Stay Informed: What the 2025 NC Budget Means for Environmental Education and Forestry

Spring in North Carolina brings more than wildflowers and warmer days—it’s also budget season in Raleigh. This April, the NC Senate’s proposed budget quietly called for eliminating the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education (EE). Thanks to strong advocacy, this week the NC House voted to keep environmental education alive by moving the Office into the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. While we’re grateful for this win, the budget still needs final approval through the Conference Committee, and now is the time to make your voice heard.

Why the NC Office of Environmental Education Matters

The Office of Environmental Education isn’t just a name on a budget line—it’s the backbone of programs that help teachers, foresters, and passionate landowners deepen their understanding of North Carolina’s natural resources. Among its many offerings is the NC Environmental Education Certification Program, which our own forestry team members, Jessica Ireland and Abigail Ridge, recently completed to bring best-in-class environmental learning directly to our members and local schools.

Here at Carolina Forestry & Realty, we partner with educators through our Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience (SFTE) program, helping teachers earn credit hours toward that EE certification. If the Office disappears—or ends up without funding—SFTE participants may lose access to the tools and materials they rely on, including Project Learning Tree resources. That would be a major setback for environmental literacy across the state.

How You Can Help: Contact Your NC House Legislators

The House’s decision to preserve the EE Office is a huge step forward, but the final budget hasn’t been signed yet. To make sure Program funding survives the Conference Committee process, please:

1. Find your NC House representative. A quick search at the General Assembly’s website will point you to the right office.
   
2. Send a thank-you note. Let them know you appreciate their vote to sustain the Office of Environmental Education.
   
3. Ask for continued support. Encourage them to uphold the House’s provision when the final budget is negotiated. 

Policy Spotlight: Federal Timber Program Goals

Meanwhile, on the federal stage, the Forest Resources Association (FRA) met last week with U.S. Forest Service leadership in Minneapolis to discuss ramping up timber sales on federal lands. Under the current directive, the USFS aims to increase timber volume by 25% over the next four years—bringing annual harvests to roughly 4 billion board feet. Proponents argue that leveraging categorical exclusions and the Good Neighbor Authority will help reach these targets, boosting both forest health and local economies.

Carolina Forestry & Realty supports these forest health initiatives, provided they’re paired with strong reforestation commitments and sustainable management practices that protect water quality and wildlife habitat. We’ll be following these developments closely as the reconciliation process moves forward.

What’s in the Federal Tax Reconciliation Bill?

Tax policy can feel dry, but the House Ways & Means Committee’s recent vote on the budget reconciliation bill includes provisions that could directly benefit landowners and small forestry businesses:

• 100% Bonus Depreciation for machinery and equipment purchases through December 31, 2029.
  
• R&D Credit Restoration, making it possible to write off research expenses in the same year.
  
• Expanded Section 179 Deduction, raising the maximum expensing cap to $2.5 million. 

These incentives help small operators upgrade equipment and invest in innovative practices—like precision forestry tools—that improve efficiency and sustainability. The bill heads next to the House Budget Committee, and then to the floor before the Memorial Day recess, so stay tuned for updates.

Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) and the Sackett Decision

In 2023, the Supreme Court’s Sackett v. EPA ruling narrowed federal wetlands protections to water bodies with a “continuous surface connection” to navigable waters. Last week, the FRA joined a multi-sector letter urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA to implement regulations that reflect this decision and maintain clarity for landowners and timber programs. Clear rules help avoid permitting delays that can stall forest management plans and timber sales.

Small Business Tax Provisions: A Win for Main Street

Carolina Forestry & Realty is built on small business foundations, so we cheered the FRA’s endorsement of a letter urging lawmakers to make the Section 199A pass-through deduction permanent at 23%. Aligning small business rates with the 21% corporate rate levels the playing field for family-owned operations, timber mills, and forestry contractors across North Carolina.

Stay Engaged and Informed

Big policy shifts can feel overwhelming, but they start with local voices. Here’s how to stay involved:

• Follow Carolina Forestry & Realty on Facebook for budget alerts and sample emails you can send to legislators.
  
• Sign up for our newsletter—we’ll flag deadlines and provide updates on Conference Committee outcomes.
  
• Share this post with fellow woodland owners, educators, and friends who care about forestry and environmental education.
  

Our forests—and the people who care for them—depend on informed advocacy. If you have any questions about these policy developments or how they affect your land management plans, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at info@carolinaforestry.com or call us at 919-510-4663. Together, we can ensure North Carolina’s forestry and environmental education programs remain strong for years to come.