North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 3 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 856 — Const Amend: Legislative Terms/Compensation.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 28, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · 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.

  • 4 sponsors

    0 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

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

15 added · 16 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate Bill 856 has made minor adjustments, mainly in formatting and minor wording changes that do not affect the overall content. These changes ensure clarity and consistency in the text of the bill, which is important for legal understanding and implementation. Although the substance remains the same, these updates might help lawmakers and the public better follow the bill's intentions and provisions.

→
Previous
Latest
FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Apr 28, 2026 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 856 Short Title:
856 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS45436-MCy-263 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA TO MODIFY THE TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THE LENGTH OF THE SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Rules and Operations of the Senate April 29, 2026 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA TO MODIFY THE TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THE LENGTH OF THE SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
*DRS45436-MCy-263* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 1.(d) If the certification from the State Board of Elections under subsection (c) of this section reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section is effective upon certification.
*S856-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 1.(d) If the certification from the State Board of Elections under subsection (c) of this section reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section is effective upon certification.
A person disqualified by this section from election to the next succeeding termas amemberoftheHouseofRepresentativesmaynot fill avacancy in theHouse of Representatives during that term.
A person disqualified by this section from election to the next succeedingtermas amemberoftheHouseofRepresentativesmaynot fill avacancyin theHouse of Representatives during that term.
Page 2 DRS45436-MCy-263 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "(1) Election and term.
Page 2 Senate Bill 856-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "(1) Election and term.
When a vacancy occurs in the office of any of the officers namedin this Section andtheterm expires onthefirst day ofJanuarysucceeding thenext election for members of the General Assembly, House of Representatives, the Governor shall appoint to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the office.
When a vacancy occurs in the office of any of the officers namedin this Section andtheterm expires onthefirstdayofJanuarysucceedingthenext election for members of the General Assembly, House of Representatives, the Governor shall appoint to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the office.
All incumbents of these offices shall hold until their successors are qualified." DRS45436-MCy-263 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION3.(g) Theamendments set out in subsections (a)through(f)ofthis section shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that time.
All incumbents of these offices shall hold until their successors are qualified." Senate Bill 856-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION3.(g) Theamendments set out in subsections (a)through (f)ofthis section shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that time.
IftheGeneral Assembly,uponconvening oftheregular session, meets initially for not more than two consecutive calendar days and then adjourns for not less than 10 calendar days, that period of adjournment shall be excluded from the 120 calendar days.
IftheGeneral Assembly,uponconveningoftheregular session, meets initially for not more than two consecutive calendar days and then adjourns for not less than 10 calendar days, that period of adjournment shall be excluded from the 120 calendar days.
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST Page 4 DRS45436-MCy-263 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Constitutional amendment limiting the length of regular legislative sessions to 120 calendar days in odd-numbered years and 90 calendar days in even-numbered years." SECTION 4.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum conducted under subsection (b) of this section.
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST Page 4 Senate Bill 856-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Constitutional amendment limiting the length of regular legislative sessions to 120 calendar days in odd-numbered years and 90 calendar days in even-numbered years." SECTION 4.(c) The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum conducted under subsection (b) of this section.
DRS45436-MCy-263 Page 5
Senate Bill 856-First Edition Page 5
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

0 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 175 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (175)

175 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 175 →

"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

elections labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 856?
SB 856 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic), Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Gale Adcock (Democratic), and Jim Burgin (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 856?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 28, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 856?
Track SB 856 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 856

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 856

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →