A new bill filed by State Rep. Butler seeks to restore wetlands protections in North Carolina by updating legal definitions and repealing prior legislation sections, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 738 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Restore Wetlands Protections.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill aims to restore wetlands protections in North Carolina by repealing sections 54 of S.L. 2014-120 and 4.18 of S.L. 2015-286. It updates the definition of “isolated wetlands” to include those confirmed as isolated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to June 22, 2020, and those described as basin wetlands or bogs according to the North Carolina Wetland Assessment User Manual. The term excludes man-made ditches or ponds for stormwater management. Additionally, it defines “waters” broadly to encompass natural and artificial bodies of water in the state and specifies that “wetlands” are areas with sufficient water accumulation to support vegetation adapted to saturated soil conditions. The bill becomes effective when it becomes law.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Pricey Harrison proposed the most bills (40) 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.
Butler graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1983 with a BA and again in 1986 from Wake Forest University School of Law with a JD.
Butler, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 18th House district, replacing previous state representative Susi Hamilton.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deb Butler, Aisha O. Dew, Kanika Brown, and Pricey Harrison | HB 738 | 04/02/2025 | Restore Wetlands Protections. |
| Deb Butler, Becky Carney, Pricey Harrison, and Zack Hawkins | HB 742 | 04/02/2025 | Healthy and High-Performing Schools. |
| Deb Butler, Eric Ager, Gloristine Brown, and Julia Greenfield | HB 665 | 04/01/2025 | DPI Disaster Preparedness Fund. |
| Deb Butler, Julie von Haefen, and Sarah Crawford | HB 522 | 03/26/2025 | Crisis Pregnancy Center Fraud Prevention Act. |
| Deb Butler, Allison A. Dahle, and Pricey Harrison | HB 538 | 03/26/2025 | Equality for All. |
| Deb Butler, Aisha O. Dew, Julia Greenfield, and Julie von Haefen | HB 509 | 03/25/2025 | Right to Reproductive Freedom Act. |
| Deb Butler, Allison A. Dahle, Marcia Morey, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 501 | 03/24/2025 | Modernize Domestic Violence Protection Order. |
| Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 458 | 03/19/2025 | Improve Enforcement/Migrant Housing. |
| Deb Butler, Julia Greenfield, Laura Budd, and Pricey Harrison | HB 459 | 03/19/2025 | Income Tax Rate Reduction Trigger Mods. |
| Deb Butler, James Roberson, Julie von Haefen, and Pricey Harrison | HB 423 | 03/17/2025 | Skip the Stuff Act. |
| Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, Maria Cervania, and Renée A. Price | HB 303 | 03/05/2025 | Make Corporations Pay What They Owe. |
| Deb Butler, Frances Jackson, PhD, James Roberson, and Mary Belk | HB 282 | 03/04/2025 | STI Funding/Bicycle/Pedestrian Improv. |
| Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 207 | 02/25/2025 | Remove Barriers to Labor Organizing. |
| Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 178 | 02/24/2025 | Budgeting Accountability and Transparency. |
| Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 180 | 02/24/2025 | Fiscally Responsible & Sustainable Budgeting. |
| Deb Butler, Jordan Lopez, Mary Belk, and Phil Rubin | HB 174 | 02/21/2025 | Marriage Equality Act. |
| Deb Butler, Jordan Lopez, Mary Belk, and Phil Rubin | HB 175 | 02/21/2025 | Const. Amend./Marriage Equality. |
| Deb Butler, Maria Cervania, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 78 | 02/10/2025 | Prohibit LEO w/ICE Churches/Schools/Hospitals. |
| Deb Butler, Maria Cervania, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 80 | 02/10/2025 | Prohibit LEO w/ICE at Farm/Construct. Sites. |
| Deb Butler, Carolyn G. Logan, Diane Wheatley, and Nasif Majeed | HB 90 | 02/10/2025 | State & Local Gov’t Retirees COLA. |
