With just days to go before the North Carolina General Assembly’s deadline for the 2026 budget, several bills filed on behalf of the military and veterans appear in limbo.
Meanwhile, Congress has a few months to pass its budget, potentially allowing for proposed bills affecting the military community to be enacted.
Here’s a look at the bills filed this year and where they stand.
Study on Fort Bragg Traffic Congestion
What the bill proposes: Appropriating $500,000 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to study and identify the economic benefits of reducing traffic congestion from the intersection of Vass Road and N.C. 87 in Spring Lake and the entrance to Fort Bragg.
Where the bill stands: It was filed April 1 and passed its first reading April 2, before being referred to the Appropriations Committee on April 2.
Who supports the bill? The primary sponsors are Reps. Diane Wheatley, whose district includes Fayetteville and part of Cumberland County; Mike Colvin, whose district includes Spring Lake and part of Cumberland County; and Frances Jackson, whose district includes Hope Mills.
Traffic flows along Bragg Blvd. in Spring Lake on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022.
Memorials in Veterans Cemeteries
What the bill proposes: Allowing state veteran cemeteries to sell monuments and memorials in honor of those interred in the cemetery. The monuments and memorials would include memorial trees, granite or marble markers and granite or marble benches, according to the bill.
Where the bill stands: It was filed April 2 and passed a first reading April 3, before being referred to the House Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations on April 29.
Who supports the bill? Rep. Wheatley, is the primary sponsor, and Reps. Colvin and Jackson have also supported the bill.
Protect Moms Who Serve
What the bill proposes: Appropriating $100,000 to the state Department of Health and Human Services to consult with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to study health issues affecting women who serve in the military. The bill would direct NCDHHS to coordinate with veteran and non-veteran health care facilities specializing in maternity care; identify mental and behavioral health risk factors in prenatal and postpartum periods; facilitate access to childbirth preparation, breastfeeding support, breast bumps and lactation classes, parenting classes and nutrition counseling; and other health services along with facilitating access to housing, nutrition and employment community resources
Where the bill stands: The bill was filed March 25 and passed its first reading March 26, before being referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations.
Who supports the bill: Sen. Val Applewhite, whose district includes part of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, is a primary sponsor.
Increasing Property Tax Exclusion Amount for Disabled Veterans
What the bills propose: Several House and Senate bills propose increasing the property tax exclusion amount for disabled veterans. — Senate Bill 128 proposes increasing the amount to $76,500.— House Bill 299 proposes increasing the amount to $54,000.— House Bill 341 proposes amounts from $25,000 to $100,000 based on the veteran’s disability rating— House Bill 118 and Senate Bill 228 propose increasing the amount to $61,000.— House Bill 683 proposes excluding the entire appraised value of the primary residence.— Senate Bill 660 proposes increasing the amount to $75,000.
Where the bills stand: All bills passed their first readings and were referred to respective committees, where they remained in February, March and April.
Who has supported the bills: Sen. Applewhite is a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 660 and supported Senate Bill 128, along with Sen. Tom McInnis, whose district includes part of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Reps. Colvin, Jackson, Wheatley and Charles Smith, whose district includes part of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, supported House Bill 118. Reps. Colvin, Jackson and Smith supported House Bill 299; and Reps. Colvin and Jackson supported House Bills 683 and 341.
MACV–SOG Congressional Gold Medal Act
What the bill proposes: Awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to service members of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam–Studies and Observations Group. The group was a joint operations program that included members of the Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Force Reconnaissance Marines, Air Force and the Central Intelligence Agency that worked with indigenous populations to fight communist forces in areas of North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.
According to the bill, the covert operations, which included sabotage, direct-action missions, rescue missions for downed pilots, prisoner-of-war snatches, bomb-damage assessments, wiretaps, psychological operations and maritime operations against the North Vietnamese, remained unacknowledged by military leadership and unknown to the public, until being declassified decades later.
According to the bill, about 1,579 people of the United States military are listed as missing or killed while serving with the group between 1964 and 1972, accounting for half of the Green Beret fatalities during the Vietnam War. More than 50 MACV–SOG team members are still missing in action.
Where the bill stands: It was introduced June 5 and read twice, before being referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Who supports the bill: Sen. Ted Budd is a primary sponsor.
Valor Earned Not Stolen Act of 2025
What the bill proposes: Increasing the maximum prison term from one year to three years for someone who falsely claims to be the recipient of certain military awards with the intent to obtain money, property or other tangible benefit.
Where the bill stands: It was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 9.
Who supports the bill: Rep. Richard Hudson, whose district includes Fort Bragg, is a cosponsor.
Love Lives On Act of 2025
What the bill proposes: Extending entitlement for various benefit programs and services for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans and not terminating benefits if the surviving spouse remarries.
Where the bill stands: The bill was introduced in February and referred by the House Armed Services Committee to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs in March 6.
Who supports the bill: Rep. Hudson is a primary sponsor.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What bills filed this year in North Carolina and Congress could affect military and veterans?
