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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate2025-04-30

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill directs the NC Collaboratory at UNC Chapel Hill to study how different changes to North Carolina's county tier designation system might affect rankings, programs, and business conditions across all 100 counties. The study will examine three types of changes: modifying ranking criteria, changing how tier designations are assigned, and adjusting the timeframe for rankings. The Collaboratory must submit a preliminary report by December 31, 2025, and a final report by December 1, 2026.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this study is necessary to evaluate whether the current county tier system effectively identifies areas that need economic development support and aligns with state economic goals.
• •They contend that examining potential changes will help ensure the system uses current, reliable data and is easy for stakeholders to understand, ultimately improving how state resources and programs are distributed to counties that need them most.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that the study delays potential reforms to a system that some believe needs immediate changes, creating uncertainty for counties, businesses, and programs that depend on tier designations for funding and eligibility.
• •They might also contend that the study's scope is too broad and vague without specifying which changes are actually being proposed, potentially wasting resources on analysis of options that may never be implemented.