Government Website Access Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1097

Short Title: Government Website Access Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Reives, Willis, Campbell, and Roberson (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 30, 2026
*H1097-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FU NDING TO THE DEPARTM ENT OF INFORMATION 2
TECHNOLOGY FOR ARTIF ICIAL INTELLIGENCE S OLUTIONS FOR IMPROVI NG 3
ACCESS TO STATE GOVERNMENT WEBSITES AND TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE 4
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TARGETED TO ADULTS, VETERANS, AND 5
PERSONS PREVIOUSLY I NCARCERATED SEEKING REENTRY INTO 6
EMPLOYMENT MARKETS. 7
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the Information Technology Reserve 9
established in Section 2.2(h) of S.L. 2021-180 to the Department of Information Technology the 10
sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026 -2027 fiscal year to 11
be used to develop an artificial intelligence assistant to improve navigation and accessibility of 12
information available on State agency websites. The Department shall prioritize assistance to 13
improve availability of information regarding, and improve connectivity between, the various 14
workforce development resource websites offered both by the State and by local government s. 15
In order to build familiarity and user recognition, the Department shall consider names for the 16
artificial intelligence assistant that are memorable and relatable to the State. 17
SECTION 2.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 18
Commerce the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 19
fiscal year for the Department to use to provide directed grants to local workforce development 20
boards for the design and implementation of innovative workfor ce programs designed to help 21
veterans attain new job skills necessary for reintegration into the job market. The Department 22
shall develop guidelines regarding (i) qualifications for local workforce development boards to 23
qualify for a directed grant and (ii) terms for grants and programs developed by those boards. 24
SECTION 2.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 25
Commerce the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 26
fiscal year for the Department to use to provide directed grants to local workforce development 27
boards for the design and implementation of innovative workforce programs designed to help 28
persons previously incarcerated attain new job skills necessary for reintegration into the j ob 29
market. The Department shall develop guidelines regarding (i) qualifications for local workforce 30
development boards to qualify for a directed grant and (ii) terms for grants and programs 31
developed by those boards. 32
SECTION 3. There is appropriated from the Information Technology Reserve 33
established in Section 2.2(h) of S.L. 2021-180 to the Department of Information Technology the 34
sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1097-First Edition
2026-2027 fiscal year to be used t o support professional development by promoting career 1
planning tools designed for working adults. 2
SECTION 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2026. 3