North Carolina Sen. Rabon’s scrap tire disposal funding bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Sen. Bill Rabon aims to restore financial assistance to counties for scrap tire cleanup by adjusting tax revenue allocations and grant funding criteria, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

In the House, 44 Democrats and 66 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 16 Democrats and 29 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Rabon filed the bill in the North Carolina Senate on March 25 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as SB 706, was passed on June 25 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “County Waste Management Assistance.”

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 restore financial assistance to North Carolina counties for the cleanup and disposal of scrap tires by amending the distribution of scrap tire disposal tax proceeds. It mandates that 30% of the net tax proceeds be credited to the Scrap Tire Disposal Account, which will fund grants for local governments. The bill increases the allowable use of these funds for grants to support scrap tire disposal from 50% to 75% and reduces the allocation for promoting the use of processed scrap tire materials from 40% to 15%. Additionally, it allows up to $175,000 for administrative costs and positions to aid local governments in managing scrap tire issues. The remaining funds are designated for cleaning up illegal scrap tire sites. The bill also specifies eligibility criteria for local government grants and the requirements for state reporting on the program’s implementation. The act becomes effective Oct. 1, 2025, regarding scrap tire disposal tax crediting, while other provisions take effect immediately upon enactment.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Bill Rabon (Republican-8th District), Sen. Michael V. Lee (Republican-7th District), and Sen. David W. Craven, Jr. (Republican-29th District).

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.

Rabon graduated from North Carolina State University.

Rabon, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2011 to represent the state’s 8th Senate district, replacing previous state senator R. C. Soles Jr..

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.