A new bill filed by State Rep. Karl E. Gillespie in the North Carolina House seeks to address inspection backlogs by updating fees, qualifications, and training programs for elevator and amusement device inspectors, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 559 on March 27 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Make Elevators Great Again.-AB’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill aims to address a backlog of elevator and amusement device inspections in North Carolina by implementing fee modifications and regulatory updates. Effective July 1, 2025, the North Carolina Department of Labor will charge revised fees for various inspections, with caps on amounts such as $1,000 for expedited inspections and $300 for routine inspections of elevators with 10 or more floors. These fees will be adjusted annually for inflation starting July 1, 2026. The bill also permits the commissioner to modify inspector qualifications and aligns state standards with national safety guidelines. Additionally, the Department will collaborate with the North Carolina Community College System to establish an in-house training and apprenticeship program to fill inspector vacancies. The act is effective upon becoming law.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Kyle Hall proposed the most bills (29) 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, Julia C. Howard, Kyle Hall, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 559 | 03/27/2025 | Make Elevators Great Again.-AB |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Cody Huneycutt, Donny Lambeth, and Edward C. Goodwin | HB 512 | 03/25/2025 | Emer. Care/Animals/Vet. Practice. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Cody Huneycutt, Donnie Loftis, and Howard Penny, Jr. | HB 471 | 03/20/2025 | Food Labeling Transparency Act. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Donna McDowell White, Timothy Reeder, MD, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 433 | 03/18/2025 | Registered Nurses in Schools. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Cody Huneycutt, Harry Warren, and Jeff Zenger | HB 381 | 03/12/2025 | On-Site Wastewater System Amendments. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Brian Turner, Cody Huneycutt, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 382 | 03/12/2025 | Elk Permit Auction/Raffle. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, Brenden H. Jones, Frank Iler, and Steve Tyson | HB 295 | 03/05/2025 | Req. DOT to Install Prop. Corner Markers. |
| Karl E. Gillespie, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, and Charles W. Miller | HB 300 | 03/05/2025 | Vet Care for Retired First Responder Dogs. |
| 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. |
