AN ACT providing COMPENSATION INCREASES TO MEMBERS OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, directing the state highway patrol to DEVELOP secondary employment policies, encouraging retired members of the state highway patrol to return to service with the state, supporting the work of the state highway patrol, and appropriating funds.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Part i. Retain and attract members of the state highway patrol

PROVIDE COMPENSATION INCREASES TO MEMBERS OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

SECTION 1.1.(a)  Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Reserve for Compensation Increases to provide pay raises for the State Highway Patrol & Law Enforcement Support Staff the sum of forty million four hundred eighty‑two thousand four hundred eighty dollars ($40,482,480) in each year of the 2025‑2027 fiscal biennium to establish the pay scales set forth in this section.

SECTION 1.1.(b)  Effective July 1, 2025, the law enforcement officers of the State Highway Patrol shall be paid based upon the following experience‑based annual salary schedule:

Years of Experience                                           2025‑2027 Biennium

0                                                                        $56,000

1                                                                        $62,125

2                                                                        $68,250

3                                                                        $75,375

4                                                                        $80,500

5                                                                        $86,625

6                                                                        $92,750

7                                                                        $98,875

8+                                                                    $105,000

SECTION 1.1.(c)  Effective July 1, 2025, sworn State Highway Patrol employees who are not subject to an experience‑based annual salary schedule shall be paid at the following rates by rank:

Rank                                                          2025‑2027 Biennium

Sergeant                                                                     $120,750

First Sergeant                                                            $132,825

Lieutenant                                                                 $146,108

Captain                                                                      $160,718

Major                                                                         $176,790

Lieutenant Colonel                                                    $194,469

Deputy Commander                                                  $204,193

Colonel                                                                      $224,612

ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TO WORK OTHER JOBS

SECTION 1.2.(a)  The Commander of the State Highway Patrol shall develop and maintain secondary employment policies that allow members of the State Highway Patrol to engage in permanent or temporary secondary employment so long as that employment meets each of the following criteria:

(1)        It will not have an adverse effect on the member's work or performance with the State Highway Patrol or on the mission of the State Highway Patrol.

(2)        It will not create a conflict of interest with the member's job description or performance with the State Highway Patrol.

SECTION 1.2.(b)  The policies created pursuant to this section shall allow members with an active, non‑probationary law enforcement certification to perform secondary employment that utilizes that certification, so long as the employment does not otherwise conflict with the secondary employment policies.

SECTION 1.2.(c)  The policies created pursuant to this section shall be completed by July 1, 2025.

ENCOURAGE RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TO RETURN TO SERVICE WITH THE STATE

SECTION 1.3.  No later than January 1, 2026, the State Highway Patrol shall evaluate and update any internal hiring policies or practices to ensure that those hiring policies or practices encourage the return to work of retired members of the State Highway Patrol in a manner that does not impact the retired members' retirement allowances, to the extent allowed by State law, including under Chapter 135 of the General Statutes.

Part II. support for the work of the state highway patrol

FUND BULLETPROOF GLASS IN VEHICLES OF STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

SECTION 2.1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Highway Patrol the sum of three million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($3,250,000) in recurring funds and twenty million one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($20,150,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year to be used to purchase, install, and maintain bulletproof glass on all State Highway Patrol vehicles.

SECTION 2.1.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Highway Patrol the sum of two hundred twenty‑one thousand dollars ($221,000) in recurring funds and one million three hundred seventy‑eight thousand dollars ($1,378,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year to be used to purchase, install, and maintain bulletproof glass on all State Capitol Police vehicles.

SECTION 2.1.(c)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2025.

FUNDS TO SUPPORT HUNTERSVILLE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL STATION

SECTION 2.2.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Highway Patrol the sum of six hundred forty‑three thousand one hundred fifty dollars ($643,150) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year to be used for the following purposes at the State Highway Patrol Station in Huntersville, North Carolina:

(1)        Six hundred forty thousand dollars ($640,000) for fuel infrastructure to include an above‑ground storage tank, fuel dispenser, FuelMaster Live functionality, and a concrete island with an awning, lights, and electrical outlets.

(2)        Three thousand dollars ($3,000) for an air compressor for filling tires to be located on the concrete island funded in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(3)        One hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for a vehicle vacuum to be located on the concrete island funded in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

SECTION 2.2.(b)  The State Highway Patrol shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Transportation for the creation, use, and maintenance of the items funded by this section.

SECTION 2.2.(c)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2025.

part iii. effective date

SECTION 3.1.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.