North Carolina SB 462: Public Authorities/Nonprofit Corporations.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 462

Short Title: Const Amend: Legislative Terms/Compensation. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Burgin (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 25, 2025
*S462-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA TO MODIFY THE 2
LENGTH OF TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE 3
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THE 4
LENGTH OF THE SESSIONS 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 North Carolina Constitution reads as 9
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 salary of public school teachers paid from State funds as determined 16
by the National Education Association which pay shall begin on July 1 of each fiscal year. The 17
members of the General Assembly shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel reimbursement 18
that is consistent with similar allowances for State employees. 19
(2) The officers of the General Assembly who are not members of the General Assembly 20
shall receive for their services the compensation and allowances prescribed by law." 21
SECTION 1.(b) The amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section shall be 22
submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on 23
November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing 24
elections at that time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 25
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 26
Constitutional amendment to set the annual salary for members of the General 27
Assembly in an amount that is equal to the average salary for classroom teachers and to set the 28
travel, subsistence, and per diem rates at the rates paid for State employees." 29
SECTION 1.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the 30
referendum conducted under subsection (b) of this section. If a majority of votes cast on the 31
question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of 32
State shall enroll the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of 33
votes cast on the question are against the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the 34
amendment shall have no effect. 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 462-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. TERM MODIFICATIONS 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
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 amendments set out in this Part shall be submitted to the 19
qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2026, 20
which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that time. 21
The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 22
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 23
Constitutional amendment making the term of members of the Senate four years 24
beginning with Senators elected in 2028 and limiting members of the General Assembly to no 25
more than 16 consecutive years in a chamber." 26
SECTION 2.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the 27
referendum conducted under subsection (b) of this section. If a majority of votes cast on the 28
question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this sect