An Act amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.103, No.69), known as The Second Class Township Code, in taxation and finance, further providing for township and special tax levies.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 26 co-sponsors

Directs a one-time $250,000 General Fund grant to The Arts Council, Inc. to fund the 1Love Festival in Winston‑Salem (FY 2025–2026).

Referred to Local Government

HB 393 — One Love Festival / Funds (North Carolina)

Status & Key Dates
- Bill title: Funds for One Love Festival (HB 393)
- Primary sponsors (per bill text): Representatives Baker and K. Brown
- Filed: March 13, 2025 (bill text); First reading: March 17, 2025
- Legislative status (from provided history): Passed 1st Reading; referred to Appropriations.
- Effective date (per bill): July 1, 2025 (Section 2)

Purpose / Intent
- To provide one-time, state support for the 1Love Festival in Winston‑Salem by making a directed, nonrecurring grant to a local arts nonprofit. The stated goals are to support a three‑day festival that “celebrates diversity, fosters unity, and provides a platform for cultural expression through music, arts, and entertainment.”

What the bill does — Key provisions
- Appropriation: Directs $250,000 in nonrecurring funds from the North Carolina General Fund for FY 2025–2026.
- Recipient: The funds are appropriated to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) to be provided as a directed grant to The Arts Council, Inc. (the local arts nonprofit in Winston‑Salem).
- Use: The grant is to “support the 1Love Festival,” a three‑day cultural/arts/music festival held in the City of Winston‑Salem.
- Effective date: The act (if enacted) becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Who or what is affected
- Primary beneficiary: The Arts Council, Inc., as the named grant recipient, and the 1Love Festival organizers.
- Secondary beneficiaries: Performers, vendors, artists, local small businesses, hotels, restaurants, and cultural organizations in Winston‑Salem and Forsyth County that may see increased economic or promotional activity during the festival.
- State budget: One‑time draw of $250,000 from the General Fund in FY 2025–2026 (nonrecurring).

Fiscal impact
- Direct state cost: $250,000 (nonrecurring) in FY 2025–2026. The bill does not authorize ongoing funding.
- No detailed spending conditions or reporting/oversight provisions are included in the text provided; OSBM would administer the directed grant.

Procedural / implementation notes
- The bill is a directed appropriation (earmarks the funds to a specific nonprofit and event).
- Because the appropriation is nonrecurring, no continuing obligation is created for future fiscal years.
- The text does not specify grant conditions, deliverables, or reporting requirements (e.g., performance metrics, audits, or required use categories).
- Local governments (City of Winston‑Salem / Forsyth County) and festival organizers may need to coordinate with The Arts Council and OSBM on timing and use of funds once allocated.

Observations / considerations
- The appropriation is intended to support arts, cultural programming, and local economic activity tied to a single named event. Stakeholders often examine whether directed grants include accountability measures (reporting, allowable expenses) — none are specified in the bill text provided.
- Because the funding is nonrecurring, future festival support would require additional legislative action.