Sen. McInnis files bill in North Carolina Senate on Job Maintenance Fund flexibility

A new bill filed by State Sen. Tom McInnis seeks to provide flexibility in managing grant agreements and ensure state funds support public purposes through performance criteria, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 664 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘JMAC Flexibility/ABCLaws/Megasite/Selectsite.’

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

In essence, the bill provides flexibility in cases of noncompliance with agreements under the Job Maintenance and Capital Development Fund in North Carolina. It modifies the eligibility criteria for businesses seeking grants, outlining categories such as major employers, large manufacturing employers, heritage manufacturing employers, and supply-chain-impact manufacturing employers, each with specific investment and employment requirements. The bill stipulates that grant agreements must include provisions for maintaining specific employment levels and sets penalties for noncompliance. It ensures state funds are used for public purposes by requiring businesses to meet performance criteria, including maintaining employment levels and providing health insurance, with repayment obligations if criteria are not met. The act becomes effective upon becoming law.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Buck Newton proposed the most bills (25) 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.

Mclnnis, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 21st Senate district, replacing previous state senator Ben Clark.