Rep. Butler introduces measure to boost public involvement in North Carolina budget process

State Rep. Deb Butler has introduced legislation designed to enhance transparency and public participation in the North Carolina budget process, as noted by the North Carolina State House.

Filed as HB 1153 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, the bill carries the short title: ‘Budgeting Accountability and Transparency.’

Below is a summary, derived from the actual bill text, with clarifying interpretation where needed.

The proposal seeks to revise North Carolina’s budgeting system by increasing requirements for public notification and involvement while expanding the disclosure of certain budget communications. Key provisions include a minimum one-week period for public commentary through an online portal, at least one in-person public hearing, and a mandate for at least three nonvoting committee meetings before major floor votes in each chamber. Lawmakers would receive the full budget bill and committee report a minimum of five legislative days before any vote. Written requests for budget provisions or funding from agencies and legislators would become public records upon the budget’s enactment but would remain protected by attorney-client privilege and work product rules. The measure allocates $250,000 annually beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year to sustain the comment system and hearings, with the changes taking effect upon becoming law and covering all future state budgets.

Among the four sponsors of the bill, Pricey Harrison had the highest number of bills introduced (68) during the 2025 regular session.

Legislation in North Carolina passes through a multi-stage process to become law. This starts when a legislator files a bill, which is then sent to a committee for consideration. Each chamber must read the bill three times. If either chamber amends it after passage in the other, both must agree to the final version. Once approved by both chambers, the bill is sent to the governor, who has 10 days—or 30 if the legislature is out of session—to sign, veto, or allow the measure to become law without a signature.

For more information about these and other legislative actions, visit this page.

Butler earned a BA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1983, followed by a JD from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1986.

A Democrat, Butler was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the 18th House district, succeeding Susi Hamilton.