Action at the Capitol: Four Bills Sent to Governor for Approval
Major bills headed for signature include regulatory rollbacks, expanded remote licensing, toughened justice reforms, and more than $80M in disaster relief.
Holly Springs, NC, Sep. 29, 2025 — The North Carolina General Assembly last week advanced four major bills to the Governor’s desk, covering regulatory relief, public safety, disaster recovery, and transportation. Under state law, the Governor has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to sign a bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without signature once it is formally presented.
House Bill 926 – Regulatory Relief Package
Presented to Governor: September 25, 2025
Purpose: HB 926 (document) reduces regulatory burdens across multiple sectors. It lets certified wastewater evaluators issue site denial letters, grants land surveyors limited entry rights, prohibits certain inspection fees, restricts local development rules that exceed state standards, expands culinary alcohol permits, exempts model homes from fire supply requirements, ends dual audiologist licensure, requires disclosures for “locked” hearing aids, and permits inclusion of buyer’s agent compensation in real estate contracts.
Votes by local representatives:
House: Maria Cervania (D) – No; Erin Paré (R) – Aye; Julie von Haefen (D) – No
Senate: Gale Adcock (D) – No; Sydney Batch (D) – No; Lisa Grafstein (D) – No
Pro Viewpoints:
Streamlines permitting and inspection processes.
Protects consumers in hearing aid sales.
Enhances efficiency in housing and real estate.
Con Viewpoints:
Limits local governments’ authority to set higher safety standards.
Expands surveyor powers in ways landowners may oppose.
Looser fire and inspection rules may reduce protections.
Senate Bill 245 – Driver Licensing & Appropriations
Presented to Governor: September 24, 2025
Purpose: SB 245 (document) expands remote services for driver licensing, eliminates the teen driving log requirement, and makes several appropriations:
$15 million for statewide cybersecurity.
$5 million for eCourts technology and business process staffing.
$3 million for 26 full-time nonsworn administrative positions in the State Highway Patrol.
$1.4 million for 10 nonsworn administrative positions in the State Bureau of Investigation.
Votes by local representatives:
House: Maria Cervania (D) – Aye; Erin Paré (R) – Aye; Julie von Haefen (D) – Aye
Senate: Gale Adcock (D) – Aye; Sydney Batch (D) – Aye; Lisa Grafstein (D) – Aye
Pro Viewpoints:
Provides convenience for drivers and families.
Modernizes licensing and judicial technology.
Strengthens cybersecurity and supports law enforcement.
Con Viewpoints:
Eliminating the teen driving log may reduce accountability.
Remote renewals raise ID verification concerns.
Expands recurring state personnel costs.
House Bill 307 – “Iryna’s Law” (Justice & Public Safety Reforms)
Presented to Governor: September 23, 2025
Purpose: HB 307 (document) reshapes pretrial release and sentencing rules. It creates presumptions against release for violent, gang, or firearm offenses; requires mental health evaluations in some cases; adds sentencing enhancements; adjusts probation rules; and funds new prosecutors in Mecklenburg County.
Votes by local representatives:
House: Maria Cervania (D) – No; Erin Paré (R) – Aye; Julie von Haefen (D) – No
Senate: Gale Adcock (D) – Excused Absence*; Sydney Batch (D) – Excused Absence*; Lisa Grafstein (D) – Excused Vote**
Pro Viewpoints:
Increases community safety by limiting release for violent offenders.
Ensures mental health evaluations are considered in criminal proceedings.
Provides more resources to overburdened courts.
Con Viewpoints:
May erode judicial discretion and due process rights.
Could increase jail overcrowding and costs.
Likely to have disproportionate impacts on marginalized defendants.
House Bill 358 – Disaster Relief & Budget Adjustments
Presented to Governor: September 23, 2025
Purpose: HB 358 (document) delivers major disaster relief and education funding changes:
$65.5 million for Tropical Storm Chantal recovery, including:
$40 million for state matching requirements for federal disaster aid.
$15 million specifically for Chantal-related disaster recovery.
$6 million for direct emergency grants to individuals and families.
$2 million for a public disaster relief dashboard managed by the State Auditor.
$5.5 million from the Transportation Emergency Reserve for highway repairs tied to Chantal.
$1.5 million to Warren Wilson College for storm damage repairs from Hurricane Helene.
$1 million to UNC-Asheville for storm recovery, resiliency, and hazard mitigation.
$10 million to Wilson Community College to support operation of its biologics training center.
$1.11 million annually for cooperative innovative high schools (Dare, Rockingham, Hawthorne, Martin, and Moore).
Votes by local representatives:
House: Maria Cervania (D) – Aye; Erin Paré (R) – Aye; Julie von Haefen (D) – Aye
Senate: Gale Adcock (D) – Aye; Sydney Batch (D) – Aye; Lisa Grafstein (D) – Aye
Pro Viewpoints:
Provides urgent storm relief for families and communities.
Strengthens resiliency for higher education campuses.
Adds transparency through required reporting and audits.
Con Viewpoints:
Large appropriations could strain reserves if more disasters hit.
Some funding choices (e.g., university projects) may draw criticism.
Shifts in education funding reduce support for virtual and specialty schools.
Notes on Legislative Absences
In the North Carolina General Assembly, the following terms in the voting record are approved and have specific meanings:
* Excused Absence: A legislator was not present in the chamber when votes were taken. This is generally used when a member is away for personal reasons, illness, travel, or other obligations. The record shows that the member was absent with permission (“excused”) rather than skipping without authorization.
** Excused Vote: The legislator was present in the chamber but was formally excused from voting on a specific bill or set of bills. Reasons can include conflicts of interest (financial, personal, or professional), ethical considerations, or other justifications accepted by chamber leadership. The member is still “there,” but their vote is not counted because they’ve been excused.
Contact NC elected officials serving Holly Springs and Apex:
🏛️ North Carolina House of Representatives
Maria Cervania (Democrat) – District 41
📧 Email: Maria.Cervania@ncleg.gov
Erin Paré (Republican) – District 37
📧 Email: Erin.Pare@ncleg.gov
Julie von Haefen (Democrat) – District 36
📧 Email: Julie.vonHaefen@ncleg.gov
🏛️ North Carolina Senate
Gale Adcock (Democrat) – District 16
📧 Email: Gale.Adcock@ncleg.gov
Sydney Batch (Democrat) – District 17
📧 Email: Sydney.Batch@ncleg.gov
Lisa Grafstein (Democrat) – District 13
📧 Email: Lisa.Grafstein@ncleg.gov