A new bill filed by State Rep. Karl E. Gillespie seeks to amend the North Carolina Constitution to revise Senate district representation and set rules for city incorporation, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 234 on Feb. 26 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Little Federal Model NC Edition.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill proposes amendments to the North Carolina Constitution to establish that each state senator represents two counties and allows the General Assembly to revise Senate districts periodically following each decennial census. It mandates that the state consists of 100 counties. The bill also outlines conditions for the incorporation of new cities or towns near existing ones, based on population and proximity, but permits exceptions with a three-fifths legislative vote. The amendments outlined will be presented to voters in the November 2026 general election, and if approved, will become effective upon certification by the State Board of Elections. The act takes effect upon becoming law.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Keith Kidwell proposed the most bills (20) 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.
Gillespie, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 120th House district, replacing previous state representative Kevin Corbin.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karl E. Gillespie, Carson Smith, Jay Adams, and Keith Kidwell | HB 234 | 02/26/2025 | Little Federal Model NC Edition. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, and John Sauls | HB 177 | 02/24/2025 | Reduce Barriers to State Employment. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Dudley Greene, Howard Penny, Jr., and Mark Brody | HB 184 | 02/24/2025 | Promote North Carolina Sawmills. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Carla D. Cunningham, Donna McDowell White, and Larry W. Potts | HB 160 | 02/21/2025 | Joel H. Crisp SUDEP Awareness Law. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Jennifer Balkcom, Jimmy Dixon, and Neal Jackson | HB 62 | 02/05/2025 | Farmers Protection Act. |
| Karl E. Gillespie | HB 63 | 02/05/2025 | Town of Andrews/Deannexation. |
