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HB 690

The Citizens Support Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Jennifer Balkcom and 8 co-sponsors

HB 690 would require state agencies to verify eligibility and restrict access to state-funded benefits, publicly funded housing, in-state tuition/aid, and unemployment benefits to

Special Message Sent To Senate
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Bill Summary · HB 690

Summary — HB 690: "The Citizens Support Act" (North Carolina, 2025)

Status: Introduced/Committee Substitute; Special message sent to Senate.
Introduced: 2025 (multiple committee substitute editions filed). Primary sponsor: Rep. N. Jackson. Key co-sponsors noted in bill history.

Main purpose

HB 690 directs State agencies and public institutions to ensure that State‑funded benefits, publicly funded housing assistance, in‑state tuition/financial aid, and unemployment benefits are available only to U.S. citizens and to noncitizens who are legally authorized to reside in the United States — subject to federal law. It requires agencies to adopt verification policies, implement plans, and report to the General Assembly about implementation.

Key provisions

  • General caveat: All directives are qualified “to the extent permitted by federal law.”

  • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

    • Take all steps necessary to cease providing State‑funded benefits to noncitizens determined to be residing in the U.S. without legal permission (where federal law permits).
    • Develop and implement a plan to review and update eligibility criteria and to verify immigration status of noncitizen applicants prior to initiating benefits.
    • Report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division by January 15, 2026, on steps taken, limitations, and the implementation plan (including citations to any federal law/regulation that prohibits DHHS from denying eligibility).
    • “State‑funded benefits” is defined and includes many programs (see below). The bill excludes benefits/services that help beneficiaries access food/meals.

  • Department of Commerce, North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (HFA), and Local Housing Authorities

    • Take steps to stop providing publicly funded housing benefits to noncitizens residing unlawfully in the U.S. (as allowed by federal law).
    • Create verification methods and plans to update eligibility rules; report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and Fiscal Research Division by January 15, 2026, including federal law citations that preclude changes.
    • “Publicly funded housing benefits” is defined and includes programs such as CDBG, Rental Assistance, Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), NC Home Advantage programs, HOME, ESG/RUSH, KEY rental assistance, and others.

  • Higher education

    • Governing bodies of The University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Community College System must, by January 15, 2026, adopt and implement policies (to the extent allowed by federal law) verifying that applicants are legally authorized to reside in the U.S. for purposes of determining eligibility for in‑state tuition and financial aid.

  • Unemployment insurance

    • The Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security must, by January 15, 2026 (and to the extent federal law permits), adopt and implement a policy to verify legal authorization to reside in the U.S. for unemployment benefits applicants prior to the first payment of benefits.

  • Effective date: bill states it becomes effective when it becomes law.

Programs explicitly listed (selected)

  • DHHS “State‑funded benefits”: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Work First), child care subsidies, Medicaid, rental/housing assistance administered via DHHS, medication assistance, refugee assistance, foster care/adoption assistance, Low Income Energy Assistance, single‑stream funding, State‑County Special Assistance, Home and Community Care Block Grant programs, caregiver support, inpatient psychiatric services (3‑way bed contracts), etc. Food/meal access assistance excluded from the limitation.
  • Housing programs: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Rental assistance, Transitional housing, KEY, HCV, NC Home Advantage, HOME, ESG (including RUSH), Affordable Housing Development Fund, Essential Single‑Family Rehabilitation, etc.

Who is affected

  • Noncitizen applicants for State‑funded benefits, publicly funded housing, in‑state tuition/financial aid, and unemployment benefits — to the extent federal law allows.
  • State agencies required to design and operate immigration status verification procedures (DHHS, Department of Commerce, HFA, local housing authorities, Division of Employment Security).
  • UNC System and North Carolina Community College System (policy adoption/verification procedures).
  • Potential administrative burden on agencies for verification systems, and potential impacts to recipients if eligibility rules change.

Implementation, reporting, and timeline

  • Agencies must prepare plans and verification methods and report to the Legislature by January 15, 2026.
  • Policies must be adopted/implemented by January 15, 2026 where specified.
  • All actions and denials must be reconciled with applicable federal law; reports must cite federal laws/regulations that prevent changes.

Legal and fiscal considerations

  • The bill repeatedly qualifies directives “to the extent permitted by federal law.” Several programs (e.g., Medicaid, certain federally funded housing programs) are governed by federal eligibility rules and may limit State authority to impose additional restrictions. The bill requires agencies to identify those legal limitations in their reports.
  • The bill does not specify the verification technology/process, nor explicit funding for implementation. Agencies may incur administrative/fiscal costs to develop verification systems, which are not quantified in the bill text.
  • Potential for legal challenges regarding federal preemption or conflicts with federal eligibility standards exists, depending on how agencies implement verification and eligibility changes.

Legislative status & sponsors

  • Multiple committee substitute versions filed; committee activity reported (Judiciary 2; State & Local Government; Rules).
  • Primary sponsor listed as Rep. N. Jackson (other sponsors and co‑sponsors appear in bill history).
  • As of the most recent version, the bill had moved through committee substitute stages and included reporting/implementation deadlines (Jan 15, 2026).

If you want, I can:
- Extract the full list of programs again in a single table,
- Draft the likely implementation steps an agency would need (data sources, verification process options), or
- Summarize potential constitutional/federal legal issues and relevant case law or federal statutes likely to apply.

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

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