A new bill filed by State Rep. Sam Watford seeks to amend the North Carolina Constitution to impose limits on the length of legislative sessions, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 761 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Limit Session Length.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill seeks to amend the North Carolina Constitution to limit the length of legislative sessions. It sets a maximum of 90 legislative days for regular sessions in odd-numbered years and 45 days in even-numbered years. Sessions reconvened under specific constitutional provisions will not count towards these limits and no actions other than adjournment resolutions may occur after the time limits expire. The bill mandates that this amendment be presented to North Carolina voters at the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. If a majority votes in favor, the amendment becomes effective upon certification by the State Board of Elections, applying to future legislative sessions.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Donny Lambeth proposed the most bills (48) 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.
Watford, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 80th House district, replacing previous state representative Steven Jarvis.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Watford, David Willis, Donny Lambeth, and Harry Warren | HB 761 | 04/02/2025 | Limit Session Length. |
| Sam Watford, Jeff Zenger, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 247 | 02/27/2025 | Underground Safety Revisions. |
