Action at the Capitol Last Week (5/19 - 5/23)
A hand-picked look of Senate and House Bill activity in the General Assembly between May 19 and May 23, 2025.
Legislative Highlights: Key Bills of Interest for South Wake and Holly Springs Residents
Holly Springs, NC, May 26, 2025 — This curated selection of bills represents some of the most relevant North Carolina General Assembly legislative activity from May 19th to 23rd, 2025. Each bill in this roundup has been handpicked for its potential impact on residents of South Wake County and the Holly Springs community, touching on critical areas like disaster recovery, healthcare access, education, child care, public safety, and government transparency.
To make these complex topics more accessible, each summary includes a "Layman’s Terms" section—a brief, easy-to-understand explanation of what the bill would do and why it matters.
Whether you're concerned about local school policies, law enforcement benefits, rebuilding after a storm, or how health care is delivered and priced, this week’s legislative slate is worth a closer look.
Note: Each bill is summarized below with a link to further information.
HB 47 – Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I
Sponsor: Rep. Dudley Greene, Rep. John R. Bell, IV
Action: Enacted (Session Law 2025‑2) | Date: 05/19/2025
Summary: Appropriates over $524 million for Hurricane Helene recovery. Key allocations include:
$120 M for Home Reconstruction & Repair
$200 M for Agricultural Crop Loss
$100 M for Private Road & Bridge Repair
$55 M for Small Business Infrastructure Grants
$20 M for debris and sedimentation cleanup
Funds also support fire departments, nonprofit rebuilding, student recovery, rental aid, and tourism.
Layman's Terms: This bill, now a law, provides emergency money to help rebuild after Hurricane Helene. It funds repairs for homes, farms, roads, and businesses. It also helps schools, renters, and cleanup efforts in hard-hit areas.
Full Bill information here: here
HB 50 – LEO Special Separation Allowance Options
Sponsor: Rep. Reece Pyrtle, Rep. Charles Miller, Rep. Allen Chesser, Rep. Patricia Cotham
Action: Re‑ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate | Date: 05/20/2025
Summary: Adds a benefit option for law enforcement officers with 30+ years of service. Officers may choose:
0.85% × final base pay × years of service, or
0.85% × base pay at 30 years × 30
Election is one-time and irrevocable. Payments cease at age 62, death, or qualifying reemployment. Effective July 1, 2025.
Layman's Terms: Retiring officers with 30+ years of service can now choose how their retirement benefit is calculated. They can use their current or earned pay after 30 years. This gives them more flexibility to get the best benefit.
Full Bill information here: here
HB 67 – Healthcare Workforce Reforms
Sponsor: Rep. Timothy Reeder, Rep. Grant Campbell, Rep. Larry Potts, Rep. Hugh Blackwell
Action: Re‑ref to Judiciary Committee (Senate) | Date: 05/22/2025
Summary: Creates the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, expands licensure for international/rural doctors, PAs, and psychologists. Includes:
Compact participation
Rural international license track
Scope expansions for masters-level psychologists
Effective Jan 1, 2026 (physicians); Oct 1, 2025 (psychologists).
Layman's Terms: This bill helps doctors and psychologists move and work more easily across state lines. It also opens new ways for foreign-trained doctors to work in rural NC. These changes aim to address workforce shortages in healthcare.
Full Bill information here: here
HB 231 – Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact
Sponsor: Rep. Dean Arp, Rep. Donny Lambeth, Rep. Erin Paré, Rep. Heather Rhyne
Action: Re‑ref to Rules & Operations of the Senate | Date: 04/03/2025
Summary: Joins a multi-state compact to allow licensed social workers (clinical/master’s/bachelor’s) to practice across states. Includes data sharing, jurisdictional rules, and military spouse support. Effective October 1, 2025.
Layman's Terms: This bill makes it easier for licensed social workers to work in other states by joining a national agreement. It helps states share information and supports military families who move frequently. The goal is to increase access to qualified professionals.
Full Bill information here: here
HB 412 – Child Care Regulatory Reforms
Sponsor: Rep. Dean Arp, Rep. Donny Lambeth, Rep. Erin Paré, Rep. Heather Rhyne (+ others)
Action: Re‑ref to Rules & Operations of the Senate | Date: 05/22/2025
Summary: Overhauls NC child care laws. Key changes include:
QRIS decoupling from subsidy reimbursement
Updated staff-child ratios & group sizes
Lead teacher and credential flexibility
Weikart tool added to quality standards
Liability insurance workgroup report due January 1, 2026
Layman's Terms: This bill changes child care rules to give providers more flexibility. It also starts a study on affordable insurance options for centers. The aim is to improve quality while easing burdens on child care staff.
Full Bill information here: here
HB 434 – Lower Healthcare Costs (Care First Act)
Sponsor: Rep. John Bell, Rep. Tim Reeder, Rep. Patricia Cotham, Rep. Grant Campbell (+ others)
Action: Re‑ref to Rules & Operations of the Senate | Date: 05/22/2025
Summary: Lowers patient costs via transparency, limits fees, and prior authorization rules. Key features:
Insurer decisions in 24–72 hours
No reversal of approved treatments ≥80% success
Upfront pricing & estimate caps
Facility fee restrictions for outpatient care
Effective dates between January 1 and October 1, 2026.
Layman's Terms: This bill helps patients understand and control their health care costs. It requires hospitals and insurance companies to share pricing information and make faster decisions. It also cracks down on surprise facility fees.
Full Bill information here: here
HB 821 – Driver’s License Expiration Moratorium
Sponsor: Rep. Jay Adams, Rep. Keith Kidwell
Action: Re‑ref to Rules, Calendar & Operations of the House | Date: 05/19/2025
Summary: Temporarily preserves the validity of Class C licenses by up to 2 years past expiration, excluding Real ID, revoked, etc. Directs review of DMV issues, with report due in 2026. Applies to licenses expiring after the effective date; sunsets Dec 31, 2027.
Layman's Terms: This bill lets regular driver’s licenses stay valid up to two years longer while the DMV fixes delays. It doesn’t apply to suspended, revoked, or certain Real ID licenses. The state will study DMV problems and report back in 2026.
Full Bill information here: here
HB 959 – Protecting Students in a Digital Age
Sponsor: Rep. Hugh Blackwell, Rep. Kyle Hall, Rep. Brian Biggs (+ others)
Action: Re‑ref to Rules & Operations of the Senate | Date: 05/21/2025
Summary: Implements internet safety, social media literacy, and device-use regulation in schools. Key provisions:
Bans TikTok & social media access on school devices
K–12 social media instruction: 1× elementary, 1× middle, 2× high school
Prohibits device use during class, with exceptions for emergencies, IEP/504, and health
Effective 2025–26 school year.
Layman's Terms: This bill teaches students about the dangers of social media and limits phone use during school. It blocks TikTok on school devices and ensures kids learn to stay safe online. Each grade level will get age-appropriate lessons on the topic.
Full Bill information here: here
HB 1012 – Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part II
Sponsor: Committee on Appropriations
Action: Passed House; Sent to Senate | Date: 05/23/2025
Summary: Adds over $1.25 billion for Helene and wildfire recovery. Allocations include:
$500 M from NCInnovation
$69.35 M from unused prior funds
$464.75 M in new appropriations for agriculture, business, schools, roads, housing, colleges, and fire
$685.6 M in federal water/sewer funding
Unused funds revert on June 30, 2030.
Layman's Terms: This bill adds over a billion dollars to help NC communities recover from hurricane and wildfire damage. It funds repairs, housing, small businesses, and schools, and includes federal water infrastructure support.
Full Bill information here: here
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
This is a refreshingly-clear summary of often opaque legislation. I appreciate your curation and distillation.