Rep. Pierce files bill in North Carolina House to fund senior legislature operations

A new bill filed by State Rep. Garland E. Pierce in the North Carolina House seeks to provide financial support for the Senior Tar Heel Legislature’s activities, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 280 on March 4 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Support for the Senior Tar Heel Legislature.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill appropriates $30,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The allocation aims to support the operational costs of the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature, which is established under G.S. 143B-181.55. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Donna McDowell White proposed the most bills (13) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Pierce graduated from Fayetteville State University with a BS.

Pierce, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2005 to represent the state’s 48th House district, replacing previous state representative Donald Bonner.