North Carolina SB 771: Reallocate Lottery Funding.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 771

Short Title: Const Amend - Disaster Relief Emolument Excpt. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Hise (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
June 26, 2025
*S771-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ADD AN EXCEPTION TO THE EMOLUMENTS PROHIBITION OF THE 2
STATE CONSTITUTION FOR CERTAIN DISASTER RELIEF TO BUSINESSES. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Section 32 of Article I of the Constitution of North Carolina reads as 5
rewritten: 6
"Sec. 32. Exclusive emoluments. 7
No person or set of persons is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from 8
the community but in for one or more of the following: 9
(1) In consideration of public services. 10
(2) For restoration of privately-owned built structures directly resulting from physical 11
damage due to natural causes declared to be a major disaster by the government of the United 12
States, as prescribed by law." 13
SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to 14
the qualified voters of the State at the statewide primary election to be held on March 3, 2026, 15
which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that time. 16
The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 17
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 18
Constitutional amendment allowing disaster relief in the form of real property 19
restoration that would otherwise be prohibited by the emoluments clause for major natural 20
disasters, as declared by the federal government." 21
SECTION 3. The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum 22
conducted under Section 2 of this act. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of 23
the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment 24
among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are against 25
the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the amendment shall have no effect. 26
SECTION 4. If the certification from the State Board of Elections under Section 3 27
of this act reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set 28
out in Section 1 of this act, the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act is effective upon 29
certification. 30
SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 31
law. 32