Rep. Pierce files bill in North Carolina House to aid working families

A new bill filed by State Rep. Pierce seeks to support working families by reducing child care costs, increasing minimum wage, and establishing paid family leave benefits, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 786 on April 3 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Working Families Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill seeks to support working families by reducing parent copayments for subsidized child care from 10% to 7% of gross family income, effective July 1, 2025. It reenacts a scaled child tax credit based on income and phases in a state minimum wage increase, starting at $10 per hour in 2026 and rising to $15 per hour by 2030, while allowing for higher local minimum wages. The income eligibility limit for the property tax homestead circuit breaker is increased. A new homebuyers’ assistance program provides financial support to first-time public servant homebuyers, with $150 million appropriated for this initiative starting July 1, 2025. Additionally, a Paid Family Leave Insurance Act establishes a program for family and medical leave benefits, with contributions starting in 2026 and payments to employees beginning in 2027. Employers are also eligible for grant funds to offset program costs, with $19 million in 2025-26 and $30 million in 2026-27 allocated for this purpose.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Brandon Lofton proposed the most bills (17) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Pierce graduated from Fayetteville State University with a BS.

Pierce, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2005 to represent the state’s 48th House district, replacing previous state representative Donald Bonner.