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Bill Summary · SB 965

Summary of SB 965 (Session 2025) – DIT Consultation

Purpose
- The bill requires the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (DIT) to provide advisory and consultation resources to exempt state agencies regarding information technology activities and services.

Main Provisions

1) Expansion of DIT advisory/consultation role (Section 1)
- Creates a statutory obligation for DIT to offer advisory and consultation resources to any exempt state agencies that elect to participate.
- Exempt agencies are those listed under the current statutory exemptions from certain IT procurement/applied programs, unless they opt in:
- General Assembly
- Judicial Department
- Community Colleges System Office
- The University of North Carolina and its constituent institutions
- Office of the State Auditor
- State Board of Elections
- State Highway Patrol
- Department of State Treasurer (with limited exceptions)
- Investment Authority under Part 1 of Article 6, Chapter 147 (Board of Directors of the Authority)
- Agencies choose to participate by written election, and the election process for each entity is specified (e.g., by Legislative Services Commission for General Assembly; by Chief Justice for Judicial Department; by respective boards/officers for other entities).

2) Deviation and coordination provisions
- Agencies may apply to the State Chief Information Officer (CIO) for deviations from the article. If granted, deviations must align with available appropriations and any terms set by the CIO.
- Agencies with deviations must develop and adopt a plan to phase out unnecessary deviations in coordination with DIT, integrating general IT functions with DIT policies, procedures, and guidelines.
- Agencies with deviations must submit their phase-out plan to the Office of State Budget and Management as directed by the CIO.

3) Ongoing review of deviations
- Even with deviations, agencies must review and evaluate them and coordinate with DIT to align functions.
- The plan for phasing out deviations should include coordination strategies and compliance with DIT policies.

4) Interagency liaison network (Section 2)
- FY 2026-2027: Appropriates $50,000 (nonrecurring) from the General Fund to DIT.
- Purpose: To establish an interagency liaison network to support the consultation obligation created by the act.

5) Effective date (Section 3)
- The act becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Key Impacts and Who is Affected

  • Affected/participating entities: Exempt agencies listed in the current exemptions may elect to participate in DIT’s advisory/consultation offerings for IT activities and services.
  • DIT’s role: Expanded to provide formal advisory and consultation resources to participating agencies, potentially influencing IT procurement, policy alignment, and project execution across exempt agencies.
  • Budget/implementation: A one-time, nonrecurring appropriation of $50,000 to establish and support an interagency liaison network to facilitate the consultation obligations.
  • Deviation management: Agencies with deviations from the standard IT framework must coordinate with DIT, pursue phasing-out plans, and maintain alignment with statewide IT policies.

Timeline and Process

  • Effective date: July 1, 2026.
  • Initial funding available for 2026-2027 to support liaison network development.
  • Elections to participate by exempt agencies occur via designated appointing bodies (e.g., Legislative Services Commission, State Board of Elections, etc.).
  • Ongoing review and phasing-out planning for deviations, with required submissions to the CIO and the Office of State Budget and Management.

Note
- The bill foregrounds a cooperative model between DIT and exempt agencies, aimed at standardizing IT activities while preserving agency-specific operational flexibility where deviations exist. It does not mandate participation but creates a structured pathway for advisory support and coordination.

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

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