North Carolina senator introduces bill to form 20-year infrastructure commission

Sen. Michael V. Lee has filed a bill aiming to establish a commission dedicated to designing a 20-year blueprint for North Carolina’s infrastructure priorities, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The legislation, submitted as SB 1010 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, uses the short title: “FUTURE NC Infrastructure Act.”

This overview is based on our analysis of the actual bill text and includes interpretation to clarify the bill’s key points.

If enacted, the measure would establish the North Carolina Infrastructure Investment Commission, which would be charged with creating a statewide, 20-year infrastructure investment plan focused on asset preservation, resiliency, and strategic development. The panel, to be chaired by the state treasurer, would evaluate challenges across transportation, water, wastewater, stormwater, and other essential systems; create a ranking system for priorities; review funding possibilities—including state appropriations, federal aid, loans, partnerships, and debt; and suggest measures for oversight and governance. The interim plan would be due within 12 months of the first commission meeting, with a final plan required by March 31, 2028. Beginning July 1, 2026, the statute calls for a one-time $300,000 appropriation to support the commission’s work.

Out of the three sponsors backing this measure, Timothy D. Moffitt introduced the highest number of bills (78) during the 2025 regular session.

The legislative process in North Carolina involves a sequence of steps before a bill becomes law. It begins with a member filing a bill and assignment to a committee. Each chamber of the General Assembly must read the bill three times. Amendments in one chamber following passage by the other require concurrence on the revised version. Once both sides agree, the bill is delivered to the governor, who has up to 10 days to act (or 30 if legislators are not in session), either approving, vetoing, or allowing the measure to become law without a signature.

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Lee earned his BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991 and his JD from Wake Forest University Law School in 1997.

Lee, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023, succeeding former senator Jim Perry as representative for the 7th Senate district.