House Bill 690, titled the Citizens Support Act, directs several North Carolina agencies and public institutions to change eligibility practices for state-funded benefits, publicly funded housing assistance, in-state tuition, financial aid, and unemployment benefits. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Commerce, the Housing Finance Agency, and local housing authorities to stop providing certain state-funded or publicly funded benefits to noncitizens residing in the United States without legal permission, to the extent allowed by federal law, and to develop verification methods for immigration status before benefits begin.
The bill also requires the UNC System and the North Carolina Community College System to adopt policies verifying that all applicants for enrollment are legally authorized to reside in the United States when determining eligibility for in-state tuition and financial aid. Separately, the Division of Employment Security must adopt a policy to verify lawful U.S. residence before the first payment of unemployment benefits. Each affected agency must report to legislative oversight and fiscal committees by January 15, 2026, including steps taken, implementation success, and any federal laws or regulations that limit their ability to deny benefits.
HB690 would affect the administration of a broad range of state programs by conditioning eligibility on lawful immigration status where federal law permits. It specifically targets DHHS-administered benefits such as Medicaid, Work First, child care subsidies, foster care and adoption assistance, energy assistance, special assistance, caregiver support, and housing-related services, while excluding food or meal access within those programs. It also reaches publicly funded housing programs, higher education tuition and aid determinations, and unemployment compensation, requiring new verification policies and reporting obligations across state and local agencies.
The bill’s text and structure indicate a strong policy preference for restricting state-funded benefits to U.S. citizens and noncitizens with legal permission to reside in the country. The available legislative history provided here does not include committee debate or recorded votes, so there is no direct transcript evidence of support or opposition. However, the bill’s advancement through committee substitutes and referral to Senate Rules suggests it received at least some legislative consideration and procedural support.
The main point of contention is likely the bill’s immigration-status screening requirement and its potential interaction with federal law, since the bill repeatedly limits its directives to what is permitted by federal law and requires agencies to identify federal provisions that prevent denial of benefits. Another likely area of dispute is the breadth of programs affected, including Medicaid, housing assistance, higher education aid, and unemployment benefits, which could raise concerns about administrative burden, eligibility verification, and impacts on vulnerable populations. Supporters would likely view the bill as a benefit-eligibility and public-funds enforcement measure, while opponents would likely focus on access, equity, and federal preemption issues.