North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina S861: Cut State Gov. Jobs Vacant 24 Months or More.
Status: Introduced, April 29, 2026
What the bill says
An act to eliminate state agency personnel positions vacant for at least twenty-four consecutive months and to appropriate funds for implementation.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ELIMINATE STATE AGENCY PERSONNEL POSITIONS VACANT FOR AT LEAST TWENTY-FOUR CONSECUTIVE MONTHS AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. Effective July 1, 2026, except as provided by Section 2 of this act, the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) shall eliminate unfilled employee positions across State agencies that have been vacant for at least 24 months by transferring from the various employing agencies all lapsed salary funds associated with those positions vacant on July 1, 2026. The cost-savings generated by these position eliminations shall be retained in a budgetary reserve and shall not be expended until appropriated by the General Assembly. SECTION 2.(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1 of this act, the OSBM shall not do the following pursuant to this act: (1) Eliminate positions that are: a. Held open pursuant to a court order or pending litigation. b. Funded entirely by federal or other non-State funds. c. Designated by the Governor as necessary for emergency preparedness. (2) Transfer lapsed salary funds designated to be expended or redirected for the following purposes: a. State self-funded workers' compensation claims, disability claims, and tort claims. b. Overtime pay and shift pay in the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Adult Correction, the Department …
Sponsors
- Burgin, Jim (R, 12) · primary sponsor
- McInnis, Tom (R, 21) · primary sponsor
- Corbin, Kevin (R, 50) · primary sponsor
- Brinson, Bob (R, 3)
- Ford, Carl (R, 33)
- Lazzara, Michael A. (R, 6)
- Measmer, Chris (R, 34)
- Moffitt, Timothy D. (R, 48)
- Sanderson, Norman W. (R, 2)
- Sawyer, Vickie (R, 37)
Latest actions
- : Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget
- : Withdrawn From Com
- : Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- : Passed 1st Reading
- : Filed
Subjects: BUDGETING, BUDGET & MANAGEMENT OFFICE, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, STATE EMPLOYEES, PUBLIC, VACANCIES, PERSONNEL, PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Common questions
- What is S861?
- S861 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Cut State Gov. Jobs Vacant 24 Months or More.
- What does S861 do?
- In its own words: An act to eliminate state agency personnel positions vacant for at least twenty-four consecutive months and to appropriate funds for implementation.
- What is the status of S861?
- Introduced as of April 29, 2026. Latest action: Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget (April 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored S861?
- Burgin, Jim (R, 12), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S861?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S861
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.