Weekly Legislative Update

 

North Carolina South Carolina

North Carolina

Betsy Bailey Victor Barbour 
By Betsy Bailey & Victor Barbour
June 10, 2026

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Federal Contracting

The U.S. Department of Transportation wants to help small businesses in North Carolina get some of the billions of dollars that the government spends each year on highway and other infrastructure projects. USDOT is holding a day-long event in Raleigh on Thursday, at N.C. State University’s McKimmon Center, that opens with how-to sessions from government and industry experts. There will be chances for small business owners to meet one-on-one with officials from more than a dozen federal agencies, including USDOT, the Interior Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development. Businesses can register for the National Small Business Matchmaking Series event in Raleigh through noon Wednesday, June 3, at cmp.dot.gov/event/nsbmsnorthcarolina. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the workshops aim to give small businesses access to federal decision makers, both for their benefit and the good of government agencies. “We’re leaving the swamp to meet with American small business owners who are the backbone of our economy and engaging their expertise to build big, beautiful infrastructure projects,” Duffy said in a written statement.

Economic Forecast

North Carolina’s economy is expected to grow by 2.5% over last year, driven by increases in 14 of the state’s 15 economic sectors. This would represent the sixth full year of growth since the pandemic, according to the latest North Carolina Economic Forecast published by the UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business. Last year’s inflation-adjusted GDP is expected to increase by 2.9% over the 2024 level. North Carolina is forecasted to add 65,100 net jobs this year, an increase of 1.3% from the 39,900 expected jobs added last year. However, by December 2026, the state’s unemployment rate is expected to increase to 4.1%, crossing over the 4% mark for the first time in more than a year.

Complications could come from the Federal Reserve’s action on interest rates as it seeks to balance inflation concerns, the effect of the war in Iran, whether Wall Street sees an AI bubble or whether AI spending leads investors to sell tech stocks and slow consumer spending.

Also, if Congress fails to control its spending, inflation could return this year, according to the report that has been issued for more than 40 years, according to the report.

Healthcare Spending

North Carolina residents spend the seventh most percent of their income on healthcare in the nation, a study has found. According to the study from WalletHub, healthcare costs in North Carolina make up an average of 8.78% from a household’s monthly income. The average cost of healthcare in North Carolina is $530, with average prices being third for Lipitor, 11th for an optometrist visit, 12th for Ibuprofen, 19th for a dentist visit, and 22nd for a doctor visit, according to the study. The study found Alaska residents spend the most percent of their income on healthcare, with costs making up an average of 10.08% of their monthly income. At an average of 5.11%, residents in Utah spend the lowest percentage of their income on healthcare, according to the study.

JetZero Progress

A year after announcing North Carolina’s largest economic development project, Long Beach, California-based aviation startup JetZero plans to break ground June 15 on its futuristic jet factory at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. The announcement firms up plans disclosed by JetZero CEO Tom O’Leary in February while speaking to business students at Elon University. Gov. Josh Stein is scheduled to join O’Leary for the ceremony next month. The company pledged to invest $4.7 billion and top 14,500 in hiring over the next decade in the production of the Z4 aircraft. Designed in California and to be built in Greensboro, the jet blends the fuselage and wings, weighing less and delivering 50% greater fuel efficiency than traditional jets. It plans to commence service early in the next decade. JetZero said the 8-million-square-foot facility will manufacture up to 20 Z4s a month. It will integrate advanced digital and AI-driven manufacturing processes. On Tuesday, the state’s Economic Investment Committee, part of the NC Department of Commerce, allowed JetZero to modify its job creation targets. Instead of having 1,047 people hired by Dec. 31, 2027, JetZero now expects to push that back a year and have 1,438 people hired by Dec. 31, 2028. Smaller adjustments are also made for 2028 and 2029, and the 12-year agreement ends in year 2037 rather than 2036, but still with 14,564 jobs. The modification is the result in state budget delays pushing back its construction schedule, according to the company. 

DriveNC App

The N.C. Department of Transportation rolled out a redesigned version of its statewide traveler information website last Wednesday, adding new tools, a modernized map and a companion mobile app for the first time. The site's address will remain the same, but the underlying platform is being replaced. The change means users -- including news outlets -- will need to resubscribe for email alerts under the new system. The upgrade introduces several new features, including customizable email alerts for specific routes or regions, real-time feeds from over 1,100 traffic cameras and the ability to view messages displayed on overhead digital highway signs. A free "DriveNC" app for iPhone and Android devices will also debut at noon on launch day. DriveNC.gov has been a key public resource since it was created after Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Last year, the system logged more than 34,000 incidents, including crashes, construction closures and storm-related impacts. Nearly 1.4 million people used the site in 2025, generating about 2.2 million visits.

South Carolina

Leslie ClarkWhitney Williams
By Leslie B. Clark & Whitney Williams
June 17, 2026

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Early Voting for the Runoffs

Early voting for the runoffs begins TODAY!  As a reminder, there are several outstanding races and every vote counts.  Voter participation for a runoff is notoriously low, so make sure to vote early or in the runoff on Tuesday, June 23.

Click here to find your early voting location and check your sample ballot.

Runoff Elections:

Joint Bond Review Committee

The legislative Joint Bond Review Committee met in Columbia last week to consider several items such as the proposed acquisition of property for the South Carolina Public Service Authority (aka Santee Cooper) and the SC Aeronautics Commission, and to approve leases and permanent improvement projects for multiple state agencies and institutions of higher learning. 

JBRC also received a report from the Department of Commerce in relation to Act 3 of 2023, which is now publicly known as Scout Motors.  The legislation stipulated that the department must furnish a quarterly project status report to the Committee until all the funds have been expended on certain infrastructure and other improvements.  The department reported that the rail bridge and the onsite training center are complete.  100 production and maintenance employees have been hired, with over 600 employees based in South Carolina.  The main assembly building is complete and equipment is being installed.  700 robots have been delivered and positioned in the body shop.  Initial design validation prototypes remain on track to be assembled in Blythewood by the end of 2026 and the new interchange is on schedule and will be completed in June of 2027.

The Committee will meet again on Tuesday, August 11.

SEUS-CP is around the corner as Greenville takes center stage

The Department of Commerce announced the 2026 Southeastern United States-Canadian Provinces (SEUS-CP) Conference is only a few weeks away, and there is still time to take advantage.

Hosted in Greenville from June 21-23, the conference convenes manufacturers, distributors, technology providers and leaders from top global companies within the SEUS-CP alliance to forge partnerships and unlock supply chain and procurement opportunities.

The 2026 conference will focus on three key industries: life sciences, advanced energy and mobility.

The SEUS-CP alliance was formed in 2007 to bring together six states in the southeastern United States (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) and six Canadian provinces (Ontario, New Brunswick, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) to strengthen economic ties between the regions.

Each year, delegations from the states and provinces gather for a business-to-business conference, alternating between the United States and Canada. South Carolina is hosting the event for the first time since 2012.

For more information and to participate, visit the conference website here.

*SC Department of Commerce 6/9/2026

Important SC business resources for hurricane season

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30, and South Carolina emergency managers are urging businesses and communities to begin preparing as soon as possible.

With six counties bordering the Atlantic Ocean and more than 180 miles of coastline, South Carolina is one of the most vulnerable states to hurricanes and tropical storms. These natural disasters have the potential to cause widespread damage not only along the coast, but also throughout the state, including inland counties.

Review these tips from theS.C. Emergency Management Division (SCEMD):

• Know Your Zone: In South Carolina, state and local officials issue hurricane evacuations based on zones in coastal counties. Use the South Carolina Hurricane Guide to determine your zone.

• Prepare Your Business: Business owners are encouraged to do a safety check of facilities to ensure they are prepared to withstand the effects of a hurricane. Secure loose outdoor items, trim trees and bushes, and reinforce windows and doors. Review insurance policies now to confirm hurricane damages are covered.

• Remember Your Route: Know the closest evacuation route prior to the start of hurricane season. Rely on the blue hurricane evacuation signs for the most reliable guidance.

The Emergency Support Function-24 (ESF-24) team is available to assist businesses with preparation and resources.

For assistance, email esf24@emd.sc.gov or call (803) 737-8524. For a one-stop site for emergency business resources, bookmark this page.

And click here to receive the ESF-24 newsletter.

*SC Department of Commerce 6/9/2026