# North Carolina HB 678: AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY POWERS WHICH PERMIT HIM TO RULE BY DECREE FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME, TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY, TO TRIGGER A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPON THE CALLING BY THE GOVERNOR OF A STATEWIDE STATE OF EMERGENCY, TO RESTORE THE ACTUAL INTENT OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT, AND TO REQUIRE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVAL OF EMERGENCY MEASURES LASTING MORE THAN TWO WEEKS.

North Carolina HB 678, AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY POWERS WHICH PERMIT HIM TO RULE BY DECREE FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME, TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY, TO TRIGGER A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPON THE CALLING BY THE GOVERNOR OF A STATEWIDE STATE OF EMERGENCY, TO RESTORE THE ACTUAL INTENT OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT, AND TO REQUIRE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVAL OF EMERGENCY MEASURES LASTING MORE THAN TWO WEEKS., is a 2025-2026 Session House bill sponsored by John M. Blust (Republican); status in committee, last action 2025-04-03 (Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB678-2025
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: North Carolina HB 678
- State: North Carolina
- Session: 2025-2026 Session
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY POWERS WHICH PERMIT HIM TO RULE BY DECREE FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME, TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY, TO TRIGGER A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPON THE CALLING BY THE GOVERNOR OF A STATEWIDE STATE OF EMERGENCY, TO RESTORE THE ACTUAL INTENT OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT, AND TO REQUIRE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVAL OF EMERGENCY MEASURES LASTING MORE THAN TWO WEEKS.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-04-01
- Last action: 2025-04-03, Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Sponsor: John M. Blust (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: CONSTITUTION, NC, COUNCIL OF STATE, DISASTERS & EMERGENCIES, ELECTIONS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY SERVICES, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, GOVERNOR, PUBLIC, PUBLIC OFFICIALS
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: John M. Blust (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mark Brody (Republican), House

## Actions (3)

- 2025-04-03: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House)
- 2025-04-03: Passed 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-04-01: Filed (House)

## Bill text

- Filed: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H678v0.pdf)
- Latest Edition: [PDF](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H678v1.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 96: AN ACT TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY FOR THE EXPEDITED REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. (vetoed)
- HB 377: 2026 Court Changes. (vetoed)
- HB 958: AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION LAWS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. (vetoed)
- HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II. (signed)
- SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026. (signed)
- HB 199: Authorize Municipal Deannexation. (passed house)

## Sources
- [Filed (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H678v0.pdf)
- [Latest Edition (PDF)](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H678v1.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 96: AN ACT TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY FOR THE EXPEDITED REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORIZE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB96-2025)
- [HB 377: 2026 Court Changes.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB377-2025)
- [HB 958: AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO ELECTION ADMINISTRATION LAWS AND CAMPAIGN FIN…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB958-2025)
- [HB 268: 2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB268-2025)
- [SB 445: Regulatory Reform Act of 2026.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-SB445-2025)
- [HB 199: Authorize Municipal Deannexation.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB199-2025)
- [North Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina/bills)
- [North Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-carolina)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NC-HB678-2025 (as of 2026-11-01).