Legislative Advocacy

With the legislative session in full swing, Democracy North Carolina is holding the line on regressive policies.

Local Power | Democracy NC will primarily focus on policies that modify county and municipal governmental powers. In recent years, the General Assembly has increasingly passed local acts, with limited public knowledge or support, to advance state-level political agendas that take away power from people and uphold inequitable systems.

• A provision from SB 88 may be reintroduced that severely limits local government control over election structures and representation, like voting districts, taking away power from residents until the next census and giving it to lawmakers in Raleigh.
• Many local acts, like HB 1064 and HB 911, package multiple government changes—from School Board districts to zoning and purchasing property—without providing residents and local elected officials timely notice and opportunities to learn about potential impacts and provide comments before becoming law.

Election Funding & Campaign Finance | Democracy NC will continue to advocate for robust state-funded election administration and renew its fight against the influence of wealthy individuals and corporations on elections.

• In 2025, the General Assembly will create the state’s budget for the next two years. The State Board of Elections has consistently operated with funding gaps, denying much-needed elections operations personnel and software modernization, which ensure elections run smoothly regardless of where a voter resides.
• Democracy NC spoke against changes to campaign finance laws, like HB 237, that created significant loopholes in transparency and reporting, making it easier for special interest groups with unlimited funds to influence our elections.

Freedom to Vote | In coalition with partners, Democracy NC will contribute election data analysis and research to oppose legislation that makes voting more difficult and manipulates the public’s trust in the safety of our election systems.

• Renewed attempts to disenfranchise eligible voters through faulty list maintenance practices (HB 1071) or proof of citizenship requirements (HB 1074) may resurface.
• Democracy NC is committed to preventing harmful restrictions on mail-in voting that disproportionately impact students, older people, and people who are disabled.

A democracy of, by, and for the people cannot be met until lawmakers stop pushing a white supremacist agenda and start to prioritize the material needs, economic security, and well-being of North Carolinians.

Legislative Advocacy Training

Legislators are making decisions on everything from healthcare to education and democracy — policies impacting our daily lives. Together, we can demand lawmakers strengthen our democracy, helping us turn public sentiment into public policy.

Get informed and engaged by watching our Legislative 101 & 201 trainings alongside Common Cause NC, North Carolina Black Alliance, and Emancipate NC. In these trainings, you’ll learn how to strategize with people across the state, advocate for strong voter freedoms, and build power for your community at the state legislature.

Check out our Legislative 101 and 201 training videos below! 

How does a bill become a law?

Every bill starts off as an idea. It can come from a citizen, a group of organized individuals, or a legislator advocating for change on behalf of their constituents. In order for a bill to be introduced, it must be sponsored by a legislator in the House or the Senate.

Ideally, a bill is strongest when there are already bill sponsors in both chambers. Many times, advocacy is needed in identifying sponsors to ensure a bill survives. 

At the beginning of each legislative session, each legislator gets a certain amount of “tokens” that represent the number of bills that they will not only introduce, but will be heard and prioritized during the session.

• Once lawmakers have an idea in mind, they will work with the legislative drafting commission to write the bill and ensure it complies with current existing law.
• The bill is then introduced in either the House or the Senate for a first reading. Every bill will undergo a first reading. The Speaker of the House or the Senate Pro Tempore will then assign a bill to a committee.
• Committees can determine the success of the bill. While as many as 2,000 bills can be introduced in a legislative session–only a third make it to a floor vote. The committee chairperson may decide not to hear a bill, thus striking the bill.
• If the committee decides to move the bill forward, it will go to the full body of either the House or the Senate for a second reading.
  If it passes with a majority vote, it will go to the opposite chamber, and the process repeats.
• If both Chambers do not agree to pass the bill as it’s written, the bill is sent to a conference committee of members from both Chambers. The committee comes to an agreement, and sends the bill back to both chambers for approval.
• If the bill passes both chambers with a majority vote, it will go to the Governor, who can veto, sign into law, or do neither with the bill. If the Governor doesn’t take action within 10 days of receiving the bill, the bill becomes law.
• Some bills are not subject to action by the Governor, and in such cases, they go to the Secretary of State for filing.
• If the Governor vetoes, the legislature has a chance to override, and pass the bill into law, with a ⅗ majority.

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