Senate Bill 1063 would require fiscal notes to be prepared for all bills and resolutions before they can be considered in committee if the measure could increase incarceration, and it expands fiscal-analysis requirements for proposed legislation more generally. The bill amends North Carolina’s long-term fiscal note statute to require the Fiscal Research Division to estimate the financial impact of proposed legislation over the first five fiscal years, with special rules for bills that fund state buildings, create new state programs, or could increase the number of people incarcerated or the length of incarceration. For incarceration-related measures, the fiscal note must be prepared in consultation with the Sentencing Policy and Advisory Commission and must estimate costs including possible capital outlay for additional cell space.
The bill also requires fiscal notes to be attached to favorable committee reports on covered bills, and it sets a two-week deadline for the Fiscal Research Division to complete a requested note unless extended by the sponsor. If a dollar estimate cannot be made, the note must explain why, but it may not include opinions on the merits of the legislation. The act appropriates $50,000 in nonrecurring General Fund money to the General Assembly for fiscal year 2026-2027 to carry out the new requirements.
The bill’s impact on state law would be to broaden and formalize fiscal-impact review in the legislative process, especially for measures affecting criminal penalties, incarceration, state facilities, and new programs. It would place additional procedural obligations on bill sponsors, committee chairs, and the Fiscal Research Division, and it would likely slow consideration of some measures until fiscal notes are completed. It also reinforces the role of fiscal analysis as a gatekeeping tool for legislation with potential budget consequences.
Because there are no recorded votes or committee transcripts in the provided materials, there is no documented public debate to summarize. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a transparency and budgeting reform, and its tone is generally administrative rather than ideological. The main likely point of contention is the added burden and delay on the legislative process, particularly for criminal justice bills and other measures that may be difficult to score financially with precision.
Impact
This bill would amend G.S. 120-36.7 to require broader and more detailed fiscal notes for legislation with potential budget effects, including bills that may increase incarceration, create new state programs, or fund state buildings. It would require fiscal notes to be attached to favorable committee reports for covered measures and would add consultation requirements with the Sentencing Policy and Advisory Commission for incarceration-related bills. The act also appropriates $50,000 in nonrecurring funds to support implementation.
Sentiment
No committee discussion or vote history was provided, so there is no recorded legislative sentiment to summarize. From the bill text alone, the measure reads as a process-oriented fiscal transparency proposal rather than a policy change with a partisan policy goal. Its supporters would likely view it as improving accountability and cost awareness, while critics may see it as adding procedural hurdles and delaying consideration of bills.
Contention
The most likely point of contention is the bill’s requirement that fiscal notes be prepared before committee consideration for measures that could increase incarceration, which could slow the movement of criminal justice legislation and create an additional threshold for debate. Another possible concern is the administrative burden on the Fiscal Research Division and bill sponsors, especially where cost estimates are uncertain or difficult to produce. Supporters are likely to emphasize transparency, budget discipline, and better information for lawmakers, while opponents may argue the bill could be used to impede policy changes or create bottlenecks in the legislative process.
Adopting permanent rules for the House of Representatives, further providing for definitions, for order of business, for fiscal notes, for consideration of bills, for third consideration and final passage bills, for House and concurrent resolutions, for standing committees and subcommittees, for powers and duties of standing committees and subcommittees, for public hearings, for discharge of committees, for lay on the table and for previous question.