North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

HB 656 — Split District Court/Defender District 43 into 43A/43B.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 16% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    0 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

46 added · 44 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of House Bill 656 now splits District Court District 43 into two separate districts: 43A and 43B. This change, which includes hiring a full-time judicial assistant for District 43B, aims to better manage the court's workload and improve access to legal services for the counties involved. By redefining these districts, the bill seeks to streamline court processes and enhance public defense services in the region.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 656 Short Title:
656 Apr 1, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH40377-NDa-36 Short Title:Split Distr Ct/Defender Distr 43 into 43A/43B.
Split Distr Ct/Defender Distr 43 into 43A/43B.
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED ANACT TO SPLIT DISTRICTCOURT DISTRICT43 INTO DISTRICT COURTDISTRICTS 43A AND 43B, TO SPLIT DEFENDER DISTRICT 43 INTO DEFENDER DISTRICTS 43A AND 43B, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS.
Judiciary 1, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 2, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED ANACT TO SPLIT DISTRICTCOURT DISTRICT 43 INTO DISTRICT COURTDISTRICTS 43A AND 43B, TO SPLIT DEFENDER DISTRICT 43 INTO DEFENDER DISTRICTS 43A AND 43B, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS.
SECTION 1.(d) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts the sum of seventy-one thousand nine hundred thirty-two dollars ($71,932) in recurring funds and three thousand four hundred thirty-six dollars ($3,436) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to be used to hire one full-time judicial assistant to serve District Court District 43B.
SECTION 1.(d) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts the sum of seventy-one thousand nine hundred thirty-two dollars ($71,932) in recurring funds and three thousand four hundred thirty-six dollars ($3,436) in nonrecurring *H656-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to be used to hire one full-time judicial assistant to serve District Court District 43B.
*DRH40377-NDa-36* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 1.(e) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and elections held in 2026 shall be held accordingly.
SECTION 1.(e) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and elections held in 2026 shall be held accordingly.
8 Defender District Counties ___________________________________________________________________ … 4343A Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain 43B Haywood, Jackson After notice to, and consultation with, the affected district bar, senior resident superior court judge, and chief district court judge, the Commission on Indigent Defense Services may recommend to the General Assembly that a district or regional public defender office be established.
Defender District Counties ___________________________________________________________________ … 4343A Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain 43B Haywood, Jackson After notice to, and consultation with, the affected district bar, senior resident superior court judge, and chief district court judge, the Commission on Indigent Defense Services may recommend to the General Assembly that a district or regional public defender office be established.
A legislativeact is required in order to establish a new office or to abolish an existing office." SECTION 2.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Office of Indigent Defense Services, the sum of two hundred twenty-eight thousand four hundred sixty-one dollars ($228,461) in recurring funds and four thousand eight hundred ninety-five dollars ($4,895) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to be used to hire one full-time chief public defender to serve Defender District 43B.
A legislative act is required in order to establish a new office or to abolish an existing office." SECTION 2.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Office of Indigent Defense Services, the sum of two hundred twenty-eight thousand four hundred sixty-one dollars ($228,461) in recurring funds and four thousand eight hundred ninety-five dollars ($4,895) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to be used to hire one full-time chief public defender to serve Defender District 43B.
Page 2 DRH40377-NDa-36
Page 2 House Bill 656-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref to the Com on Judiciary 1, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 178 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (178)

178 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 656?
HB 656 is sponsored by Mike Clampitt (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 656?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 656?
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