A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT providing for greater transparency in and maintenance of state and local government financial matters.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 143‑318.10 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑318.10.  All official meetings of public bodies open to the public.
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(b)	As used in this Article, "public body" means any elected or appointed authority, board, commission, committee, council, or other body of the State, or of one or more counties, cities, school administrative units, constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina, or other political subdivisions or public corporations in the State, whether established by the North Carolina Constitution or otherwise, that (i) is composed of two or more members and (ii) exercises or is authorized to exercise a legislative, policy‑making, quasi‑judicial, administrative, or advisory function. In addition, "public body" means the governing board of a "public hospital" as defined in G.S. 159‑39 and the governing board of any nonprofit corporation to which a hospital facility has been sold or conveyed pursuant to G.S. 131E‑8, any subsidiary of such nonprofit corporation, and any nonprofit corporation owning the corporation to which the hospital facility has been sold or conveyed.
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SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 132‑1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 132‑1.  "Public records" defined.
(a)	"Public record" or "public records" shall mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data‑processing records, artifacts, or other documentary material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance in connection with the transaction of public business by any agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions. Agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions shall mean and include every public body subject to Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes and every public office, public officer or official (State or local, elected or appointed), institution, board, commission, bureau, council, department, authority or other unit of government of the State or of any county, unit, special district or other political subdivision of government.
(b)	The public records and public information compiled by the agencies of North Carolina government or its subdivisions are the property of the people. Therefore, it is the policy of this State that the people may obtain copies of their public records and public information free or at minimal cost unless otherwise specifically provided by law. As used herein, "minimal cost" shall mean the actual cost of reproducing the public record or public information.
(c)	No agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions may enter into a non‑disclosure agreement in order to restrict access to public records subject to disclosure under this Chapter. The contract by which an agency of North Carolina government or its subdivisions agree not to disclose information deemed confidential under the statutes shall be a public record, unless the existence of such contract is also deemed confidential under the statutes. If a non‑disclosure agreement is associated with one or more closed session meetings under Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, the non‑disclosure agreement shall be included in the minutes of each closed session meeting."
SECTION 2.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2023, and applies to any non‑disclosure agreement entered into on or after that date.
SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 147‑13 reads as rewritten:
"§ 147‑13.  May convene Council of State; quorum; journal.
(a)	The Governor may convene the Council of State for consultation whenever the Governor may deem it proper. The Governor shall convene the Council of State whenever the statutes call for the concurrence, advice, discretion, opinion, or consent of the Council of State. In all meetings of the Council of State, five members exclusive of the Governor shall constitute a quorum.
(b)	The proceedings of the Council of State shall be entered in a journal, to be kept for this purpose exclusively and signed by all members present. Any member of the Council of State may have entered in the journal the member's dissent to any part of the journal. The journal shall be maintained by the Governor and shall be placed before the General Assembly when called for by either house.
(c)	The convening of the Council of State shall be subject to Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, and the minutes required under that Article shall include the journal kept in accordance with this section."
SECTION 3.(b)  This section becomes effective October 1, 2023.
SECTION 4.(a)  On or before October 1, 2023, the Council of State shall adopt rules establishing a comprehensive system of parliamentary procedure, including the method of introducing and considering resolutions presented by members of the Council of State and the posting of the journal and minutes online. If the Council of State fails to adopt rules as required by this section, Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall apply to all meetings of the Council of State held after October 1, 2023, and the Governor shall provide for the posting of all minutes and the journal online within 10 business days of each meeting of the Council of State.
SECTION 4.(b)  On or before October 1, 2023, the Council of State shall review its department rules, as recorded in Chapter 1 of Title 06 of the North Carolina Administrative Code for compliance and conformity with the General Statutes and Sections 2 through 5 of this act, and initiate any amendments to those rules by that date.
SECTION 5.(a)  Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A‑54.  Financial management education required.
Each member of the governing board shall participate in financial management education as provided in G.S. 160A‑89."
SECTION 5.(b)  Part 3A of Article 5 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"Part 3A. Ethics Codes; Education Programs.
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"§ 160A‑89.  Financial management education required.
(a)	A financial management education program of no less than six clock hours shall be available to governing board members. The financial management education program shall cover the laws and principles that govern local government fiscal and debt management, including Chapter 159 of the General Statutes.
(b)	Each member of the governing board is encouraged to complete the financial management education offered in accordance with this section. Each member of the governing board shall complete the financial management education if either of the following applies:
(1)	The Local Government Commission is exercising its authority under Article 11 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes and has assumed control of the financial affairs of the local government.
(2)	The local government is included on the most recently published Unit Assistance List issued by the Department of State Treasurer.
(c)	The clerk to the governing board shall maintain a verified record of completion by each governing board member attending the financial management education program. The clerk to the governing board shall provide the verification to the Secretary of the Local Government Commission, upon request.
(d)	The financial management training shall be completed by the governing board members within three months of any of the events described in subdivision (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section.
(e)	This section shall not apply to a governing board member who has completed financial management education within 24 months prior to the date the local government on whose governing board the member serves is included on the Unit Assistance List.
(f)	The financial management education program may be provided by the Local Government Commission, North Carolina League of Municipalities, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Community College System, or other another qualified source at the choice of the governing board with prior approval of the Local Government Commission.
(g)	For purposes of this section, the phrase "member of the governing board" means anyone elected or appointed to the governing board of a county, city, or consolidated city‑county at any of the following times:
(1)	Is in office on the date the Local Government Commission exercises its authority under Article 11 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes and assumes control of the financial affairs of the county, or takes office before the Local Government Commission relinquishes control of the financial affairs of the county.
(2)	Is in office on the date the local government is included on the Unit Assistance List, or takes office within 12 months of that date."
SECTION 5.(c)  Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑155.1.  Required training for certain administrators.
(a)	Any person to whom the council delegates its authority to administer the city under G.S. 160A‑155 shall receive a minimum of six clock hours of financial management education upon the occurrence of, or within six months of the occurrence of, any of the following:
(1)	The Local Government Commission is exercising its authority under Article 10 or 11 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes with respect to the city.
(2)	The city has received a letter from the Local Government Commission due to a deficiency in complying with Chapter 159 of the General Statutes.
(3)	The city has an internal control material weakness or significant deficiency in the most recently completed financial audit.
(4)	The city is included on the most recently published Unit Assistance List issued by the Department of State Treasurer.
(b)	The education required by subsection (a) of this section shall incorporate fiscal management and the requirements of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes. The education may be provided by the Local Government Commission, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, or other qualified sources at the choice of the council and upon the prior approval of the Local Government Commission. The city clerk shall maintain a record verifying receipt of the education required under this section and shall provide this information, upon request, to the Secretary of the Local Government Commission."
SECTION 6.(a)  G.S. 153A‑82(9) reads as rewritten:
"(9)	The manager shall receive a minimum of six clock hours of education upon the occurrence, or within six months of the occurrence, of any of the following:
a.	The Local Government Commission is exercising its authority under Article 10 or 11 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes with respect to the county.
b.	The county has received a letter from the Local Government Commission due to a deficiency in complying with Chapter 159 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 6.(b)  G.S. 159‑25 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑25.  Duties of finance officer; dual signatures on checks; internal control procedures subject to Commission regulation.
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(d)	The Local Government Commission has the authority to require any finance officer or any other employee who performs the duties of a finance officer to participate in training related to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the finance officer under any of the following circumstances: (i) the Commission is exercising its authority under Article 10 or 11 of this Chapter with respect to the employing local government or public authority, (ii) the employing local government or public authority has received a letter from the Commission due to a deficiency in complying with this Chapter, (iii) the employing local government or public authority has an internal control material weakness or significant deficiency in the most recently completed financial audit, or (iv) the finance officer fails to annually meet or attest to the minimum qualifications of the position, as established by the Commission. The training may be provided by the Commission, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, or other qualified sources at the choice of the governing board and upon the prior approval of the Commission. When the Commission requires a finance officer or other employee to participate in training as authorized in this subsection, the Commission shall notify the finance officer or other employee and the employing local government or public authority of the required training. Upon completion of the required training by the finance officer or other employee, the employing local government or public authority shall submit, in writing, to the Commission proof that the training requirements have been satisfied.
(e)	The Local Government Commission may require any local government or public authority to contract with outside entities in accordance with the terms of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of this section if the local government or public authority has received a letter from the Commission due to a deficiency in complying with this Chapter or the local government or public authority has an internal control finding in the most recently completed financial audit."
SECTION 6.(c)  G.S. 160A‑148(9) reads as rewritten:
"(9)	The manager shall receive a minimum of six clock hours of education upon the occurrence, or within six months of the occurrence, of any of the following:
a.	The Local Government Commission is exercising its authority under Article 10 or 11 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes with respect to the city.
b.	The city has received a letter from the Local Government Commission due to a deficiency in complying with Chapter 159 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 7.  Article 11 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 159‑183.  Personally identifiable information in reports alleging improper governmental activities.
(a)	Notwithstanding Chapter 132 of the General Statutes, the Commission shall not disclose any personally identifiable information of any person reporting improper governmental activity, whether such is reported under G.S. 147‑64.6B or directly to the Commission.
(b)	For purposes of this section, "personally identifiable information" means the name, place of employment, physical address, email address, and telephone number of the person making a report alleging improper governmental activity."
SECTION 8.(a)  G.S. 159‑18 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑18.  Capital reserve accounts.
Any local government or public authority may establish and maintain a capital reserve account for any purposes for which it may issue bonds. A capital reserve account shall be established by resolution of the governing board which shall state (i) the purposes for which the account is created, (ii) the approximate periods of time during which the moneys are to be accumulated for each purpose, (iii) the approximate amounts to be accumulated for each purpose, and (iv) the sources from which moneys for each purpose will be derived. A capital reserve account may be established in the general fund or in any public enterprise fund."
SECTION 8.(b)  G.S. 159‑19 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑19.  Amendments.
The resolution may be amended from time to time in the same manner in which it was adopted. Amendments may, among other provisions, authorize the use of moneys accumulated or to be accumulated in the account for capital outlay purposes not originally stated."
SECTION 8.(c)  G.S. 159‑20 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑20.  Funding capital reserve funds.

(a)	A governing board may make appropriations to a capital reserve account in its annual budget ordinance. When moneys or investment securities, the use of which is restricted by law, come into a capital reserve account, the identity of such moneys or investment securities shall be maintained by appropriate accounting entries.
(b)	Each fiscal year, the budget officer shall include in the information submitted to the governing board with the proposed budget a report of the estimated ending balance for the current fiscal year in each capital reserve account, including the amounts allocated to each purpose identified in the resolution establishing the capital reserve account, and an estimate of the amounts expected to be expended from each capital reserve account during the proposed budget year."
SECTION 8.(d)  G.S. 159‑21 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑21.  Investment.
The cash balances, in whole or in part, of capital reserve accounts may be deposited at interest or invested as provided by G.S. 159‑30."
SECTION 8.(e)  G.S. 159‑22 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑22.  Withdrawals.
Withdrawals from a capital reserve account may be authorized by resolution of the governing board of the local government or public authority. No withdrawal may be authorized for any purpose not specified in the resolution  establishing the account or in a resolution amending it. The withdrawal resolution shall authorize an appropriation from the capital reserve account to an appropriate appropriation within the fund it is associated with, in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 159‑13(a). No withdrawal may be made which would result in an appropriation for purposes for which an adequate balance of eligible moneys or investment securities is not then available in the capital reserve account."
SECTION 8.(f)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2023, and applies to capital reserve accounts established, modified, or otherwise amended on or after that date. Any capital reserve fund existing on that date shall be deemed a capital reserve account to be amended by resolution of the local government or public authority after that date, regardless of how the capital reserve fund was initially established.
SECTION 9.  Part 3 of Article 3 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 159‑38.1.  Fund balance reserve accounts.
A local government or public authority may establish and maintain a fund balance reserve account in the general fund or in any public enterprise fund for the purpose of maintaining appropriate cash reserves and an adequate fund balance. All of the following shall apply to a fund balance reserve account:
(1)	The account shall be established by resolution of the governing board. The governing board shall adopt a fund balance policy prior to adopting a resolution establishing a fund balance reserve account.
(2)	The governing board may make appropriations to a fund balance reserve account in its annual budget ordinance. The appropriation to the fund balance reserve account shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total of all other appropriations for the same fund for which the fund balance reserve account has been established. When moneys or investment securities, the use of which is restricted by law, come into a fund balance reserve account, the identity of such moneys or investment securities shall be maintained by appropriate accounting entries.
(3)	Cash balances, in whole or in part, in fund balance reserve accounts may be deposited at interest or invested as provided in G.S. 159‑30.
(4)	Withdrawals from a fund balance reserve account may be authorized by resolution of the governing board of the local government or public authority. The withdrawal resolution shall authorize an appropriation from the fund balance reserve account to an appropriate appropriation within the fund it is associated with, in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 159‑13(a). No withdrawal may be made which would result in an appropriation for purposes for which an adequate balance of eligible moneys or investment securities is not then available in the fund balance reserve account.
(5)	Each year, the budget officer shall include in the budget information submitted to the governing board with the proposed budget a report of the estimated ending balance for the current fiscal year in each fund balance reserve account and an estimate of the amounts expected to be expended from each fund balance reserve account during the budget year.
(6)	If restricted funds are appropriated to or held in a fund balance reserve account, those funds shall continue to be restricted to their original purpose and shall be maintained by appropriate accounting entries."
SECTION 10.  G.S. 159B‑39 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159B‑39.  Permitted uses of revenue from electric power rates.
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(e)	This section applies only to cities and towns that are members of a joint agency created pursuant to this Article."
SECTION 11.(a)  G.S. 160A‑17.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 160A‑17.2.  Security interests in United States Department of Agriculture loans.
	
(b)	An interest‑free loan agreement entered into with the United States Department of Agriculture or an authorized intermediary acting on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture is subject to approval by the Local Government Commission under Article 8 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes, unless exempted in G.S. 159‑148(b).
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(d)	To secure payment of a loan under this section, a county or municipality may pledge a security interest only in the collateral being financed by a loan to that specific county or municipality. No county or municipality shall pledge a security interest for repayment of, or be liable for, loans entered into under this section by any other county or municipality."
SECTION 11.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to loans made on or after that date.
SECTION 12.(a)  G.S. 159‑12 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑12.  Filing and publication of the budget; budget hearings.
(a)	On the same day that the budget officer submits the budget to the governing board, the budget officer shall file a copy of the proposed budget ordinance in the office of the clerk to the governing board, along with a budget message, where both shall remain available for public inspection until the budget ordinance is adopted. The budget message shall include a general description of the proposed budget, all proposed tax rates and the change in those rates from the prior budget ordinance, all proposed fees and the change in those fees from the prior adopted fees, and other synopsis information the budget officer deems important. The clerk shall make a copy of the budget and budget message available to all news media in the county.
(a1)	The budget officer shall also publish a statement that the budget has been submitted to the governing board, and is available for public inspection in the office of the clerk to the governing board. The statement shall also give notice of the time and place of the budget hearings required by subsection (b) of this section.
(b)	Before adopting the budget ordinance, the governing board shall hold at least two public hearings on the proposed budget ordinance on separate dates at which time any persons who wish to be heard on the budget may appear. At least one of the required public hearings shall provide the public with detailed revenue information, including at least the following information for the prior two fiscal years:
(1)	The tax rate.
(2)	The tax base.
(3)	The tax collection rate.
(4)	With respect to each public enterprise fund:
a.	Rates charged.
b.	Any amounts transferred to the public enterprise fund from the general fund.
c.	Any amounts transferred from the public enterprise fund to the general fund.
d.	Any debt service payments paid by the public enterprise fund and the estimated completion date of those debt service payments.
(c)	If the proposed budget ordinance raises the tax rate from the previous fiscal year's budget ordinance, the governing board shall so notify every property owner in the jurisdiction of the governing board in writing by mail with the United States Postal Service at least 10 days prior to the date of the public hearing dedicated to the revenue portion of the proposed budget ordinance. Such mailing shall include all of the following:
(1)	The date, time, and location of the public hearing.
(2)	The contact information of the governing board.
(3)	An explanation of how to access a copy of the proposed budget ordinance.
(d)	If the proposed budget ordinance raises the rates charged by a public enterprise fund or proposes a transfer of any amount from the general fund to the public enterprise fund, the governing board shall so notify every user of the public enterprise fund in writing by mail with the United States Postal Service at least 10 days prior to the date of the public hearing dedicated to the revenue portion of the proposed budget ordinance. For purposes of this subsection, a rise in the rates shall include an increase in the rate and a change in base rates. Such mailing shall include all of the following:
(1)	The date, time, and location of the public hearing.
(2)	The contact information of the governing board.
(3)	An explanation of how to access a copy of the proposed budget ordinance.
(e)	Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, any unit of local government with a population of less than 2,000 persons according to the last federal decennial census shall be required to conduct only one public hearing on the proposed budget ordinance. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, if the Commission has exercised its authority under G.S. 159‑181(c) or (d), the Commission shall conduct at least one public hearing as required by subsection (b) of this section but may waive any additional public hearings required by this section."
SECTION 12.(b)  This section becomes effective July 1, 2024, and applies to budgets adopted on or after that date.
SECTION 13.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.