North CarolinaSB 8762025-2026 SessionSenate

Various Local Provisions X.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

16 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 14 mixed.

Clayton must serve annexed areas

When Clayton annexes land or signs an annexation agreement, the town must offer each major town service to the annexed area. Services must be on the same basis, and in the same way, as in the rest of town on the annexation date.

Moore County storm-safety construction funds

Moore County may spend up to $500,000 of general funds, not property tax money, to meet DOT construction standards in storm-damaged areas. The work must support public safety and emergency services after Tropical Storm Chantal. This authority ends June 30, 2028.

Albemarle council changes and partisan elections

Albemarle moves to partisan, even-year elections. The City Council has seven members: three at-large and four district seats, and district candidates must live in their district. The mayor and council members serve four-year, staggered terms. Vacancies are filled by the council; if the departing official was a party nominee and the county party committee recommends within 30 days, the council must appoint that person (with residency limits on who can vote to recommend). These parts take effect at the December 2028 organizational meeting, and the 2028 election runs as if they are already in place.

Kannapolis moves to partisan, even-year elections

Kannapolis now holds regular city elections at the general election in even-numbered years, on partisan ballots. Petition candidates must follow Article 11 and the filing dates in G.S. 163-122(a)(3). There is no municipal election in 2027. Terms set to end in 2027 or 2029 are extended by one year, and even-year elections resume in 2028.

Moore County towns: partisan, even-year elections

Local election rules change in 11 Moore County towns: Aberdeen, Cameron, Carthage, Pinebluff, Robbins, Southern Pines, Taylortown, Vass, Foxfire, Pinehurst, and Whispering Pines. Regular town elections now happen at the general election in even-numbered years and are partisan. Primaries and petition rules follow state law (Article 11; G.S. 163-122(a)(3)). There is no municipal election in 2027; terms that would have ended in 2027 (and in some towns, 2029) are extended by one year. Even-year elections resume in 2028, with staggered terms kept. Many mayors and council members serve four-year terms; Vass’s mayor serves two years; Southern Pines’s mayor serves four years. Some charters change (for example, Carthage repeals a vacancy rule; Taylortown repeals a charter section; Foxfire has five at-large council seats and the council no longer picks the mayor).

Moore school board becomes partisan in 2028

Starting December 3, 2028, Moore County school board members are elected on party ballots at the general election in even-numbered years as terms expire. Candidates are nominated the same way as other county officers. Winners take office the first Monday in December after the election. The 2028 election is run as if these rules already apply.

Moore school police law repealed 2027

The law repeals Session Law 2010-64 that created the Moore County School Board Police. The repeal takes effect January 1, 2027. Any police powers or operations that relied on that law end on that date.

Regional jail commission and cost sharing

A regional jail commission is set for the Albemarle District Jail in Elizabeth City, and Chowan County is added. Camden, Chowan, Pasquotank, and Perquimans appoint members; terms are two years and vacancies are filled by the original boards. The commission may contract, hire staff, accept funds, and must meet and report yearly. Costs are split by each county’s share of population from the latest federal census. This section takes effect July 1, 2026.

Rowan commissioner vacancies use state process

Vacancies on the Rowan County Board of Commissioners are now filled under G.S. 153A-27.1. The county must use the state appointment process for any vacancy filled on or after the law’s effective date.

Claremont can cap building height

Claremont can set a maximum building height up to 125 feet. Rooftop items like antennas do not count. The cap does not apply to buildings built before July 1, 2026, hospitals, churches, arts centers, or government buildings. The council may grant variances.

Franklinton adds North Main Street right-of-way

Franklinton’s town limits now include the state right-of-way along North Main Street (State Road 1297) from Pine Street to U.S. 1. This change takes effect July 1, 2027.

Harnett airport-area zoning uses state rule

In Harnett County, airport zoning near certain cargo airport sites follows G.S. 63A-18, not G.S. 160D-601(d). This applies to property within six miles of a cargo airport complex site regulated by the N.C. Global TransPark Authority. Property owners and local officials must use the state cargo-airport zoning standard for those areas.

Leland annexation allowed farther in limited cases

Leland may annex land up to three miles from its main town limits in limited cases. This applies if the town owns the property, or if a petition was filed by July 1, 2026, and the area does not extend west of Maco Road NE or Ocean Highway East in Brunswick County. This expands where the town can annex under those conditions.

Rowan-Kannapolis rules during land handoff

When Kannapolis gives an area to Rowan County, city development rules stay in place until Rowan adopts its own or 90 days pass. For these handoffs, a usual state rule on adopting new development rules does not apply to Rowan. These changes apply only to those handoffs and end October 1, 2026.

Southport barred from new historic districts

Southport’s Historic Preservation Commission is abolished. The city cannot create new historic districts or overlays or expand any existing ones. Historic districts already in place stay in effect but cannot be expanded.

Moore school board district seats in 2028

Starting with the 2028 elections, Moore County school board seats use residency districts. You must live in the district to run or serve. Vacancies are filled under the state partisan vacancy law. If a 2026-elected seat opens, the board picks a replacement from that same district. The changes take effect the first Monday in December 2028, and the 2028 elections run under these rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Carl Ford
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.