# North Carolina SB 659: AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO RAISE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS, STATE EMPLOYEES, COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA; TO PROVIDE A COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR RETIREES; TO EXPAND THE WAGE$ PROGRAM STATEWIDE; AND TO CREATE A TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFYING EMPLOYERS EQUAL TO THE LESSER OF FIVE PERCENT OF WAGES PAID TO EMPLOYEES DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR OR TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

North Carolina SB 659, AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO RAISE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS, STATE EMPLOYEES, COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA; TO PROVIDE A COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR RETIREES; TO EXPAND THE WAGE$ PROGRAM STATEWIDE; AND TO CREATE A TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFYING EMPLOYERS EQUAL TO THE LESSER OF FIVE PERCENT OF WAGES PAID TO EMPLOYEES DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR OR TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS., is a 2025-2026 Session Senate bill sponsored by Val Applewhite (Democratic), Woodson Bradley (Democratic), Lisa Grafstein (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-03-26 (Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB659-2025
- 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 659
- State: North Carolina
- Session: 2025-2026 Session
- Title: AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO RAISE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS, STATE EMPLOYEES, COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA; TO PROVIDE A COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR RETIREES; TO EXPAND THE WAGE$ PROGRAM STATEWIDE; AND TO CREATE A TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFYING EMPLOYERS EQUAL TO THE LESSER OF FIVE PERCENT OF WAGES PAID TO EMPLOYEES DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR OR TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-03-25
- Last action: 2025-03-26, Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- Sponsors: Val Applewhite (Democratic), Woodson Bradley (Democratic), Lisa Grafstein (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 16
- Subjects: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, APPROPRIATIONS, BUDGETING, CJRS, COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, CORPORATIONS, FOR-PROFIT, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, COST-OF-LIVING, COURTS, DISABLED PERSONS, EDUCATION, EDUCATION, STATE BOARD OF, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, EMERGENCY SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HIGHER EDUCATION, JUDGES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, LRS, MAGISTRATES, OCCUPATIONS, PAROLE & PROBATION, PERSONNEL, INMATES, PUBLIC, RETIREMENT, SALARIES & BENEFITS, SBI, SECONDARY EDUCATION, SENTENCING, STATE EMPLOYEES, TAX CREDITS, TAXATION, TAXES, CORPORATE INCOME, TEACHERS, TSERS, UNC, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, HIGHWAY PATROL, PUBLIC SAFETY DEPT
- 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: Woodson Bradley (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Lisa Grafstein (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Gale Adcock (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sydney Batch (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jay J. Chaudhuri (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Terence Everitt (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michael Garrett (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Paul A. Lowe, Jr. (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Julie Mayfield (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Graig Meyer (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mujtaba A. Mohammed (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Gladys A. Robinson (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: DeAndrea Salvador (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kandie D. Smith (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Caleb Theodros (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joyce Waddell (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (3)

- 2025-03-26: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-03-26: Passed 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-25: Filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Filed: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S659v0.pdf)
- Latest Edition: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S659v1.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)
- SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026. (signed)
- HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II. (signed)
- SB 403: AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPEDIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS. (passed house)

## Sources
- [Filed (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S659v0.pdf)
- [Latest Edition (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S659v1.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)
- [SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB445-2025)
- [HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB268-2025)
- [SB 403: AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPEDIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENT…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB403-2025)
- [North Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina/bills)
- [North Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB659-2025 (as of 2026-11-01).