A new bill filed by State Sen. Steve Jarvis seeks to create a division within the Department of State Auditor to evaluate state agencies’ use of public funds and operational efficiency, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 474 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘The DAVE Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill, known as the DAVE Act, establishes a Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency within the North Carolina Department of State Auditor. By October 1, 2025, each state agency is required to report to the division on its use of public funds and the status of any positions vacant for more than six months. The new division will use this information, along with other relevant data and tools like artificial intelligence, to assess the necessity of each agency and its vacant roles. The assessment focuses on factors such as spending effectiveness and potential duplications. By December 31, 2025, the division must provide the General Assembly with recommendations regarding the potential dissolution of state agencies or departments and the elimination of unnecessary positions. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Timothy D. Moffitt proposed the most bills (52) 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.
Jarvis graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government.
Jarvis, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 30th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Phil Berger.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Jarvis, Phil Berger, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 474 | 03/24/2025 | The DAVE Act. |
| Steve Jarvis, Timothy D. Moffitt, and Tom McInnis | SB 387 | 03/24/2025 | Brownfields Property Reuse Act Revisions. |
| Steve Jarvis, Timothy D. Moffitt, and Tom McInnis | SB 388 | 03/24/2025 | DOT Permit Review Time Periods. |
| Steve Jarvis | SB 445 | 03/24/2025 | Reg. Relief for Hospitals in Disaster Zones. |
| Steve Jarvis, Timothy D. Moffitt, and Tom McInnis | SB 451 | 03/24/2025 | Occupational/Professional Licensing Relief. |
| Steve Jarvis, Timothy D. Moffitt, and Tom McInnis | SB 472 | 03/24/2025 | Amend 401 Certification Process. |
| Steve Jarvis, Amy S. Galey, and Benton G. Sawrey | SB 370 | 03/20/2025 | Repeal Certificate of Need Laws. |
| Steve Jarvis and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 314 | 03/17/2025 | Eliminate ETJ Overlap. |
| Steve Jarvis, Benton G. Sawrey, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 290 | 03/13/2025 | NC REINS Act. |
| Steve Jarvis, Brad Overcash, and Buck Newton | SB 280 | 03/12/2025 | Private School Security Act. |
| Steve Jarvis | SB 205 | 02/27/2025 | Swimming Pools/Housing Regulatory Reform. |
| Steve Jarvis, Tom McInnis, and Warren Daniel | SB 207 | 02/27/2025 | Litter Law/Rebuttable Presumption. |
| Steve Jarvis | SB 53 | 02/05/2025 | 30th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
