Jan. 27, 2025
Old North State Report – Jan. 27, 2025
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 29, 2025
February 25, 2025
NC Chamber - Government Affairs Reception
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
GOVERNOR STEIN CALLS FOR COLLABORATION WITH GOP
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s inauguration held on January 11 had to be pared down and moved inside the Senate Chamber of the Old Capitol Building because of cold and snowy weather.
In his inaugural address, he identified several of his policy priorities, including raising teacher pay, lowering taxes on working people, fighting the fentanyl crisis and ensuring safety for our citizens. At the top of the list of priorities is working to rebuild western North Carolina after the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene.
Governor Stein stressed in his remarks that he does not want to fight about those priorities with the Republican-led Legislature but wants to find ways to work in collaboration to find solutions for the real problems facing North Carolina and put settling petty political scores and fighting divisive culture wars aside.
As the Democratic Governor, Stein has no choice but to work with Republicans who hold a veto proof supermajority in the Senate and are one vote short of a super majority in the House.
WHO WILL LEAD NC GOVERNMENT IN STEIN ADMINISTRATION
After the inauguration, Governor Stein wasted little time in announcing his appointees to head the agencies and departments across state government. Those appointments made so far are:
|
Department |
Appointee |
|
Administration |
Gabriel J. Esparza |
|
Adult Correction |
Leslie Cooley Dismukes |
|
Environmental Quality |
D. Reid Wilson |
|
Health and Human Services |
Devdutta Sangvai |
|
Natural and Cultural Resources |
Pamela Cashwell |
|
Revenue |
McKinley Wooten, Jr. |
|
Military and Veterans Affairs |
Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette |
|
Commerce |
Lee Lilley |
|
Human Resources |
Staci Meyer |
|
Information Technology |
Teena Piccione |
|
Public Safety |
Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr. |
|
Transportation |
Joey Hopkins |
|
State Budget and Management |
Kristin Walker |
NEW HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS
The North Carolina General Assembly opened its 2025 Session on Wednesday, January 8 with a one day organization session. The General Assembly is scheduled to begin its work for the year on January 29.
The 2025-2026 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly will be filled with many new faces, in new positions and facing some old and some new challenges.
In the Senate that is made up of 30 Republican Senators and 20 Democratic Senators, there are 7 new members of the Senate, 3 Republicans and 4 Democrats.
Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) was reelected as Senate President Pro Tempore for another term, a role has held since Republicans took the majority in 2011. Senator Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) was elected to his fourth term as Deputy President Pro Tempore.
In the House that is made up of 71 Republicans and 49 Democrats, 23 of those numbers are new members (12 Republicans and 11 Democrats), a new Speaker was elected for the first time in 10 years. Republican Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) was elected Speaker, replacing Tim Moore, who is now serving in Congress. Representative Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba) was elected Speaker Pro Tem. He replaced Representative Sarah Stevens (R-Surry), who had served as Speaker Pro Tem for several terms.
HOUSE AND SENATE PRIORITIES IN 2025
At the reconvening of the General Assembly on January 8, both President Pro Tempore Berger and Speaker Hall spoke about their respective chamber’s priorities that will receive much attention in the year ahead.
Both spoke of rebuilding western North Carolina, continuing to enhance the state’s economic competitiveness with more tax relief, expanding school choice and improving public safety.
Rebuilding Western North Carolina
Hall: “I do want to make one thing clear: the number one priority of this body starting today – because today is day one – is doing all we can to rebuild western North Carolina.”
Berger: “This session, we have another issue: we must take a renewed look at how we prepare for and respond to natural disasters in our state… We will work tirelessly to ensure that our response to Hurricane Helene does not leave you behind.”
Economy
Hall: “As we know, we’ve cut taxes again and again. We’ve put more money back in the pockets of the citizens of our state. We’ve got one of the best tax environments in the country, and we’re going to continue to provide tax relief to North Carolinians. But we’ve got to do more than just cut taxes.”
Berger: “We are competing with 49 other states and a multitude of foreign economies. We must continue to pursue policies that create and expand our competitive advantage, policies that have made today’s North Carolina an economic and opportunity powerhouse.”
Education
Hall: “We’ve done things like expand school choice, letting parents decide where their children go to school, giving parents the opportunity to go to schools that best meet their particular child’s need. And we need to continue to expand that school choice.”
Berger: “Our community colleges and universities are the envy of the nation, producing a talented workforce capable of filling the jobs being created in our dynamic economy. Without a doubt, education continues to be the key that unlocks the door to a brighter future. We must work to improve both educational opportunities and educational outcomes.”
Security
Hall: “Our agenda here, it’s not going to matter very much unless we do the number one thing that government has to do – that’s to keep our people safe… We’ve got to continue to enact those policies to meet the number one obligation of government, and so I hope that we’ll work with the incoming administration in Washington to crack down on gang activity and trafficking and drugs that are devastating so many communities across North Carolina.”
Berger: “We’ve made incredible strides in improving education, facilitating access to healthcare, supporting public safety and law enforcement, reducing burdensome regulations, and providing our citizens with the tools they need to take control of their future.”
Read more by The Carolina Journal
LEADERSHIP IN THE 2025 SESSION
Upon convening, the House and Senate announced the leadership team for each chamber.
|
NC SENATE |
|
|
President |
Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt |
|
President Pro Tempore |
Senator Phil Berger |
|
Deputy President Pro Tempore |
Senator Ralph Hise |
|
Majority Leader |
Senator Paul Newton |
|
Majority Whip |
Senator Amy S. Galey |
|
Majority Whip |
Senator Todd Johnson |
|
Republican Joint Caucus Leader |
Senator Carl Ford |
|
Democratic Leader |
Senator Sydney Batch |
|
Democratic Whip |
Senator Jay J. Chaudhuri |
|
Democratic Caucus Secretary |
Senator Julie Mayfield |
|
NC HOUSE |
|
|
Speaker |
Speaker Destin Hall |
|
Speaker Pro Tempore |
Representative Mitchell S. Setzer |
|
Majority Leader |
Representative Brenden H. Jones |
|
Deputy Majority Leader |
Representative Steve Tyson |
|
Majority Whip |
Representative Karl E. Gillespie |
|
Majority Conference Co-Chair |
Representative Matthew Winslow |
|
Majority Conference Co-Chair |
Representative Jeff Zenger |
|
Majority Caucus Joint Liaison |
Representative Harry Warren |
|
Majority Freshman Leader |
Representative Heather H. Rhyne |
|
Majority Freshman Whip |
Representative Blair Eddins |
|
Deputy Majority Whip |
Representative Brian Biggs |
|
Deputy Majority Whip |
Representative Celeste C. Cairns |
|
Deputy Majority Whip |
Representative Jake Johnson |
|
Deputy Majority Whip |
Representative Howard Penny, Jr. |
|
Deputy Majority Whip |
Representative Timothy Reeder, MD |
|
Democratic Leader |
Representative Robert T. Reives, II |
|
Deputy Democratic Leader |
Representative Cynthia Ball |
|
Democratic Legislative Chair |
Representative Brandon Lofton |
|
Democratic Joint Caucus Chair |
Representative Mary Belk |
|
Democratic Conference Chair |
Representative Vernetta Alston |
|
Democratic Whip |
Representative Gloristine Brown |
|
Democratic Whip |
Representative Terry M. Brown Jr. |
|
Democratic Whip |
Representative Amos L. Quick, III |
|
Democratic Freshman Co-Chair |
Representative Tracy Clark |
|
Democratic Freshman Co-Chair |
Representative Jordan Lopez |
2025 SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRS
The Senate has announced its committee appointments. The chairpersons of the key Senate committees are:
|
COMMITTEE |
CHAIR(S) |
|
Agriculture, Energy, and Environment |
Brent Jackson Norman Sanderson Lisa Barnes |
|
Appropriations/Base Budget |
Brent Jackson Ralph Hise Michael Lee |
|
Commerce and Insurance |
Todd Johnson Danny Britt Eddie Settle |
|
Education/Higher Education |
Michael Lee Kevin Corbin Brad Overcash |
|
Election |
Ralph Hise Warren Daniel Brad Overcash |
|
Finance |
Paul Newton Tom McInnis David Craven |
|
Health Care |
Jim Burgin Amy Galey Benton Sawrey |
|
Judiciary |
Warren Daniel Danny Britt Buck Newton |
|
Pensions and Retirement and Aging |
Paul Newton Carl Ford Ted Alexander |
|
Regulatory Reform |
Tom McInnis Steve Jarvis Timothy Moffitt |
|
Rules & Operations of the Senate |
Bill Rabon Warren Daniel |
|
State and Local Government |
Ted Alexander Carl Ford Bobby Hanig |
|
Transportation |
Bill Rabon Vickie Sawyer Michael Lazzara |
|
Joint Legislative Commission on Government Operations |
Phil Berger |
|
Select Committee on Nominations |
Bill Rabon |
|
Appropriations/Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources |
Todd Johnson Norman Sanderson Lisa Barnes |
|
Appropriations/Dept. of Transportation |
Bill Rabon Vickie Sawyer Michael Lazzara |
|
Appropriations/Education/Higher Education |
Paul Newton Kevin Corbin Brad Overcash |
|
Appropriations/General Government and Information Technology |
Ted Alexander Carl Ford Bobby Hanig |
|
Appropriations/Health and Human Services |
Jim Burgin Amy Galey Benton Sawrey |
|
Appropriations/Justice and Public Safety |
Dany Britt Warren Daniel Buck Newton |
2025 HOUSE COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Speaker Hall announced the Chairs of the House committees. The members of the committees are yet to be announced. The Chairpersons of the House committees are:
|
COMMITTEE |
CHAIR(S) |
|
Agriculture and Environment |
Senior Chair: Jimmy Dixon Karl Gillespie Jeff McNeely Howard Penny |
|
Alcohol Beverage Control |
Celeste Cairns Reece Pyrtle Ray Pickett |
|
Appropriations |
Senior Chair: Donny Lambeth Senior Chair: Dean Arp Senior Chair: Kyle Hall Senior Chair: Larry Strickland Erin Paré Hugh Blackwell William Brisson |
|
Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources |
Senior Chair: Jimmy Dixon Karl Gillespie Ed Goodwin Jennifer Balkcom |
|
Appropriations, Capital and Information Technology |
Matthew Winslow Jake Johnson Kelly Hastings |
|
Appropriations, Education |
Tricia Cotham David Willis Brian Biggs |
|
Appropriations, General Government |
Dennis Riddell Donnie Loftis John Torbett |
|
Appropriations, Health and Human Services |
Tim Reeder Larry Potts Donna White |
|
Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety |
Ted Davis Dudley Greene Charlie Miller Carson Smith |
|
Appropriations, Transportation |
Frank Iler Phil Shepard Allen Chesser Steve Tyson |
|
Commerce |
John Sauls Steve Ross |
|
Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery |
Dudley Greene Mark Pless |
|
Education, K-12 |
David Willis Brian Biggs Tricia Cotham |
|
Higher Education |
Ray Pickett Kelly Hastings |
|
Election Law |
Hugh Blackwell Sarah Stevens |
|
Energy and Public Utilities |
Kyle Hall Dean Arp Matthew Winslow |
|
Ethics |
Shelly Willingham Harry Warren |
|
Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs |
Mike Clampitt Jarrod Lowery Bill Ward |
|
Finance |
Senior Chair: Julia Howard Senior Chair: Mitchell Setzer Senior Chair: Neal Jackson Keith Kidwell Steve Ross |
|
Health |
Senior Chair: Larry Potts Tim Reeder Donny Lambeth Donna White |
|
Insurance |
Chris Humphrey Jennifer Balkcom |
|
Judiciary 1 |
Ted Davis |
|
Judiciary 2 |
Sarah Stevens |
|
Judiciary 3 |
John Blust |
|
State and Local Government |
John Torbett Sam Watford Keith Kidwell |
|
Housing and Development |
Mark Brody Jeff Zenger |
|
Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs |
Ed Goodwin Joe Pike Donnie Loftis |
|
House Standing Oversight Committee |
Harry Warren Brenden Jones Jake Johnson |
|
Pensions and Retirement |
Carson Smith Diane Wheatley |
|
Regulatory Reform |
Dennis Riddell Jeff Zenger Allen Chesser |
|
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House |
John Bell |
|
Transportation |
Steve Tyson Jeff McNeely Jay Adams Phil Shepard |
|
Wildlife Resources |
Jay Adams Ben Moss |
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
- Under the Dome Podcast
- Do Politics Better Podcast
- WUNC Politics Podcast
- Carolina Newsmakers Podcast
- NC Capitol Wrap Podcast
