A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to secure the protections afforded by our constitutional system of separation of powers and to require the general assembly to legislate in a transparent and fair manner that promotes public participation in the legislative process.
Whereas, the North Carolina Constitution protects liberty by dividing power among separate branches of government so that each branch can serve as a check on the others and none can dominate; and
Whereas, the General Assembly has weakened public trust by altering the powers and responsibilities of constitutional officers, including the Governor, for partisan political reasons; and
Whereas, North Carolinians expect the Governor elected by the people to retain the practical authority necessary to faithfully carry out and enforce the laws of this State; and
Whereas, although the North Carolina Constitution already protects separation of powers from interference, repeated encroachments by the General Assembly and the courts have made it necessary to provide absolute clarity that separation of powers may not be dismantled for partisan gain; and
Whereas, furthermore, the General Assembly's repeated practice of wholly rewriting bills with new topics late in the legislative process, and advancing important legislation without meaningful public notice or involvement, has weakened confidence in the legislative process; and
Whereas, providing advance public notice before final votes are taken, as well as requiring legislation to address only a single subject, would promote transparency, accountability, and public participation in government; and
Whereas, the people of North Carolina can restore public trust and protect their freedoms by amending the North Carolina Constitution to preserve separation of powers, limit legislative overreach, and ensure the legislative process operates in a transparent and fair manner; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Article III of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"Section 1.  Executive power.
The executive power of the State shall be vested in the Governor. The General Assembly shall have no power to enact any law that materially impairs the Governor's authority to supervise, direct, and control the execution of the laws through administrative departments and agencies of the State. This authority includes the necessary powers of majority appointment, removal, supervision, and administrative direction of entities intrinsic to the Governor's duty to faithfully execute the laws of the State.
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"Sec. 5.  Duties of Governor.
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(10)	Administrative reorganization. The General Assembly shall prescribe the functions, powers, and duties of the administrative departments and agencies of the State and may alter them from time to time; provided that the General Assembly may not transfer functions, powers, and duties between members of the Council of State unless (i) the transfer is consistent with the nature of the office established by the Constitution to which the transfer is made and (ii) the transfer is ratified into law no later than 90 days prior to the next election for Council of State and will take effect no earlier than the commencement of the next term of office, except as otherwise provided by a vote of approval by two‑thirds of all the members of each house. The Governor may make such changes in the allocation of offices and agencies and in the allocation of those functions, powers, and duties as he considers necessary for efficient administration. If those changes affect existing law, they shall be set forth in executive orders, which shall be submitted to the General Assembly not later than the sixtieth calendar day of its session, and shall become effective and shall have the force of law upon adjournment sine die of the session, unless specifically disapproved by resolution of either house of the General Assembly or specifically modified by joint resolution of both houses of the General Assembly.
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SECTION 1.(b)  The amendments set out in this section shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
"[ ] FOR	[ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendment limiting the authority of the General Assembly to reorganize executive powers in a manner that would impair the Governor's authority to faithfully execute the laws of the State, including imposing restrictions on the authority of the General Assembly to reorganize powers, duties, and functions of Council of State members."
SECTION 1.(c)  The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum conducted under subsection (b) of this section. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are against the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the amendment shall have no effect.
SECTION 1.(d)  If the certification from the State Board of Elections under subsection (c) of this section reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section is effective upon certification.
SECTION 2.(a)  Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"…
"Sec. 21.  Style and content of the acts.
The style of the acts shall be:  "The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:". Each act shall contain but one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except general appropriation acts, revenue acts, and acts containing only technical corrections. If any subject is embraced in an act but not expressed in the title, such act is void as to the unexpressed subject.
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"Sec. 25.  Legislative transparency and integrity.
(1)	Original purpose. No bill shall be altered or amended after first reading so as to materially change its original purpose as reflected in its title. If any subject other than the resolution of areas of dispute between the houses is adopted in a conference report, the act is void as to that adopted subject.
(2)	Public notice. Unless the bill is in response to a declared state of emergency and the reading of the bill is approved by vote of two‑thirds of all the members of the house, no bill shall be read for the final time required for passage in the house until (i) the house has published at least 24 hours earlier a calendar for the session noticing the session during which the bill is to be read and (ii) the bill text to be read has been made available to the members of the house and to the public for at least 48 consecutive hours."
SECTION 2.(b)  The amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2026, which election shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing elections at that time. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
"[ ] FOR	[ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendment limiting the number of subjects that can be in a bill to one, except for appropriations bills, tax bills, and technical corrections bills, and requiring a minimum amount of notice and publication of the text of bills to legislative members and the public prior to final passage."
SECTION 2.(c)  The State Board of Elections shall certify the results of the referendum conducted under subsection (b) of this section. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are against the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the amendment shall have no effect.
SECTION 2.(d)  If the certification from the State Board of Elections under subsection (c) of this section reflects that a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section, the amendment set out in subsection (a) of this section is effective upon certification.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.