On July 1, 2025, Governor Josh Stein signed SL 2025-34 into law, taking a major step in modernizing North Carolina state human resources. This bill codifies several key changes to the North Carolina State Human Resources Act that make the state's HR system easier, faster, and better. These changes are effective immediately, and will allow OSHR to focus on the important work of helping state government serve the people of North Carolina.
What SL 2025-34 Does For ...
Job Seekers
- Allows resumes and website profiles to be uploaded into the state job application.
- Increases the ability to substitute job experience for education.
- Simplifies minimum requirements to ensure qualified candidates aren't screened out.
State Agencies
- Makes it easier to post continuous positions, classify/reclassify positions, and set salaries.
- Speeds up hiring of previous candidates for similar future roles, across agencies.
- Expands temp-to-perm hiring program to all agencies.
State Employees, Local Government, & Beyond
- Requires OSHR to recommend performance management system improvements.
- Authorizes sign-on and retention bonuses for local governments.
- Sets the stage for a bigger overhaul of the State Human Resources Act in 2026.
Affected Policies
The changes in Session Law 2025-34 will result in changes to the following policies. OSHR will propose amendments to these policies at upcoming State Human Resources Commission meetings. Until the policies are amended, if anything in the statute contradicts a policy, follow the statute, not the policy.