AANC Government Affairs Update | October 30, 2025

NC UPDATE | From McGuire Woods

Lawmakers returned to Raleigh last week to address unfinished business and take up a new congressional redistricting proposal, which quickly became the primary focus of the session. While they have the option to reconvene in November or December, the lack of a budget agreement makes additional votes this year unlikely. Other than added funding for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, lawmakers did not take up any public policy issues directly impacting the housing industry last week.
 
Congressional Redistricting
Last week, lawmakers voted on SB 249: Realign Congressional Districts 2025, a redistricting plan that is likely to give Republicans an additional U.S. House seat in North Carolina. The state’s current 10–4 Republican-Democrat split could shift to 11–3 or even 12–2 under the new map.
 
The proposal moves Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, and Pamlico counties from District 3 to District 1 and transfers Greene, Lenoir, Wayne, and Wilson counties from District 1 to District 3. These changes would significantly alter District 1, now held by Democrat Don Davis, pushing it into more conservative territory and making it difficult for Davis to retain the seat. District 3, represented by Republican Greg Murphy, would become more competitive.
 
State Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell), who drew the map, said the goal was “simple and singular: to bring an additional Republican seat” to the delegation. Critics argued the map relies on racial data and underrepresents voters, while supporters said only political data was used.
 
The new districts passed both chambers along party lines and became law without the governor’s signature. They will take effect for the 2026 election cycle.
 
Additional Spending Measure
With no final budget in place, lawmakers advanced another stopgap spending plan last week. SB 449: Continuing Budget Operations IV continues the series of “mini budgets” that keep critical state programs funded as negotiations over a full spending plan continue. Highlights include:

• An extension of the Golden LEAF bridge loan program for businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene to allow more flexibility in loan repayment.
• Adjustments to the cashflow loan program for local governments impacted by Hurricane Helene to allow delayed loan repayment until FEMA reimbursements are received.
• Increased non-NC resident tuition at NC Promise universities.
• $3 million for agriculture and environment programs for avian flu response.
• $12 million to rebuild broadband fiber damaged by Hurricane Helene.
• $7 million for ferry maintenance and dry docking.
• $7.5 million for repairs and renovations at the state fairgrounds.

The Senate voted unanimously to pass SB 449 on October 21, and the House similarly voted to approve the bill that same day in a final 104-6 vote. SB 449 was signed into law by Governor Josh Stein on October 23.

NATIONAL UPDATES |Links of Interest

• Fed cuts rates for the second time in 2 months | While the reductions could be good news for apartment valuations and sales, the decision also signals stress in underlying economic fundamentals.
• What smart Section 8 landlords should do during the government shutdown | TurboTenant CEO Seamus Nally gives advice on what steps property management pros should take to prepare for a prolonged shutdown.

GREATER FAYETTEVILLE UPDATE

Representatives from GFAA's Government Affairs Committee, GFAA President Jeremy Seeland, Government Affairs Committee Co-chair Ryan Mumper, and GFAA's Executive Director Bryan Holladay, met with the Cumberland County Clerk of Court to discuss the challenges members have had over the last year concerning scheduling complications created by e-filing. Our members have been dealing with inconsistent dates and times scattered across the calendar, which made it difficult to plan and manage cases effectively. Especially those who use are considered bulk filers. 

A few main updates and changes came from this meeting: 

• Wednesdays will become bulk-filing days.
• Loebsack & Brownlee PLLC will be assigned a docket every first and third Wednesday of each month.
• Hutchens Law Firm will be assigned a docket the second Wednesday of each month.
• Pro se filers and Loebsack & Brownlee PLLC overflow will be heard the fourth Wednesday of each month.
• Loebsack & Brownlee PLLC cases that do not fit into their assigned slots will be calendared at the clerk's discretion (any other day). 

From November 5 through December 31, Wednesday dockets will be capped at 50 cases/day, and will be heard from 8:30 AM  to 2:30 PM. Starting January 1, 2026, the Clerk hopes to increase bulk-filing caps to 60 cases/day with a max of seven cases heard every half-hour.

The Government Affairs Committee has another meeting scheduled in February for follow-up comment. 

Questions or comments you would like to share, please e-mail info@mygfaa.org. 

GFAA will be hosting a Community Coffee event on Friday, November 7, from 9:00am - 10:30am. Join GFAA for a morning chat with local community leaders and North Carolina General Assembly elected officials from the Cumberland Region. The event is free. More information here.

PIEDMONT TRIAD UPDATE

PTAA shares endorsements for  the Greensboro City Council Elections:

• Mayor – Robbie Perkins
• At-Large – Hugh Holston (incumbent), Richard Beard, Denise Roth
• District 1 – Crystal Black
• District 2 – No endorsement
• District 3 – Zack Matheny (incumbent)
• District 4 – Adam Marshall
• District 5 – Tammi Thurm (incumbent)

Stories and highlights of the candidates from various sources:

• Greensboro mayoral and City Council candidates talk housing, homelessness in town hall (WFDD)
• Crystal Black Says She’ll ‘Step Up and Do the Work’ in District 1 (The Assembly)
• Greensboro mayoral candidates agree on taxes, differ on city oversight at forum (WFDD)
• Here’s where Greensboro mayoral candidates stand on homelessness, crime, officer-involved shooting settlements (Fox 8)
• Rental Application Fraud Jumps As High As 50% In Some Cities (Rental Housing Journal)