North Carolina SB 856: GTP/Public Building Contracts.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 856

Short Title: Const Amend: Legislative Terms/Compensation. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Burgin (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
April 29, 2026
*S856-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA TO MODIFY THE 2
TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE COMPENSATION OF 3
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THE LENGTH OF THE SESSIONS 4
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
7
PART I. COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCE MODIFICATIONS 8
SECTION 1.(a) Section 16 of Article II of the Constitution of North Carolina reads 9
as rewritten: 10
"Sec. 16. Compensation Limitations on compensation and allowances. 11
(1) The members and officers of the General Assembly shall receive compensation for 12
their services the compensation and allowances prescribed by law. An increase in the 13
compensation or allowances of members shall become effective at the beginning of the next 14
regular session of the General Assembly following the session at which it was enacted.that is 15
equal to the average annual starting salary of North Carolina public school teachers paid from 16
State funds as determined by the Superintendent of Public Instruction which pay shall begin on 17
July 1 of each fiscal year. The members of the General Assembly shall receive per diem, 18
subsistence, and travel reimbursement that is consistent with similar allowances for State 19
employees. 20
(2) The officers of the General Assembly who are not members of the General Assembly 21
shall receive for their services the compensation and allowances prescribed by law." 22
SECTION 1.(b) The amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section shall be 23
submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on 24
November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing 25
elections at that time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 26
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 27
Constitutional amendment to set the annual salary for members of the General 28
Assembly in an amount that is equal to the average salary for classroom teachers and to set the 29
travel, subsistence, and per diem rates at the rates paid for State employees." 30
SECTION 1.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the 31
referendum conducted under subsection (b) of this section. If a majority of votes cast on the 32
question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of 33
State shall enroll the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of 34
votes cast on the question are against the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the 35
amendment shall have no effect. 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 856-First Edition
SECTION 1.(d) If the certification from the State Board of Elections under 1
subsection (c) of this section reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of 2
the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the amendment set out in subsection (a) 3
of this section is effective upon certification. 4
5
PART II. CONSECUTIVE TERM LIMIT 6
SECTION 2.(a) Article II of the Constitution of North Carolina is amended by 7
adding a new section to read: 8
"Sec. 25. Limitation of consecutive terms. 9
(1) No person shall be eligible to serve more than 16 consecutive years as a member of 10
the House of Representatives. A person disqualified by this section from election to the next 11
succeeding term as a member of the House of Representatives may not fill a vacancy in the House 12
of Representatives during that term. 13
(2) No person shall be eligible to serve more than 16 consecutive years as a member of 14
the Senate. A person disqualified by this section from election to the next succeeding term as a 15
member of the Senate may not fill a vacancy in the Senate during that term. 16
(3) Terms of office beginning before January 1, 2027, shall not be considered for the 17
purpose of this section." 18
SECTION 2.(b) The amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section shall be 19
submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on 20
November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing 21
elections at that time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 22
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 23
Constitutional amendment limiting members of the General Assembly to no more 24
than 16 consecutive years in a chamber." 25
SECTION 2.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the 26
referendum conducted under subsection (b) of this section. If a majority of votes cast on the 27
question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of 28
State