Action at the Capitol This Week
An overview of legislative activity in the General Assembly between April 14 and April 18, 2025, including newly introduced bills and those that advanced in the process.
Holly Springs, NC, Apr. 19, 2025
Bills that were introduced in the General Assembly this week.
Between April 14 and April 18, 2025, the North Carolina General Assembly introduced several new bills and resolutions:
House Bills:
HJR1007: Adjourn 2025 General Assembly to a Date Certain (link)
Filed: April 17, 2025
Sponsor: Not specified in bill text (ratified resolution signed by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and House Presiding Officer Timothy Reeder, MD)
This joint resolution sets the schedule for the North Carolina General Assembly to adjourn on April 17, 2025, and reconvene on April 28, 2025, at 12:00 noon. It is a procedural action to manage the legislative calendar.
Next Steps: Ratified and effective upon adoption.
HB1008: Stalking/Enhanced Penalties (link)
Filed: April 16, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Baker
This bill increases penalties for sexual battery and stalking when committed by an elected local government official against another member of the governing board or a subordinate employee. These offenses would escalate to a Class H felony under such circumstances.
Next Steps: Referred to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
HB1009: Planning ETJ Prohibited (link)
Filed: April 16, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Humphrey
This bill eliminates cities' authority to exercise extraterritorial planning jurisdiction (ETJ) outside their municipal boundaries. It repeals or amends multiple statutes to transfer full planning and zoning authority for these areas back to counties, effective January 1, 2026.
Next Steps: Referred to State and Local Government, and if favorable, to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
HB1010: Home Ownership Market Manipulation (link)
Filed: April 16, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Dew
This bill seeks to curb housing market manipulation by limiting the number of single-family homes that entities can purchase in populous counties for rental purposes. It prohibits acquisitions beyond a threshold and provides civil remedies, including fines and exemplary damages, for violations.
Next Steps: Referred to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
Previous HSU Coverage: NC Bill Seeks to Curtail Bulk Buying of Single-Family Homes by Corporate Landlords
HB1011: North Carolina Compassionate Care Act (link)
Filed: April 16, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Dew
This bill legalizes medical cannabis for qualifying patients with debilitating medical conditions and establishes a regulated supply system, including licensing of suppliers, medical use definitions, and patient registry protocols. It also creates advisory and oversight commissions to manage implementation and enforcement.
Next Steps: Referred to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
Senate Bills:
None filed during this week.
Bills that advanced in the General Assembly this week.
Between April 14 and April 18, 2025, the North Carolina General Assembly advanced several bills and resolutions beyond their initial introduction stages:
House Bills:
HB 4: Sam's Law (link)
Action Date: 04/15/2025
Sponsor: Kidwell
Summary: Requires public school units to implement Medical Condition Action Plans for students diagnosed as being at risk of a medical emergency. Additionally, mandates that schools establish standardized Medical Emergency Plans to guide staff response to medical events not covered by existing student-specific plans.
Action Taken: Re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations
HB 13: Charges for Payments by Credit or Debit Card (link)
Action Date: 04/17/2025
Sponsor: Warren
Summary: Regulates the maximum surcharge merchants can impose on credit or debit card transactions to ensure it does not exceed the actual cost paid to card processors. Requires merchants to disclose such fees prominently in advertisements when applicable.
Action Taken: Re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary 1; if favorable, to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
HB 38: Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act (link)
Action Date: 04/15/2025
Sponsor: Pyrtle
Summary: Prohibits payment card networks from using merchant category codes to track firearm purchases or maintain firearm ownership registries. Provides civil remedies and penalties for violations and authorizes enforcement by the Attorney General.
Action Taken: Placed on the House Calendar for April 29, 2025
HB 69: Military and Veterans Educational Promise Act (link)
Action Date: 04/16/2025
Sponsor: Campbell
Summary: Prohibits discrimination in college admissions against members of the armed forces and requires deferment policies for service members and spouses. Also provides in-state tuition for certain honorably discharged veterans without requiring the 12-month residency rule.
Action Taken: Regular message sent to the Senate
HB 92: NC Digital Assets Investments Act (link)
Action Date: 04/16/2025
Sponsor: Ross
Summary: Authorizes the State Treasurer to invest state funds in digital assets under secure custody and oversight. Also directs feasibility studies on allowing state employees to invest in digital assets via retirement plans and proposes a reserve for seized digital assets.
Action Taken: Re-referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
HB 133: NC Farmland and Military Protection Act (link)
Action Date: 04/17/2025
Sponsor: Balkcom
Summary: Prohibits adversarial foreign governments from acquiring agricultural land or property within 75 miles of military installations in North Carolina. Establishes enforcement via divestiture procedures, led by the Attorney General, including property sales and forfeiture of proceeds.
Action Taken: Regular message sent to the Senate
HB 211: The Kelsey Smith Act (link)
Action Date: 04/16/2025
Sponsor: Ward
Summary: Requires wireless carriers to provide real-time location data of a device to law enforcement during emergencies involving potential risk of death or serious harm. Provides immunity to carriers acting in good faith and mandates emergency contact protocols through the State Bureau of Investigation.
Action Taken: Regular message sent to the Senate
Senate Bills:
SB 108: 10th Senatorial District Local Act-1 (link)
Action Date: 04/14/2025
Sponsor: Senator Sawrey
Summary: A local act pertaining specifically to the 10th Senatorial District. Details of the bill's intent or impact are not specified beyond its geographic scope.
Action Taken: Re-referred to the Committee on Education/Higher Education; if favorable, then re-referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate
SB 131: Temporary Local Sales Tax Changes/Buncombe County (link)
Action Date: 04/16/2025
Sponsor: Not explicitly listed in the version provided
Summary: Temporarily allows Buncombe County to use 50% of proceeds from the first one cent of Article 39 local sales and use taxes for both school capital and operating expenses. It also restructures the School Capital Fund Commission to serve an advisory rather than decision-making role.
Action Taken: Regular message sent to the North Carolina House of Representatives
SB 177: Add Psychiatric Hospitals to Medicaid HASP (link)
Action Date: 04/17/2025
Sponsor: Senators Hise, Burgin, and Sawrey
Summary: Expands Medicaid Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP) eligibility to include freestanding psychiatric hospitals. Also establishes a new hospital assessment to fund these reimbursements and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval.
Action Taken: Regular message sent to the North Carolina House of Representatives
SB 190: Physician Assistant Licensure Compact (link)
Action Date: 04/16/2025
Sponsor: Not explicitly listed in the version provided
Summary: Authorizes North Carolina to join the national Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. This facilitates multistate practice, increases licensure portability, and enhances access to medical services while maintaining state regulatory authority.
Action Taken: Regular message sent to the North Carolina House of Representatives
SB 257: 2025 Appropriations Act (link)
Action Date: 04/17/2025
Sponsor: Not explicitly listed in the version provided
Summary: Establishes the biennial budget for fiscal years 2025–2027, allocating funds for education, health care, infrastructure, and general government services. Includes detailed appropriations from the General Fund, Highway Fund, and Trust Fund, as well as major reserves and disaster recovery allocations.
Action Taken: Passed third reading in the North Carolina Senate
SB 370: Repeal Certificate of Need Laws (link)
Action Date: 04/16/2025
Sponsor: Senators Sawrey, Galey, and Jarvis
Summary: Repeals North Carolina’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws, thereby eliminating state-level regulatory approval requirements for new health care facilities and services. Makes conforming changes to statutes affected by CON references and removes exemptions related to attorney’s fees in contested CON cases.
Action Taken: Regular message sent to the North Carolina House of Representatives
Got something to say about these or other bills?
As of the 2025–2026 legislative session, the North Carolina General Assembly members representing Holly Springs and Apex are:
North Carolina House of Representatives
District 36: Julie von Haefen (Democrat)
Represents parts of Apex, Cary, and Holly Springs.
Email: Julie.vonHaefen@ncleg.govDistrict 37: Erin Paré (Republican)
Represents Holly Springs and parts of southern Wake County.
Email: Erin.Pare@ncleg.gov
North Carolina Senate
District 17: Sydney Batch (Democrat)
Represents portions of Wake County, including Holly Springs and Apex.
Email: Sydney.Batch@ncleg.gov
You can use the NC General Assembly's "Find Your Legislators" tool to confirm your specific representatives based on your address.