# North Carolina SB 294: AN ACT TO INTRODUCE GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS BY AMENDING THE STATE BUDGET ACT TO INCREASE PUBLIC NOTICE AND PARTICIPATION AND BY REMOVING LEGISLATIVE CONFIDENTIALITY FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS TO OR FROM LEGISLATORS REQUESTING BUDGET PROVISIONS OR FUNDS MADE.

North Carolina SB 294, AN ACT TO INTRODUCE GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS BY AMENDING THE STATE BUDGET ACT TO INCREASE PUBLIC NOTICE AND PARTICIPATION AND BY REMOVING LEGISLATIVE CONFIDENTIALITY FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS TO OR FROM LEGISLATORS REQUESTING BUDGET PROVISIONS OR FUNDS MADE., is a 2025-2026 Session Senate bill sponsored by Val Applewhite (Democratic), Lisa Grafstein (Democratic), Graig Meyer (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-03-17 (Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB294-2025
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: North Carolina SB 294
- State: North Carolina
- Session: 2025-2026 Session
- Title: AN ACT TO INTRODUCE GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS BY AMENDING THE STATE BUDGET ACT TO INCREASE PUBLIC NOTICE AND PARTICIPATION AND BY REMOVING LEGISLATIVE CONFIDENTIALITY FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS TO OR FROM LEGISLATORS REQUESTING BUDGET PROVISIONS OR FUNDS MADE.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-03-13
- Last action: 2025-03-17, Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- Sponsors: Val Applewhite (Democratic), Lisa Grafstein (Democratic), Graig Meyer (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: BUDGETING, CONFIDENTIALITY, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NOTIFICATION, PRIVACY, PUBLIC, PUBLIC MEETINGS, RECORDS
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Val Applewhite (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Lisa Grafstein (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Graig Meyer (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kandie D. Smith (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Caleb Theodros (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (3)

- 2025-03-17: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-03-17: Passed 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Filed: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S294v0.pdf)
- Latest Edition: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S294v1.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 96: AN ACT TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY FOR THE EXPEDITED REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. (vetoed)
- HB 958: AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION LAWS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. (vetoed)
- HB 377: 2026 Court Changes. (vetoed)
- HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II. (signed)
- SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026. (signed)
- SB 177: Continuing Budget Adjustments. (passed house)

## Sources
- [Filed (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S294v0.pdf)
- [Latest Edition (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S294v1.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 96: AN ACT TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY FOR THE EXPEDITED REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORIZE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB96-2025)
- [HB 958: AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION LAWS AND CAMPAIGN FIN…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB958-2025)
- [HB 377: 2026 Court Changes.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB377-2025)
- [HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB268-2025)
- [SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB445-2025)
- [SB 177: Continuing Budget Adjustments.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB177-2025)
- [North Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina/bills)
- [North Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB294-2025 (as of 2026-11-01).