The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) is the state’s legislative branch, responsible for creating state laws and adopting the state budget. It’s made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate, whose members meet in Raleigh on a two-year cycle. In odd-numbered years, lawmakers hold the “long session,” when most legislation is introduced and the state budget is typically passed. In even-numbered years, they return for the “short session,” which focuses on budget adjustments and a narrower set of policy issues. Bills introduced during the long session may still be debated and voted on when legislators reconvene for the short session. 

The 2026 short session begins on April 21. Here’s a quick look at our 2025-2026 legislative priorities and where they stand as lawmakers prepare to return to Raleigh. 

House Bill 8: Managing Environmental Waste Act 

In 2023, North Carolina state agencies, local governments, and nonprofits spent $56.3 million cleaning up 14.6 million pounds of litter, most of which was made of plastic. Plastic pollution takes hundreds of years to breakdown, posing serious health risks to people and the environment.  

H8 takes initial steps to reduce plastic waste in government facilities across the state by limiting single-use plastics, tracking and reporting purchases of recyclable materials, and studying the impacts of plastics to guide future policy solutions. The bill has passed the House for four consecutive sessions, including unanimously during the 2025 long session. 

House Bill 369: Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act 

North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. However, many of the regulations that guide this rapid growth are outdated and haven’t kept pace with the needs of North Carolina communities. 

H369 removes outdated off-street parking mandates and empowers certain local governments to manage runoff during redevelopment to revitalize downtowns, limit urban sprawl, reduce housing costs, improve water quality, and lower flood risk. The bill passed the House unanimously during the 2025 long session. 

House Bill 569: PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability 

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of over 12,000 chemicals used to make products like clothing, cookware, and food packaging resistant to stains, grease, and water. Because these “forever chemicals” persist in the environment, exposure is widespread and linked to serious health concerns. 

H569 addresses PFAS pollution in NC surface water by requiring manufacturers that discharge PFAS to cover the costs public water systems incur to treat contaminated water. The bill passed the House 104-3 during the 2025 long session. 

House Bill 570: Responsible Firefighting Foam Management Act 

PFAS are also used in firefighting foam. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to higher cancer rates among firefighters. 

With safe PFAS-free foams available, H570 prohibits the use of firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS for training, practice, or testing purposes. The bill passed the House unanimously during the 2025 long session. 

Keep an eye out for updates on these bills and how you can take action! In the weeks ahead, we’ll share information on how to write to your Senators and highlight opportunities to help advance legislation that protects our region’s people, communities, and shared natural resources.