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SB 417

requiring state liquor outlets to post warnings relative to the increased risk of cancer and birth defects from drinking alcoholic beverages.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sue Prentiss and 2 co-sponsors

Requires UNC system, state departments, courts, and the General Assembly to publish monthly, itemized expenditures of $1+ with totals within 10 days, boosting transparency.

Inexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
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Bill Summary · SB 417

SB 417 — Posting of State Costs (Fiscal Transparency and Accessibility)

Status: Passed 1st Reading (Introduced Feb 18, 2025)
Subject areas: state administration, budgeting, public records, electronic government, legislative services

Main purpose

Require key state entities to publish monthly, itemized expenditure data (every payment $1.00 or more) so the public can see how state revenue is spent.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new fiscal-transparency requirement across three statutes:
    • New G.S. 143B‑28.2 — applies to The University of North Carolina and each principal department under Chapters 143A and 143B.
    • Amends G.S. 7A‑343(9h) — requires similar reporting by the State courts.
    • Adds G.S. 120‑32.05 — requires the Legislative Services Officer to publish General Assembly expenditures.
  • Reporting content and threshold:
    • Itemized list of all expenditures costing at least $1.00 for purchases of tangible personal property, real property, and services.
    • Include the monthly sum total of expenditures.
  • Process and timing:
    • Entities collate and report monthly in a format prescribed by the Department of Administration (or, for the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Officer).
    • The Department of Administration (or Legislative Services Officer / Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts) must publish the report on its website within 10 days of receiving/creating it, in a publicly accessible format.
  • Legal protections:
    • Does not require disclosure of records that are confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure under State or federal law.
  • Effective dates:
    • Act effective July 1, 2025.
    • Publication obligations begin October 1, 2025 and cover expenditures starting with the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Who is affected

  • The University of North Carolina system and principal state departments under Chapters 143A/143B.
  • State courts (reporting via the Director/Administrative Officer of the Courts).
  • The General Assembly (via the Legislative Services Officer).
  • Indirectly affects vendors and contractors (their payments will appear in published data).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Transparency: Provides the public near-real-time access to detailed state spending data at a very low threshold ($1), improving oversight and research capability.
  • Administrative/IT burden: Agencies will need processes and systems to collate, format (per Department of Administration specifications), and publish monthly data; there may be implementation costs and resource needs.
  • Privacy and confidentiality: Agencies must identify and withhold genuinely protected information (e.g., sensitive personal data, security-related expenditures, or legally protected records).
  • Data usability: Effectiveness depends on the prescribed data format, consistency across entities, and ongoing maintenance to ensure files are machine-readable and searchable.

Procedural notes

  • Reports are required monthly; published within 10 days after the reporting entity submits the prescribed file.
  • Statutory sections created/amended: new §143B‑28.2; amendment to §7A‑343; new §120‑32.05.

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

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