NC S659

Establishes new teacher salary schedule for 2025-2026 with monthly pay ranging from $4,600 for 0 years experience to $6,370 for 29+ years, with $872,642,336 appropriated for implementation

Provides 3% cost-of-living raises for State employees, community college employees, and UNC employees effective July 1, 2025, and another 3% effective July 1, 2026, with $500 retention bonuses paid in November 2025 and April 2026

Grants 2% permanent cost-of-living increase to retirees of Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, and Legislative Retirement System effective July 1, 2025, plus one-time 2% supplement payments in fall 2025 and 1% in fall 2026

Expands Child Care WAGE$ salary supplement program for early childhood educators statewide to all 100 counties, with $22.7 million appropriated for FY 2025-26 and $36.3 million for FY 2026-27

Creates refundable tax credit for small businesses (annual receipts $8 million or less) equal to lesser of 5% of wages paid or $10,000, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and sunsetting January 1, 2028