AANC Government Affairs Update | May 8, 2025
NC UPDATE | Bills, Lobby Day, and PAC Raffle
Our lobbying team and government affairs folks have been very busy over the last couple of months. You may remember that we had great success at the NC Legislature last year, but we discovered one piece of language regarding attorney fees that needed to be clarified and updated. We worked on the new language, which made it into a Senate bill as an amendment, and the bill passed the Senate prior to the May 8th crossover deadline. The bill will now go to the House for consideration. The language is the top issue this year, so it's great news that it cleared the first significant hurdle.
All of us are readying for Lobby Day on May 14th and we'll have plenty to talk about. We look forward to seeing many of you next week!
PAC Raffle
Donate to the AANC PAC between now and 2:00pm on May 13th to win one of many great prizes. Donate:
- $50 for one entry
- $100 for 3 entries
- $250 for 7 entries
Raffle winners will be announced on May 13th at 5:20pm during the Legal Issues Update session at the AANC CONNECTed Conference.
Links of Interest:
- Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues to Defend Western North Carolina Recovery | Attorney General Jeff Jackson filed suit against the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) for unlawfully terminating congressionally approved grants that fund jobs and critical programs supporting western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
- HUD approves $1.4B grant to rebuild homes in western North Carolina | The approval is the next step in the state receiving federal relief following Hurricane Helene. According to Gov. Stein's office, the grant focuses on long-term rebuilding and not immediate shelter needs.
- Backyard homes couldn't be blocked by North Carolina cities if lawmakers get their way | A legislative committee on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow more North Carolinians to build at least one accessory dwelling unit on their property, provided it's allowed under their neighborhood's private covenants.
CHARLOTTE REGION UPDATE
Information provided by Greater Charlotte Apartment Association (GCAA)
GCAA has hired a new Government Affairs Director, Keith Kelly. Keith is a seasoned public affairs professional, with 20 years of legislative advocacy experience as a former registered lobbyist and legislative aide. His career includes senior roles with Congressman Mel Watt, Congresswoman Alma Adams, and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce (now Charlotte Regional Business Alliance), where he earned a reputation for advancing public policy, strengthening regional partnerships, and delivering meaningful results.
Keith is a Duke University alum and is currently completing a Master's in Public Administration at Johnson & Wales University.
PIEDMONT TRIAD UPDATE
Information provided by the Piedmont Triad Apartment Association (PTAA)
The PTAA and our allies at the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition (TREBIC) held a productive meeting last week with a representative from the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC), focusing on the substantial appeals delays that have gripped Guilford County. The AOC is aware of the delays, and when compared to the handful of other large counties, Guilford remains an outlier. The AOC has several tools to assist the Clerk of Court, but the effectiveness ultimately lies with the clerk. Speaking of….
David Churchill will be appointed as Guilford County Clerk of Court. Monday night, after we met with AOC, David Churchill, the previous County Clerk of Court who lost to Lisa Johnson-Tonkins in the 2014 election, will be appointed to fill the role through the remainder of the current term (2026). Top of our list is a meeting with him to (re)introduce ourselves and the multifamily industry and discuss the appeals (and other) questions and concerns we have about the process in Guilford County.
Development looks to Asheboro; pushback is immediate. This week’s reminder that development pushback is universal comes from Asheboro. Local residents, including a campground, have come out against a development that includes multifamily. The development is in the southeast area of Asheboro, not far from the Zoo exit off US-64. One of the neighbors referred to the proposal as “a giga-plex”. We’re engaged with officials in Asheboro on a few different topics right now, and will continue to focus on education efforts in that region.
TRIANGLE UPDATE
Information provided by the Triangle Apartment Association (TAA)
TAA and Copper Circle were proud to be part of the Lotus Campaign’s unforgettable Red Carpet Night! What an inspiring evening celebrating innovation and impact in housing. Together, we can make a difference, one step, one story, one solution at a time.
TAA participated in the Triangle Community Coalition's SW Wake Mayoral Panel, on May 6th. It was a great opportunity to hear directly from the leaders of some of the Triangle’s fastest-growing towns. From growth and development to housing and infrastructure, it was a powerful conversation about what’s shaping the future of our region. The panel included Mayor Blake Massengill (Fuquay-Varina), Mayor Sean Mayefskie (Holly Springs), and Mayor Jacques Gilbert (Apex).