Rep. Brockman files bill in North Carolina House to establish universal income program

A new bill filed by State Rep. Cecil Brockman in the North Carolina House seeks to establish a program providing financial support and job training for individuals struggling to secure permanent employment, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 712 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Universal Income/Pay-It-Forward Fund.’

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

In essence, this bill establishes the North Carolina Universal Income Program (NCUIP) in the Department of Commerce to support individuals who face challenges in securing permanent employment by offering monthly payments of up to $3,000 for up to five years. Participants must engage in job training, volunteer work, or both. The program is funded through a Pay-It-Forward Fund that seeks resources from public-private partnerships, government sources, and private contributions. Graduates of the program will contribute an additional 1% in state individual income taxes to sustain the fund. The Department of Commerce is tasked with developing program activities and setting up the fund with financial support sought from various levels of government and private entities. The program, effective July 1, 2025, requires annual reporting to the General Assembly starting April 1, 2026.

Brockman proposed another six bills 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.

Brockman graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2006 with a BA.

Brockman, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2015 to represent the state’s 60th House district, replacing previous state representative Marcus Brandon.