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  3. Weekly Update Legislative Brief — February 6, 2026
February 6, 2026

Weekly Update Legislative Brief — February 6, 2026

Senator Berger Appoints Working Group on Property Tax Reform 

On Tuesday afternoon, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger announced a working group of 10 legislators to study property tax reform. The press release quoted Senator Berger as saying, “These members will examine ways to provide relief from local taxes while ensuring that local revenue is used responsibly to fund core services our constituents rely on.” 

The members selected to study reforms include Appropriations Chairs Senators Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) and Michael Lee (R-New Hanover), Finance Chairs Senators Dave Craven (R-Randolph) and Tom McInnis (R-Moore), along with Senators Lisa Barnes (R-Nash), Jim Burgin (R-Harnett), Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson), Chris Measmer (R-Cabarrus), Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson), and Benton Sawrey (R-Johnston). 

Meeting dates have yet to be announced. 

NCDHHS Holds Webinar for Counties on Administrative and Budget Planning for H.R. 1 

Subject matter experts from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services hosted a webinar on Wednesday for county managers, Department of Social Services (DSS) officers, and county budget officers to talk through anticipated changes counties will need to prepare for as a result of H.R. 1, which substantially impacts large county-administered social service programs like Medicaid and SNAP. The webinar covered county budget implications and planning for programming, staffing, and software changes that will be rolling out to counties in the coming year. The meeting was recorded and, along with the slide decks and a Q&A, will be shared with county managers when available.  

FY2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act Signed Into Law 

President Trump signed House Resolution 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, into law late Tuesday night. The legislation drew significant attention for averting another federal government shutdown. Less prominently, the bill also provides funding for the Department of Education for fiscal year 2026. In total, the act appropriates $102.9 billion to the Department of Education, with funding allocated across several programs, including support for high-poverty schools, school improvement programs and innovation, and safety and enrichment initiatives. 

With the enactment of this legislation, 11 out of the 12 annual funding bills are now finalized, securing more than 95 percent of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2026. These enacted bills fund major departments and programs including defense, transportation and housing, agriculture, veterans’ services, health and human services, and others. 

However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is currently funded only through February 13 under a two-week continuing resolution. This limited window is intended to allow for continued negotiations regarding funding for immigration enforcement and border security. Consequently, a more limited funding lapse remains a possibility if an agreement on the DHS funding bill is not reached by next Friday. 

The meeting ended with a briefing on the state’s recent receipt of $213 million for a Rural Health Transformation Fund, intended to bolster hospitals and healthcare systems affected by declining Medicaid revenue due to H.R. 1, often in rural areas. Rather than directly replacing lost revenue, the funds are intended to improve administrative efficiencies, streamline workforce training, and improve health outcomes. Meeting agendas and presentations are available here. 

NCACC Shares Video Updates on County Issues 

NCACC Executive Director Kevin Leonard is sharing video updates on social media as part of ongoing outreach efforts. The videos are available through the links below for those interested in viewing the latest updates. Be sure to follow NCACC on social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn) for future updates. If you have any questions, please email the NCACC Advocacy & Policy team.