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Bill

HB 620

Administrative Office of the Courts Agency Requests.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Sarah Stevens

North Carolina grants its Administrative Office of the Courts direct authority to submit independent budget requests to the Governor and legislature, bypassing standard agency review procedures.

Signed by Gov. 7/2/2025
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Bill Summary · HB 620

Legislative bill overview

HB 620 authorizes the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in North Carolina to submit agency budget requests and administrative proposals directly to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill streamlines the court system's budget process by granting the AOC greater autonomy in presenting its fiscal and operational needs without requiring intermediary approval from other state agencies.

Why is this important

Court systems require consistent, adequate funding to function effectively—affecting everything from case backlogs to public access to justice. By allowing the AOC direct input on budget requests, this bill aims to ensure the judiciary's financial needs are presented independently and prioritized appropriately alongside other state agencies, potentially improving court efficiency and reducing delays.

Potential points of contention

  • Judicial independence vs. executive oversight: Granting courts direct budget authority raises questions about appropriate separation of powers and whether this removes necessary executive branch review of spending priorities
  • Budget transparency and accountability: Direct requests could complicate the Governor's ability to coordinate overall state spending and may reduce scrutiny of court system expenditures
  • Implementation details: The bill's specifics on what constitutes allowable "requests" and "proposals" and how disputes are resolved remain unclear from the summary provided

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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