senate
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 8, 2025Senate
Passed 1st Reading
May 8, 2025Senate
Special Message Received From House
May 8, 2025House
Special Message Sent To Senate
May 7, 2025House
Passed 3rd Reading
May 7, 2025House
Passed 2nd Reading

Show 10 earlier actions

May 7, 2025House
Added to Calendar
May 7, 2025House
Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)
May 7, 2025House
Reptd Fav
May 6, 2025House
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
May 6, 2025House
Reptd Fav
Apr 29, 2025House
Re-ref Com On State and Local Government
Apr 29, 2025House
Reptd Fav
Apr 10, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Commerce and Economic Development, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 10, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 9, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

What This Bill Would Do

Who It Would Affect

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

News Coverage

Where This Stands

Procedural history

Version history

Voting Record

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