2026 "Short Session" Legislative Report

The 2025 long session of the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) saw the passage of only 97 bills—a record low for long sessions. The NCGA also failed to pass a budget during the recent long session. As a result, a key focus of the 2026 session was negotiating the budget, which finally passed on July 1, 2026. Heading into the short session, Republicans held majorities in both the Senate (30-20) and House (71-49). This report summarizes labor and employment updates from the 2026 short session as of August 31, 2026.

Bills Passed During the Short Session

• The 2026 State Budget (SB 257)
• Worker Safety Act of 2026 (HB 258)
• Public Workforce Modernization Act (SB 1041)
• Regulatory Reform Act of 2026 (SB 445)

Bills Introduced but Not Passed 

• NC Right to Work Amendment (SB 1082)
• Equality in State Agencies / Prohibition on DEI (HB 171)
• Election Law Changes (HB 958)

The General Assembly adjourned its regular 2026 voting business in early August but can still reconvene for limited purposes through the rest of the year. 

Read our "2026 Convention Legislative Report" on the 2025-2026 Legislative Session (PDF):