GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2023

SESSION LAW 2023-38

HOUSE BILL 135

AN ACT to provide that regular municipal elections in the city of trinity shall be held in even‑numbered years.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter III of the Charter of the City of Trinity, being Chapter 44 of the 1997 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 2015‑138 and Town Ordinance No. 2016‑06‑13, reads as rewritten:

"CHAPTER III.

"GOVERNING BODY.

…

"Section 3‑3. Term of Office of Council Members. Members of the Council are elected to four‑year staggered terms. In 2017, two seats, one seat from Ward 2 and one seat from Ward 4, will be elected to a four year staggered term. In 2019 the remaining three seats, one seat from Ward 1, one seat from Ward 3, and the at-large seat, will be elected to a four year staggered term. Elections will be held on a quadrennial basis thereafter.

"Section 3‑4. Mayor; Term of Office. In 2017 and on a quadrennial basis thereafter, the The Mayor shall be selected by the qualified voters of the city for a four‑year term.

…."

SECTION 2.  Chapter IV of the Charter of the City of Trinity, being Chapter 44 of the 1997 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:

"CHAPTER IV.

"ELECTIONS.

"Section 4‑1. Regular municipal elections shall be held at the time of the general election in each even‑numbered year. Election of the Mayor and Council members shall be on a nonpartisan plurality basis and the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163‑292.

"Section 4‑2. Election results shall be determined Except as provided by this act, the election shall be conducted by the Randolph County Board of Elections according to the uniform municipal elections laws in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes."

SECTION 3.(a)  No municipal elections shall be conducted in the City of Trinity in 2023. The terms of the three Council members serving on the effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2023 shall be extended by one year. The terms of the two Council members and the Mayor serving on the effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended by one year. Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the City of Trinity in 2024.

SECTION 3.(b)  In 2024 and quadrennially thereafter, three Council members, one member from Ward 1, one member from Ward 3, and one member at large, shall be elected to serve four‑year terms. In 2026 and quadrennially thereafter, two Council members, one member from Ward 2 and one member from Ward 4, and the Mayor shall be elected to serve four‑year terms.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 12^th day of June, 2023.

                                                                    s/  Phil Berger

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Erin Paré

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives