The start of 2026 will see some wide-ranging new laws take effect in North Carolina.

Why it matters: The legislation dips into the culture war over sex and gender, creates new workforce pipelines and seeks to rein in prescription drug prices.

Between the lines: Before we get into the 10 provisions most likely to affect you, know that despite passing all these laws, legislators have been unable to agree on a budget for the fiscal year that began six months ago.

• That leaves raises for teachers and state workers in limbo, and threatens the future of the state's Medicaid health care program.

The intrigue: Only one of the new laws taking effect survived a veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein — H.B. 805.

• It made it easier to sue medical providers who perform gender transitions, banned state funds from being used for gender transition surgery, allowed students to opt out of school activities that conflict with their religious beliefs and let parents control which library books their kids check out.
• The newest provision taking effect Jan. 1 excludes gender identity from state definitions of biological sex..

S.B. 479, also known as the SCRIPT Act, aims to provide more transparency for prescription drug costs and protect independent pharmacies.

• It does this by trying to rein in pharmacy benefit managers, who negotiate discounts with manufacturers and wholesalers and represent insurers, but can also favor large pharmacy chains, The News & Observer reported.
• The legislation bars those benefit managers from steering patients to preferred pharmacies as well as from paying some pharmacies more than others.

H.B. 67 lets internationally trained doctors apply for medical licenses in North Carolina.

• And it sets new standards for filtering of surgical smoke, which a medical journal recently described as "a hidden killer in the operating room."

Legislators tackled some other practical matters that proved relatively uncontroversial.

• H.B. 506 gives a new state agency, the North Carolina Investment Authority, control of the state's $139 billion pension plan and other investments. Treasurer Brad Briner campaigned on a promise that he would end the sole-fiduciary model that until now granted him full authority, and shift to having a board vote on decisions.
• S.B. 248 makes it simpler for adoptive parents to access a child's birth certificate and less time-consuming for registers of deeds.
• H.B. 40 updates the law dealing with married couples' community property after death.
• H.B. 388 allows attorneys to electronically store wills, to solve a problem that sometimes occurs when an original will cannot be located after a person's death, but a signed copy exists.

What's next: The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene in mid-January.

Keep reading for the full list

For years, the 30-story tower at 150 Fayetteville St. in downtown Raleigh was adorned with the name Wells Fargo.

State of play: The nation's fourth-largest bank vacated the tower last year as part of a larger effort to shrink its office spaces nationwide. Since then, the 150 Fayetteville building hasn't had any name attached to it.

• That is soon changing, however, as the law firm Smith Anderson installs its own signage atop the tower.
• The installation is in progress and expected to be finished this week.

Zoom in: Smith Anderson, the largest law firm based in the Triangle, made a big commitment to expanding at 150 Fayetteville after Wells Fargo left.

• The company extended its lease in 2024, taking over the top seven floors of the building, including the top two, which were previously leased by City Club Raleigh.
• The company is currently renovating the space, and it will accommodate the firm's nearly 300 local employees.

🌀 North Carolina state officials and activists in western North Carolina remain frustrated with slow pace of Hurricane Helene recovery. (WRAL)

North Carolina nonprofits that serve victims of domestic violence and child abuse are facing funding cuts. (WUNC)

💰 Before he was put on leave, the former Cary Town Manager approved a $1 million land purchase from Jordan Real Estate Holdings without informing the Cary Town Council. (News & Observer)

LRB Provisions, a new lunch spot from one of Durham's best chefs, fully opens to the public on Thursday.

Why it matters: It's the first restaurant run by chef Amanda Orser — who has worked in acclaimed kitchens like Magnolia Grill, Lantern and Littler.

• And it serves as another entry into Durham's great takeaway lunch culture, which has launched delicious gems like Saltbox Seafood Joint and Ideal's.

Zoom in: The menu at LRB, which will open in a former Dog House hot dog stand, is built around a smoker that Orser acquired.

• That will be used to create the house-made pastrami and vegetarian-friendly celery root pastrami that forms the backbone of the menu.
• Other debut menu items include a smoked trout salad, an al pastor pork loin sandwich, confit chicken, roasted carrot soup, house-made potato chips, a brownie-cookie hybrid called a "barkie" and a miso-ginger Rice Krispie treat.
• On Thursdays, LRB will have a rotating hot dog special in honor of the building's former tenant.

What we tried: During a soft open, we tried the pastrami sandwich, which has a delightful hint of smokiness and tenderness, and the al pastor, a sandwich that features a bright smack of candied jalapeno and pineapple salsa.

• The house-made chips, which are covered in spices, proved to be addictive from the first bite.
• And the chocolate sweetness of the barkie is balanced by the saltiness of pumpkin seeds and a background of smokiness from smoked oats.

Location: 2009 Guess Road

Hours: 11am-3pm, Thursday through Monday.