North Carolina House advances wide package of bills, defeats Guilford sales-tax shift

The North Carolina House spent its crossover day moving a large bundle of legislation to the Senate while sharply dividing on several high-profile measures.

The chamber rejected House Bill 305, a local-sales-tax redistribution that would have shifted about $400,000 annually to the town of Stokesdale. Sponsor Representative Bluffs urged the House to support the change, saying the impact was "like a rounding error." Opponents framed the measure as dangerous precedent: Representative Quicke warned it would amount to “the equivalent of eating from the trough without throwing in any slot,” arguing a small municipality would receive revenue without contributing to the taxed base. The bill failed on second reading, 54–57, and was placed on the unfavorable calendar.

Among the bills the House approved and sent to the Senate were measures on school safety, health coverage and utilities. House Bill 4, "Sam’s Law," which requires schools with students who need plans for conditions such as epilepsy or diabetes to designate trained staff and have a brief video-based training, passed unanimously. Another health measure, House Bill 297 to require coverage parity for advanced breast-imaging diagnostics, advanced with floor sponsors saying it would reduce cost barriers for medically necessary testing.

Two of the session’s most contentious debates drew sharp floor exchanges and close votes. On ivermectin access (House Bill 6 18), sponsor Representative Almond described the drug as "safe, affordable" and urged expanding pharmacist access; opponents pressed that the Food and Drug Administration has not approved ivermectin for COVID treatment and raised safety and oversight concerns. Representative Clark called the idea of allowing pharmacies to dispense "an unproven, non FDA approved drug" without a prescription alarming. The House defeated a narrow amendment to add medical oversight and ultimately passed the bill on second reading by 66–47; it was later passed and ordered to the Senate.

Lawmakers also weighed a bill creating a framework for local governments to address unauthorized public camping (House Bill 7 81). Sponsor Representative Biggs said the measure gives towns guidance and tools to respond with dignity and public-safety standards; critics warned it risks criminalizing homelessness and imposes unfunded mandates on cash-strapped local governments. A range of amendments and floor questions focused on sanitation, duration, and the financial responsibility for municipalities. The bill passed and will go to the Senate.

Other notable House actions included enactment of PFAS polluter-liability language (House Bill 5 69) to require responsible parties to reimburse utilities that have already paid for treatment equipment, and approval of a measure to require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR resources in schools (House Bill 8 86) with an amendment naming the act for Representative Becky Carney. The PFAS bill’s supporters said it protects ratepayers who otherwise would shoulder cleanup costs; the House adopted clarifying amendments on definitions before passage.

The House also debated education standards in House Bill 4 15, which restructures high-school mathematics pathways. Sponsor Representative Willis argued the plan helps students who are not meeting current expectations by providing year-long foundational options; opponents from several members of the UNC-admissions and education community warned the changes could leave students misaligned with university admission requirements and urged caution on removing math 3 as a default pathway.

Floor procedure and scheduling: the chamber received and dispensed a steady roll of committee and local bills across the morning and afternoon. The Speaker announced plans for budget work in the coming week and recessed, adjourning to reconvene Thursday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m.

What’s next: Most passed bills will go to the Senate for further consideration; items displaced or placed on unfavorable calendars can return to committee for additional drafting or negotiation. For bills that cleared the House with narrowly divided votes, expect additional debate as the Senate considers its version.