Action at the Capitol This Past Week (April 28 - May 2)
An overview of legislative activity in the General Assembly between April 28 and May 2, 2025, as many House and Senate Bills advanced towards passage.
Holly Springs, NC, May 4, 2025 - The past week of April 28 saw a lot of action in the North Carolina legislature. The House saw 83 Bills referred to the Senate, while the Senate saw 18 Bills referred to the House.
Below you’ll find highlighted Bills as well as links to all House and Senate referred Bills. You’ll also find contact information for your representatives in the House and Senate.
Reminder
Here’s the typical path for a House Bill:
House passes ➔ Sent to Senate ➔ Referred to Rules ➔ Either advanced, amended, held, or killed ➔ If advanced, more committees or Senate vote ➔ Possible House concurrence ➔ Governor’s desk.
Here’s the typical path for a Senate Bill:
Senate introduces ➔ Referred to Rules ➔ (Possibly sent to other committees) ➔ Senate floor vote ➔ If passed, Regular Message Sent To House ➔ Referred to House committees ➔ House floor vote ➔ Possible Senate concurrence if amended ➔ Governor’s desk.
House Referrals
Publisher’s Note: The following is a partial list of referrals deemed to be interesting by Holly Springs Update. A complete list can be found here.
H56 - Publish Central Office Employment Information
Sponsor(s): Paré, Loftis, Zenger, Tyson
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Regular Message Sent To Senate
This bill requires local boards of education to annually publish detailed information online about total compensation and position details for all central office employees. It aims to improve transparency and accountability regarding administrative spending in public schools.
H57 - Adopt State Veterans Museum
Sponsor(s): Clampitt, Blust, Goodwin
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Regular Message Sent To Senate
This bill designates the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, located in Transylvania County, as the official State Veterans History Museum of North Carolina. It highlights the museum’s contributions to honoring veterans, educating the public, and preserving military history.
H139 - Baby Boxes/Newborn Safety Device
Sponsor(s): Balkcom, Pickett, Potts, Ward
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Regular Message Sent To Senate
This bill permits qualified facilities such as hospitals and fire stations to install newborn safety devices ("baby boxes") for the safe surrender of infants. It establishes strict requirements for installation, monitoring, and emergency response to protect surrendered newborns.
H171 - Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI
Sponsor(s): B. Jones, N. Jackson, Lowery, Eddins
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
This bill bans state and local governments from promoting, funding, or maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and imposes penalties for violations. It clarifies compliance with federal law and includes exceptions for anti-discrimination protections and tribal relations.
H193 - Firearm Law Revisions
Sponsor(s): McNeely, Pyrtle, Miller, Carver
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Regular Message Sent To Senate
This bill allows qualified concealed handgun permit holders to carry handguns on private school property with permission and safeguards relocated law enforcement shooting ranges from noise-related restrictions. It outlines specific requirements and exemptions for both provisions.
H254 - Adopt Tuskegee Airmen Day
Sponsor(s): Price, Goodwin, Majeed, Loftis
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
This bill designates the fourth Thursday of March each year as "Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day" in North Carolina. It honors the historic achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and their impact on military and civil rights history.
H432 - Property Tax Relief Study
Sponsor(s): Echevarria, Winslow, N. Jackson, Dixon
Last Action Date: 4/28/2025
Last Action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
This bill directs the Revenue Laws Study Committee to examine property tax relief programs for elderly, disabled, and disabled veteran homeowners and to suggest reforms. It also explores broader property tax strategies to balance homeowner relief with local revenue needs.
H610 - Study on Year-Round School
Sponsor(s): Reeder, Biggs, Cotham, Paré
Last Action Date: 4/28/2025
Last Action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
This bill orders the Department of Public Instruction to study the feasibility of having at least one year-round school per school district across K–12 grades. The study must examine costs, logistical barriers, and expected enrollment and report findings by January 15, 2027.
H636 - Promoting Wholesome Content for Students
Sponsor(s): N. Jackson, Biggs, Willis, Balkcom
Last Action Date: 4/28/2025
Last Action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
This bill requires public school systems to adopt processes ensuring library media are age-appropriate and creates a database of rejected materials. It also establishes a private right of action for parents, guardians, or residents against schools violating the requirements.
H773 - School Performance Grade Changes
Sponsor(s): Biggs, Cotham, Willis, Rhyne
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Regular Message Sent To Senate
This bill overhauls North Carolina’s school performance grading system by introducing a new, points-based model better reflecting student growth and achievement. It mandates separate reporting for subgroup performances and enhances transparency on school report cards.
H797 - Residential Property Wholesaling Protection
Sponsor(s): Howard, Tyson, Biggs, K. Hall
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Regular Message Sent To Senate
This bill defines residential property wholesaling as real estate brokerage activity requiring licensure and grants homeowners a 30-day right to cancel wholesaling contracts. It aims to protect homeowners from misleading sales practices and ensure market transparency.
Senate Referrals
Publisher’s Note: The following is a partial list of referrals deemed to be interesting by Holly Springs Update. A complete list can be found here.
S754 - School Calendar Flexibility: A New Alternative
Sponsor(s): Galey, Berger, Lee
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Regular Message Received From Senate
This bill allows local boards of education to adopt school calendars with an alternative start date as early as the Monday closest to August 19 if semesters are balanced and the closing date is no later than the Friday before the last Monday in May. It establishes enforcement procedures for noncompliance, including financial penalties and potential lawsuits by residents or businesses.
S528 - Child Care Regulatory Reforms & Flexibilities
Sponsor(s): Burgin, Galey, Corbin
Last Action Date: 4/28/2025
Last Action: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
This bill updates child care regulations by recognizing five years of licensed teaching experience as equivalent to a credential, increasing allowable group sizes under certain conditions, and clarifying licensure for multiuse centers. It also provides regulatory flexibility for school-age child care programs operating in schools and adjusts staffing credential requirements.
S429 - 2025 Public Safety Act
Sponsor(s): Britt, B. Newton, Daniel
Last Action Date: 5/1/2025
Last Action: Regular Message Received From Senate
This comprehensive public safety bill creates a felony offense for exposing children to controlled substances, increases penalties for felons using weapons during crimes, strengthens protections around autopsy records, and revises laws on solicitation of minors. It also reforms procedures for witness immunity, termination of sex offender registration, domestic violence orders for out-of-state victims, and crime victims compensation reporting timelines.
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