Individual Legislators
The North Carolina General Assembly consists of two Houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 50 State Senate districts represented by 50 Senators and 120 State House districts represented by 120 Representatives.
To find out who represents you, click the Find Your Legislators link and choose your county or district. You can also type in your street address.
To find out who represents you, click the Find Your Legislators link and choose your county or district. You can also type in your street address.
The complete history of voting for each Representative and Senator from 1997 to date can be found at the Vote Reports section of our website under "Member vote history".
All Legislators
The qualifications candidates must meet to hold office are found in Article II of the State Constitution under sections:
Legislators are paid the following rates per N.C.G.S. §120-3.
| Position | Salary/year | Expense Allowance/month |
| Speaker of the House | $38,151 | $1,413 |
| Senate President Pro Tempore | $38,151 | $1,413 |
| House Speaker Pro Tempore | $21,739 | $836 |
| Senate Deputy President Pro Tempore | $21,739 | $836 |
| House majority and minority leaders | $17,048 | $666 |
| Senate majority and minority leaders | $17,048 | $666 |
| Other senators and representatives | $13,951 | $559 |
Expense Allowance
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate receive a $1,413 per month expense allowance. The Speaker Pro Tempore of the House and the Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate receive an $836 per month expense allowance. The majority and minority leaders of both houses each receive a $666 per month expense allowance. All other legislators receive an expense allowance of $559 per month.
This allowance is paid both during session and between sessions, without the legislators having to file any record of expenses. The allowance is provided to cover legislative expenses the legislator may have that are not paid for by the General Assembly. The expense allowance is paid at the same time and in the same manner as is the legislative salary. Both the salary and the expense allowance are subject to state and federal income tax, social security, and retirement.
In-Session Subsistence Allowance
During the time the General Assembly is in session, each legislator receives a subsistence allowance of $104 per day. This amount is paid for each calendar day of the session (seven days per week, or a total of $728 per week for each full week of the session). Subsistence paid to legislators who reside 50 or fewer miles from the State Capitol is taxable for federal, state, and social security taxes.
It is not necessary that the legislator files a claim or submits any record of expenses in order to receive this allowance during the session. If a legislator wishes not to be paid for a particular day of the session, the Financial Services office must be notified by the legislator in writing.
In-Session Travel Allowance
During sessions of the General Assembly, each legislator receives a weekly travel allowance of 29 cents per mile for one round trip between the legislator’s home and the Legislative Building in Raleigh. This allowance is paid once each week regardless of the number of actual trips made. All travel allowance paid to legislators who reside 50 or fewer miles from the State Capitol is taxable for federal, state, and social security taxes. If a legislator chooses not to be paid for travel for a particular period, the Financial Services office must be notified by the legislator in writing.
Interim Travel and Subsistence Allowance
Between sessions, a legislator may travel as a representative of the General Assembly or its committees or commissions. Such travel may be to a meeting in Raleigh or in some other in-state city, or it may be to attend an out-of-state meeting. If the legislator expects to receive any subsistence or travel allowance for such travel, he/she must obtain the prior approval of the Speaker or President Pro Tempore.
See N.C.G.S. §120-3.1.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate receive a $1,413 per month expense allowance. The Speaker Pro Tempore of the House and the Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate receive an $836 per month expense allowance. The majority and minority leaders of both houses each receive a $666 per month expense allowance. All other legislators receive an expense allowance of $559 per month.
This allowance is paid both during session and between sessions, without the legislators having to file any record of expenses. The allowance is provided to cover legislative expenses the legislator may have that are not paid for by the General Assembly. The expense allowance is paid at the same time and in the same manner as is the legislative salary. Both the salary and the expense allowance are subject to state and federal income tax, social security, and retirement.
In-Session Subsistence Allowance
During the time the General Assembly is in session, each legislator receives a subsistence allowance of $104 per day. This amount is paid for each calendar day of the session (seven days per week, or a total of $728 per week for each full week of the session). Subsistence paid to legislators who reside 50 or fewer miles from the State Capitol is taxable for federal, state, and social security taxes.
It is not necessary that the legislator files a claim or submits any record of expenses in order to receive this allowance during the session. If a legislator wishes not to be paid for a particular day of the session, the Financial Services office must be notified by the legislator in writing.
In-Session Travel Allowance
During sessions of the General Assembly, each legislator receives a weekly travel allowance of 29 cents per mile for one round trip between the legislator’s home and the Legislative Building in Raleigh. This allowance is paid once each week regardless of the number of actual trips made. All travel allowance paid to legislators who reside 50 or fewer miles from the State Capitol is taxable for federal, state, and social security taxes. If a legislator chooses not to be paid for travel for a particular period, the Financial Services office must be notified by the legislator in writing.
Interim Travel and Subsistence Allowance
Between sessions, a legislator may travel as a representative of the General Assembly or its committees or commissions. Such travel may be to a meeting in Raleigh or in some other in-state city, or it may be to attend an out-of-state meeting. If the legislator expects to receive any subsistence or travel allowance for such travel, he/she must obtain the prior approval of the Speaker or President Pro Tempore.
See N.C.G.S. §120-3.1.
The North Carolina General Assembly does not provide a distribution list for sending email directly to the personal email boxes of all legislators. You can email your Representative or Senator directly by using the appropriate email address found within the House and Senate sections of our website. You can also use the email addresses found on our site to create your own distribution list.
If you do not know who represents you, click here to search for your district by county or address.
If you do not know who represents you, click here to search for your district by county or address.
Legislative Process
Laws of North Carolina, known as statutes, are made by the General Assembly. The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) is made of two bodies or houses: the Senate, which has 50 members and the House of Representatives, which consists of 120 members. Each legislator represents either a Senatorial District or a House District.
The General Assembly meets in regular session beginning in January of each odd-numbered year and adjourns to reconvene the following even-numbered year for a shorter session.
The House of Representatives is presided over by a Speaker, elected from its membership. The presiding officer of the Senate (called the President of the Senate) is the Lieutenant Governor of the State. She/he has no vote in the Senate except to break a tie. The Senate and House also elect other officers from their respective memberships including a President Pro Tempore in the Senate.
At the beginning of each session, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoint members to serve on the standing committees of each body.
Each house elects a Principal Clerk who is responsible for keeping the necessary records of the house. Each also has a Sergeant at Arms, who serves as "police officer" for that house and whose assistants act as doorkeepers while the body and its committees are meeting. A third officer is the Reading Clerk who reads all documents or parts thereof which the constitution, rules, or the presiding officer require to be read during the daily session.
The Legislative Services Commission, consisting of five members of each house, is the management authority for the General Assembly. The Commission, through its Legislative Services Officer and staff, provides the services necessary for the day-to-day functioning of the institution.
The General Assembly meets in regular session beginning in January of each odd-numbered year and adjourns to reconvene the following even-numbered year for a shorter session.
The House of Representatives is presided over by a Speaker, elected from its membership. The presiding officer of the Senate (called the President of the Senate) is the Lieutenant Governor of the State. She/he has no vote in the Senate except to break a tie. The Senate and House also elect other officers from their respective memberships including a President Pro Tempore in the Senate.
At the beginning of each session, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoint members to serve on the standing committees of each body.
Each house elects a Principal Clerk who is responsible for keeping the necessary records of the house. Each also has a Sergeant at Arms, who serves as "police officer" for that house and whose assistants act as doorkeepers while the body and its committees are meeting. A third officer is the Reading Clerk who reads all documents or parts thereof which the constitution, rules, or the presiding officer require to be read during the daily session.
The Legislative Services Commission, consisting of five members of each house, is the management authority for the General Assembly. The Commission, through its Legislative Services Officer and staff, provides the services necessary for the day-to-day functioning of the institution.
You'll find them here.
According to N.C.G.S. §120-11.1, “The regular session of the Senate and House of Representatives shall be held biennially beginning at 12:00 noon on the second Wednesday in January next after their election, and on that day they shall meet solely to elect officers, adopt rules, and otherwise organize the session. When they adjourn that day, they stand adjourned until 12:00 noon on the third Wednesday after the second Monday in January next after their election.”
There are no laws or regulations determining when a session must end. The end date of each session may be designated at any time by a resolution passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives.
There are no laws or regulations determining when a session must end. The end date of each session may be designated at any time by a resolution passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives.
North Carolina has no process for citizen petitions or referendums. The only way to get a new law passed or an old law changed is to talk to the Representative or Senator who represents your area. You can find their contact information by entering your street address in the search box here.
For a detailed map of the entire legislative process, click here.
For a detailed map of the entire legislative process, click here.
Every bill includes an “effective date” section that indicates when the bill, if it becomes law, would go into effect. Some bills are effective immediately. Others list a future date when the new law would go into effect.
Most bills are created with effective dates, but this is relevant only if the bill passes—i.e., if it becomes law. If the bill does not pass, then the effective date is meaningless.
On the rare occasion that a bill lacks an effective date clause, it becomes effective 60 days after sine die adjournment of the session in which it was enacted (see N.C.G.S. §120-20).
Most bills are created with effective dates, but this is relevant only if the bill passes—i.e., if it becomes law. If the bill does not pass, then the effective date is meaningless.
On the rare occasion that a bill lacks an effective date clause, it becomes effective 60 days after sine die adjournment of the session in which it was enacted (see N.C.G.S. §120-20).
Bills and Committees
Stricken Text:
Text which will be deleted from an existing statute if a bill is ratified and chaptered as a Session Law is shown with a strikethrough.
Underlined Text: Text which will be added to an existing statute if a bill is ratified and chaptered as a Session Law is shown with an underline.
Underlined Text: Text which will be added to an existing statute if a bill is ratified and chaptered as a Session Law is shown with an underline.
You'll find definitions here.
There are three ways to access the text of a bill on the Bills & Laws page:
You'll find tips for full-text bill searching here.
- Bill Look-Up: : If you know the bill number you are looking for, use Bill Look-Up and type in the bill number (e.g., H633).
- Bill Text Search: If you do not know the number of the bill you are looking for but know what it is about, use the Search bill text feature to enter terms you think might appear in the bill.
- Bill Inquiry: To find multiple bills based on multiple search criteria, use Bill Inquiry.
You'll find tips for full-text bill searching here.
Committee schedules are posted at the bottom of the daily House and Senate calendars.
House and Senate calendars are both available here.
House and Senate calendars are both available here.
No word-for-word transcripts are prepared for any meeting of the North Carolina General Assembly.
Video is livestreamed for House sessions only. It is not archived.
Audio is livestreamed for House sessions, Senate sessions, and committee meetings. See below for archived audio.
Video is livestreamed for House sessions only. It is not archived.
Audio is livestreamed for House sessions, Senate sessions, and committee meetings. See below for archived audio.
- House audio: Archived back to 2009. Click here, then choose desired biennium.
- Senate audio: Contact Senate Principal Clerk’s office at 919-733-7761.
- Committee meetings: Available for the current biennium only. Send an email to audio@ncleg.gov with committee name and date/location of meeting.
Enacted Laws and Public Records
The current North Carolina General Statutes are available under the Bills & Laws tab of this website. You can also find them in print in the Legislative Library, as well as North Carolina law school libraries.
Click here to access the Legislative Services Public Records Requests form.
Who do I contact to obtain a certified copy of a statute, session law or other legislative document?
General Statutes
Anyone needing a certified copy of a North Carolina Statute should contact the Legislative Drafting Division of the General Assembly at 919-733-6660.
Session Laws Or Ratified Bills
Anyone needing a certified copy of a North Carolina Ratified Bill or Session Law should contact Tim Crowley, Director of Communications at the NC Secretary of State's Office at 919-814-5342 or tcrowley@sosnc.gov.
North Carolina Constitution
The Secretary of State is the statutory custodian of the North Carolina Constitution. Anyone needing a certified copy of the North Carolina Constitution should contact Tim Crowley, Director of Communications at the NC Secretary of State's Office at 919-814-5342 or tcrowley@sosnc.gov.
Committee Minutes
Legislative Standing and Non-Standing committee minutes from 1997 forward can be found here. Minutes from 1970-1996 are available on microfilm in the Legislative Library.
A member of the library staff can issue a certification of these minutes.
Executive Orders
These are orders issued by the Governor of North Carolina. They do not come from the General Assembly. Anyone needing a certified copy of an executive order should contact the Governor’s office at 919-814-2000.
Anyone needing a certified copy of a North Carolina Statute should contact the Legislative Drafting Division of the General Assembly at 919-733-6660.
Session Laws Or Ratified Bills
Anyone needing a certified copy of a North Carolina Ratified Bill or Session Law should contact Tim Crowley, Director of Communications at the NC Secretary of State's Office at 919-814-5342 or tcrowley@sosnc.gov.
North Carolina Constitution
The Secretary of State is the statutory custodian of the North Carolina Constitution. Anyone needing a certified copy of the North Carolina Constitution should contact Tim Crowley, Director of Communications at the NC Secretary of State's Office at 919-814-5342 or tcrowley@sosnc.gov.
Committee Minutes
Legislative Standing and Non-Standing committee minutes from 1997 forward can be found here. Minutes from 1970-1996 are available on microfilm in the Legislative Library.
A member of the library staff can issue a certification of these minutes.
Executive Orders
These are orders issued by the Governor of North Carolina. They do not come from the General Assembly. Anyone needing a certified copy of an executive order should contact the Governor’s office at 919-814-2000.
Visiting and Working at the NCGA
Visit the NCGA Careers webpage to see our current job openings.
NCGA Website
Information on the NCGA website is updated daily.
- Bill Status Information: Updated real-time as actions have been taken on a bill (may be delayed five minutes).
- Bill Text: Updated and/or available within 24 hours after floor action (on the bill) in chamber.
- Member Information: Updated real-time as necessary (may be delayed five minutes).
Click here and complete the form at the bottom of the page.