Rep. Davis files bill in North Carolina House to fund Wilmington YMCA expansion

A new bill filed by State Rep. Davis seeks to provide funding to support the expansion of the Midtown YMCA facility in Wilmington, aiming to enhance community recreational and youth programs, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 586 on March 31 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘YMCA Expansion Funding.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill allocates $2 million from the General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management for the 2025-26 fiscal year as a grant to the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina. The funding supports the expansion of the Midtown YMCA facility in Wilmington, which aims to enhance fitness, aquatic, and recreational offerings and expand youth programs, including child care and water safety lessons for all second-grade students in New Hanover County. The expansion involves a 50,000-square-foot facility on a 10-acre site, with an expected increase in membership and programming capacity. This initiative is part of a public-private partnership with more than half of the necessary funding secured already. The act is set to become effective July 1, 2025.

Davis proposed another 13 bills 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.

Davis graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA and again from Wake Forest University Law School with a JD.

Davis, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 20th House district, replacing previous state representative Holly Grange.