Law redirects state funds and adds an America 250 plate option

State agencies must redirect specified 2026-2027 funds to veteran treatment, county purposes, and sewer expansion. The provisions cover a $1.5 million grant to HBOT 4 Heroes for veterans with traumatic brain injury or posttraumatic stress disorder, grants to Harnett County and Anson Economic Development Corporation, and related reductions to other grants. If House Bill 268 becomes law, its referenced provisions are repealed or corrected and the HBOT 4 Heroes grant must be funded. If House Bill 268 does not become law, the HBOT 4 Heroes grant and related funding reduction still apply. Harnett County may use its grant for any public purpose. Anson County must use its grant for sewer system expansion. The grants and funding changes apply to nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

The Division of Motor Vehicles must offer an America's Semiquincentennial, or America 250, plate as one of the listed plate choices. The choice applies to private passenger vehicles and private hauler vehicles weighing 6,000 pounds or less, while special, dealer, loaner, and transporter plates follow related exceptions. The America 250 plate must show the words “America 250” and a design featuring listed North Carolina landmarks and symbols. Dealer, loaner, and transporter plates are excused from the regular plate-design requirement but must keep their required identifying symbols. The Division is not required to issue the America 250 design until 180 days after it finalizes the background design. This section applies retroactively to July 7, 2026, but the 180-day issuance delay applies after the Division finalizes the design.

The law directs how certain insurance charges are handled and provides recurring funds for state agency positions. The insurance rule covers charges collected after January 1, 2027, for earlier taxable years, and the appropriations support the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Department of Labor. Insurance charges generally follow the rules for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. Except for money transferred to the State Building Code Regulatory Fund, covered charges for earlier taxable years go to the Insurance Regulatory Fund. The Insurance Regulatory Fund must be used for the listed purposes in the referenced insurance statute. The agency funding begins in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, while the insurance-charge rule applies to charges collected after January 1, 2027, as specified.