GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH30374-LRa-127A
Short Title: First Responder Bonus/Appreciation Fund/$1500. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative A. Jones.
Referred to:
*DRH30374 -LRa-127A*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE 2025 FIRST RESPONDER S AND NURSES 2
APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM . 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
5
PART I. FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM 6
SECTION 1.1. The following definitions apply in this Part: 7
(1) Appreciation bonus payment or bonus. – A one-time supplemental payment 8
to a first responder that does not become part of the first responder's base 9
salary. 10
(2) Base salary. – The regular, recurring annual compensation of a first responder, 11
excluding overtime pay, shift differentials, longevity pay, or any other 12
supplemental forms of compensation. 13
(3) Employing authority. – A State agency or a city, county, or other local 14
political subdivision of this State that employs first responders. 15
(4) First responder. – A public employee whose primary duties involve the 16
protection of life, property, or public safety during emergency situations, 17
including specifically: 18
a. Law enforcement officers. 19
b. Firefighters. 20
c. Emergency medical services personnel. 21
d. Public safety telecommunicators or dispatchers. 22
e. Nurses employed by public hospitals, health departments, correctional 23
facilities, or other government healthcare facilities. 24
(5) Public employee. – A person employed by an employing authority. 25
(6) Years of service. – The total number of years that a first responder has been 26
employed in a qualifying position by any employing authority within the 27
State. 28
SECTION 1.2. Appropriation for First Responders' and Teachers' Appreciation 29
Bonus Payments. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public 30
Safety the sum of one hundred thirty million dollars ($130,000,000) in each year of the 31
2025-2027 fiscal biennium to provide one-time bonus payments to eligible first responders as 32
defined in this act. The Department of Public Safety shall distribute these funds to employing 33
authorities based on the number of eligible first responders employed by each authority. Each 34
eligible first responder shall receive a bonus payment of one thousand five hundred dollars 35
($1,500) in each fiscal year. Funds distributed under this section shall be used exclusively for 36
H.B. 930
Apr 10, 2025
HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 DRH30374-LRa-127A
bonus payments to eligible first responders and may not be used for administrative costs or other 1
purposes. Bonus payments made pursuant to this section shall be: 2
(1) Paid in addition to any other wages or benefits the first responder may be 3
entitled and are not part of the first responder's base salary; 4
(2) Treated as exempt from retirement deductions; and 5
(3) Subject to all applicable federal and State withholding taxes. 6
SECTION 1.3. Administration. – The Office of State Budget and Management shall 7
coordinate with the Department of Public Safety to distribute funds to employing authorities by 8
no later than November 1 of each fiscal year within the 2025-2027 biennium. Employing 9
authorities shall distribute bonus payments to eligible first responders no later than December 31 10
of each fiscal year. To be eligible for the bonus payment, a first responder must be employed by 11
an employing authority on the first day of October of the fiscal year in which the bonus is paid. 12
First responders who work less than full time shall receive a prorated bonus based on the 13
percentage of full-time equivalent hours worked. The Office of State Budget and Management 14
shall develop simplified procedures for the allocation and distribution of bonus funds and shall 15
provide necessary guidance to the Department of Public Safety and employing authorities. The 16
Department of Public Instruction shall assist in coordinating with local school administrative 17
units, charter schools, and regional schools. Employing authorities shall certify to the Department 18
of Public Safety the number of eligible first responders by October 15 of each fiscal year. By 19
February 15 of each fiscal year, employing authorities shall submit a verification that all bonus 20
payments have been distributed to eligible first responders. Any funds not expended for the 21
purposes specified in this section by the end of each respective fiscal year shall revert to the 22
General Fund. 23
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PART II. TEACHERS' APPRECIATION BONUS PROGRAM 25
SECTION 2.1. Definition. – For purposes of this Part, the term "teacher" means a 26
classroom teacher, instructional support personnel, principal, or assistant principal employed by 27
any of the following: (i) a local school administrative unit, (ii) a charter school, (iii) a regional 28
school, (iv) a school operated under Article 9C of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, or (v) a 29
school operated under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes. 30
SECTION 2.2. Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the 31
Department of Public Instruction the sum of one hundred sixty-five million dollars 32
($165,000,000) in each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to provide one-time bonus 33
payments to teachers. The Department of Public Instruction shall distribute these funds to local 34
school administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools based on the number of eligible 35
teachers employed by each entity. Each eligible teacher shall receive a bonus payment of one 36
thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) in each fiscal year. Funds distributed under this section 37
shall be used exclusively for bonus payments to eligible teachers and may not be used for 38
administrative costs or other purposes. Bonus payments made pursuant to this section shall be: 39
(1) Paid in addition to any other wages or benefits the first responder may be 40
entitled and are not part of the first responder's base salary; 41
(2) Treated as exempt from retirement deductions; and 42
(3) Subject to all applicable federal and State withholding taxes. 43
SECTION 2.3. Administration. – The State Board of Education and the Department 44
of Public Instruction shall establish procedures and guidelines for the administration of the 45
teacher bonus program consistent with this section. The Department of Public Instruction shall 46
distribute these funds to local school administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools 47
no later than November 1 of each fiscal year within the 2025-2027 biennium. To be eligible for 48
the bonus payment, a teacher must be employed by a local school administrative unit, charter 49
school, or regional school on the first day of October of the fiscal year in which the bonus is paid. 50
Teachers who work less than full time shall receive a prorated bonus based on the percentage of 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRH30374-LRa-127A Page 3
full-time equivalent hours worked. Local school administrative units, charter schools, and 1
regional schools shall certify to the Department of Public Instruction the number of eligible 2
teachers by October 15 of each fiscal year. By February 15 of each fiscal year, local school 3
administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools shall submit a verification that all 4
bonus payments have been distributed to eligible teachers. Any funds not expended for the 5
purposes specified in this section by the end of each respective fiscal year shall revert to the 6
General Fund. 7
8
PART III. STATE BUDGET ACT 9
SECTION 3.1. State Budget Act Applies. – The provisions of this act are subject to 10
compliance with Chapter 143C of the General Statutes. If there is a conflict between this act and 11
the State Budget Act (SBA), the provisions of the SBA shall control. 12
13
PART IV. EFFECTIVE DATE 14
SECTION 4.1. Effective Date. – This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 15