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HB 739

Disability Provisions for Firefighters and Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Judson Sapp

HB 739 allows a one-time $61.3 million NC General Fund grant to Wilson County and nearby towns for water/sewer, schools, courthouse, public safety, housing, and programs.

Died in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
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Bill Summary · HB 739

Summary — HB 739: Wilson and Nash Counties / Funds

Status: Passed First Reading (NC House)
Introduced by: Rep. Keith (or) Representative Pittman (bill text lists Rep. Pittman)
Introduced/Filed: 2025 session
Effective date: July 1, 2025 (if enacted)
Appropriation year: Nonrecurring funds for FY 2025–2026

Purpose / Intent

HB 739 provides a one-time, targeted appropriation from the North Carolina General Fund to support a set of directed local projects and services in Wilson and Nash County areas (and specified towns). The stated aim is to fund water and sewer infrastructure, public safety facilities and training, school construction, housing, and other local programs.

Key provisions

  • Appropriates $61,300,000 in nonrecurring General Fund dollars for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
  • Funds are appropriated to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) to be disbursed as directed grants to the specified recipients.
  • The appropriation is itemized as follows:
    1. $2,500,000 — Town of Lucama (water infrastructure)
    2. $4,500,000 — Town of Stantonsburg (water and sewer projects)
    3. $5,000,000 — Wilson County (for allocation to county volunteer fire departments)
    4. $15,000,000 — Wilson County (school construction)
    5. $20,000,000 — Wilson County (construction of a new courthouse)
    6. $800,000 — Wilson County (Sheriff’s Office Training Center)
    7. $1,000,000 — Wilson County (Narcan for Wilson County schools and libraries)
    8. $8,000,000 — Wilson Housing Authority
    9. $3,000,000 — Wilson County (Wilson Ride Program)
    10. $1,500,000 — Town of Sharpsburg (construction of a new police department)
  • Section specifying the act’s effective date: July 1, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Towns of Lucama, Stantonsburg, Sharpsburg; Wilson County government and its volunteer fire departments, Sheriff’s Office, school system, Wilson Ride transit program; Wilson Housing Authority.
  • Indirect beneficiaries: residents of Wilson County (and potentially Nash County areas referenced by the bill title), local schoolchildren and library patrons (via Narcan supply), users of improved water/sewer systems, and users of public safety and judicial facilities.
  • Administrative: OSBM responsible for receiving funds and making directed grant disbursements.

Fiscal and programmatic impact

  • Total: $61.3 million in one-time (nonrecurring) state funding for FY 2025–26.
  • Intended to finance capital projects (schools, courthouse, police facility), infrastructure (water/sewer), equipment/supplies (Narcan), operations or program support (housing authority, ride program), and public-safety capacity building (training center, volunteer fire support).
  • Because the appropriation is nonrecurring, ongoing maintenance or operating costs implied by capital projects may require future local or state funding.

Procedural / Timeline notes

  • Appropriation is for the 2025–2026 fiscal year; funds are to be allocated by OSBM as directed grants.
  • The bill as provided had its effective date set for July 1, 2025 (common start of the FY).
  • As with any local appropriation, recipients will need to comply with any OSBM or statutory requirements to receive and expend the funds.

Observations / considerations

  • The appropriation is highly targeted; most funding benefits Wilson County and entities within it. Despite the bill title referencing Nash County, the itemized allocations in the text focus on towns and entities primarily associated with Wilson County (and named towns).
  • The nonrecurring nature reduces long‑term state budget exposure, but local governments should plan for future operating or maintenance obligations that new facilities or programs may create.

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

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