4 wins for freedom in NC in 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, North Carolinians have good reason to look past the daily noise of politics and take stock of something more durable: measurable progress for freedom. With conservative majorities in the General Assembly, lawmakers focused not on expanding government but on conserving individual liberty, economic opportunity, and democratic accountability.

In a year marked by divided government and repeated gubernatorial vetoes, the General Assembly enacted a series of reforms that expanded economic opportunity, protected private citizens, restrained regulatory overreach, and restored democratic accountability. Four stand out as especially significant.

Opening Doors to Work: Occupational License Recognition (House Bill 763)

Too many Americans discover that moving across state lines means leaving their livelihood behind — not because they lack skill or experience, but because of bureaucratic barriers.

House Bill 763 took a decisive step toward fixing that problem. The law requires most North Carolina occupational licensing boards to recognize licenses held by individuals who move here from neighboring states, provided they are in good standing and meet reasonable competency standards. It applies broadly, with carefully defined exceptions for professions governed by separate statutory frameworks.

The bill passed the General Assembly in June with overwhelming bipartisan support — unanimously in the Senate and by a 112–2 vote in the House — and was signed into law on July 3, 2025, taking effect Oct. 1. By reducing unnecessary red tape, North Carolina made itself more welcoming to workers, families, and entrepreneurs who want to build a life here.

Freedom includes the freedom to earn a living. HB 763 honored that principle.

Protecting Privacy and Free Association (Senate Bill 416)

The right to support causes, charities, and nonprofits without fear of government exposure is a cornerstone of a free society. Senate Bill 416 reaffirmed that right in North Carolina.

The Personal Privacy Protection Act prohibits state and local agencies from collecting or disclosing personal information about members, donors, volunteers, or supporters of nonprofit organizations, with narrow exceptions for law enforcement, court proceedings, and other legally necessary circumstances. Personal donor information is explicitly excluded from public records law.

Governor Josh Stein vetoed the bill on July 9, arguing that it reduced transparency and could hinder investigations. The General Assembly disagreed — and rightly so. Transparency is a vital obligation of government, but it does not require the forced exposure of private citizens who choose to support lawful nonprofit organizations — whether it’s the ACLU, John Locke Foundation, or a local food bank. Senate Bill 416 does not impede audits, investigations, law enforcement activity, or any reporting related to electioneering or electoral activities; it explicitly preserves the authority of courts, the Attorney General, and other agencies to obtain donor information when legally necessary, including through warrants, litigation discovery under protective orders, and formal investigations.

The law prohibits the routine collection or public disclosure of sensitive personal information unrelated to any wrongdoing. By overriding the veto later that month, lawmakers reaffirmed a core constitutional principle: citizens should be free to associate, donate, and participate in civic life without fear that government will place them on a public list. At a time when citizens increasingly worry about retaliation or harassment for their beliefs, SB 416 was a clear win for freedom and civil society.

Restoring Balance in Energy Policy (Senate Bill 266)

Energy policy has consequences — especially when ideology outruns economics. Senate Bill 266 brought greater realism and flexibility to North Carolina’s approach.

The law eliminated an interim carbon-reduction deadline for electric utilities, rolling back a mandate that threatened grid reliability and affordability. While the state’s 2050 carbon-neutrality target remains unresolved, SB 266 refocused energy policy on practical concerns by reforming utility financing, strengthening oversight of construction costs, adjusting fuel-cost recovery rules, and codifying securitization for retiring coal plants.

Stein vetoed SB 266, citing environmental concerns and flawed analysis. Legislators responded — rightly — that energy policy must be grounded in cost, reliability, and consumer impact, not aspirational targets divorced from reality. The veto was overridden in July.

Affordable, reliable electricity is not a luxury; it is essential to economic freedom and human flourishing. SB 266 helped put consumers back at the center of energy policy.

Reining In Costly Regulations (House Bill 402)

Regulations written by unelected boards, bureaucrats, and commissions can impose enormous costs — often with little accountability. House Bill 402 restored a measure of democratic control to that process.

The law strengthens requirements for fiscal analysis of proposed rules, raises voting thresholds for agency rules with significant economic impacts, and requires legislative approval for rules projected to cost $20 million or more over five years (unless federal law requires it).

Like other measures, HB 402 was vetoed by Stein and then enacted over his objections in July. The result is a regulatory system that requires stronger justification, broader consensus, and legislative oversight before costly mandates take effect.

That’s not anti-regulation. It’s pro-accountability — and a win for taxpayers, small businesses, and citizens who bear the costs of government decisions.

A Pattern Worth Noticing

Taken together, these four laws tell a larger story about 2025. Even in a challenging political environment, North Carolina lawmakers advanced policies that expanded opportunity, protected privacy, restrained government overreach, and defended individual liberty.

Freedom rarely advances all at once. More often, it is secured incrementally — bill by bill, vote by vote. This year, North Carolina moved in the right direction. The task ahead is to protect those gains and continue the work in 2026.

“4 wins for freedom in NC in 2025” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.