>> This being the time and place established by General Statute 120-11.1, for the convening of the 2025 session of the General Assembly of North Carolina, the Senate will be in order.

The Sergeant-at-Arms of the 2023 session will clear the aisles and close the doors.

Senators-elect and guests will please be seated and are reminded to silence electronic devices.

The Chair takes great pleasure in extending courtesies of the floor and the gallery to the families and friends of our Senators-elect.

Thank you for being here with us today.

We invite you to return at every opportunity.

A very special courtesy is extended to my father, former Governor Jim Hunt, my mother, former First Lady Carolyn Hunt, and my husband, Dr. Olav Nilender.

[applause] >> Thank you.

The Sergeant-at-Arms is recognized.

>> Madam President, the Honorable Paul Newby, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, and the Honorable Phil Newby, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, are at the door and await your direction.

>> The Sergeant-at-Arms will open the doors and admit the Honorable Phil Newby, Chief Paul Newby, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, and the Honorable Phil Berger, Jr., Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina.

All members and guests will please stand.

[applause] >> Welcome Chief Justice Newby and Justice Berger.

We greatly appreciate your participation in our opening ceremony and are happy to extend courtesies of the floor to you today.

The Sergeant-at-Arms is recognized.

>> Madam President, Ms. Lydia Ussery is at the door and awaits your direction.

>> The Sergeant-at-Arms will open the doors and escort Lydia Ussery of Duplin, North Carolina, to the well of the chamber.

[applause] >> We welcome you to the Senate chamber, Ms. Ussery, and appreciate your participation in our opening ceremony.

All Senators-elect and guests will please rise, but you already have, and remain standing for the prayer and presentation of the colors.

Leading us in prayer as we begin this 2025 session of the North Carolina General Assembly is Reverend Skylar Adams, Campus Minister of the Reformed University Fellowship at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

>> Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Holy God, your life is our source, your mercy is our redemption, your resolve is our hope, indeed we are monuments of your grace and trophies of your power.

We are yours and you are ours.

Lord God, would you bless this body, these Senators, these staff members, and their families.

Would you teach us to number our days that we may gain hearts of wisdom?

Would you grant us peace that surpasses all skill, all circumstances, and all knowledge?

Would you root each of us in your integrity and cause us to walk blamelessly before you?

Would you show us the resilience of your cross?

Would you enable us to lead with all courage and all humility?

Would you remind us that the good life is not up, but down, to steward our power and service to others?

Or would you surprise us with your gifts of humor and lightheartedness?

Would you help this body to take you and not themselves too seriously?

And by all means, teach us, we pray, that we are instruments in your hand.

Lord God, your grace is sufficient.

We ask that you'd apply it to this body and to our dear state, the place we call home.

All glory be to Christ, our eternal mediator, in whose name the weight of our souls rests.

Amen.

>> Thank you, Reverend Adams.

The Sergeant at Arms is recognized.

>> Madam President, the Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard of Rockingham County High School in Reidsville, North Carolina, is at the door to present the colors and awaits your invitation.

>> The Sergeant at Arms will now open the doors for the presentation of the colors by the Rockingham County High School Air Force Junior ROTC of Reidsville, North Carolina.

>> Permission is granted.

>> I pledge of allegiance to he flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

♪ Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched ♪ ♪ were so gallantly streaming And the rocket's red glare, ♪ ♪ the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through ♪ ♪ the night that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ [applause] >> We thank you, Ms. Ussery, and members of the Color Guard from Rockingham County High School, for being with us today.

At this time, you may retire from the chamber.

Everyone may be seated.

Oh, not yet.

Sorry.

Everyone may be seated.

The clerk will read the certification of election as received from the Secretary of State, the Honorable Elaine Marshall, and call the roll of the Senators-elect by district.

When your name is called, please speak into your microphone to answer present and remain standing.

The clerk will call the roll.

>> I, Elaine Marshall, Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the State Board of Elections met Tuesday, the 26th day of November 2024, and December 11th, 2024, in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, at which time the Board did open, canvas, and judicially determine the returns of votes cast in the election held Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, and certified to me the persons duly elected as members of the Senate from various Senate districts comprising of more than one county.

And all others have been certified to me in the abstracts by the State Board of Elections as having the highest number of votes cast in the election for Senate from districts composed of one county only.

For the General Assembly of 2025 to wit.

First, Bobby Hanick.

Present.

Second, Norman W. Sanderson.

Present.

Third, Bob Brinson.

Present.

Fourth, Buck Newton.

Present.

Fifth, Candy D. Smith.

Present.

Sixth, Michael A. Lozara.

Present.

Seventh, Michael Lee.

Present.

Eighth, Bill Rabern.

Present.

Ninth, Brent Jackson.

Present.

Tenth, Benson Sari.

Present.

Eleventh, Lisa Stone Barnes.

Present.

Twelfth, Jim Bergen.

Present.

Thirteenth, Lisa Grafstein.

Present.

Fourteenth, Dan Blue.

Present.

Fifteenth, Jay Chaudhuri Present.

Sixteenth, Gail Adcock.

Present.

Seventeenth, Miss Sydney Batch.

Present.

Eighteenth, Terrence Edward.

Present.

Nineteenth, Val Applewhite.

Present.

Twentieth, Natalie S. Murdoch.

Present.

Twenty-first, Tom McInnis.

Present.

Twenty-second, Sophie Sophia Chitlick.

Present.

Twenty-third, Greg R. Meyer.

Present.

Twenty-fourth, Danny Earl Britt, Jr.

Present.

Twenty-fifth, Amy Scott Gailey.

Present.

Twenty-sixth, Phillip E. Berger.

Present.

Twenty-seventh, Michael K. Garrett.

Present.

Twenty-eighth, Gladys A. Robinson.

Present.

Twenty-ninth, Dave Craven, Jr.

Present.

Thirtieth, Steve Jarvis.

Present.

Thirty-first, Dana Caudel Jones.

Present.

Thirty-second, Paul Lowe.

Present.

Thirty-third, Carl Ford.

Present.

Thirty-fourth, Paul Newman.

Present.

Newton.

[LAUGHTER] Thirty-fifth, Todd Johnson.

Present.

Thirty-sixth, Eddie Settle.

Present.

Thirty-seventh, Vicki Sawyer.

Present.

Thirty-eighth, Mutaba A. Muhammad.

Present.

Thirty-ninth, DeAndrea Salvador.

Present.

Fortieth, Joyce Waddell.

Present.

Forty-first, Caleb Tedros.

Present.

Forty-second, Miss Woodson Bradley.

Present.

Forty-third, Brad Overcash.

Present.

Forty-fourth, Ted Alexander.

Present.

Forty-fifth, Mark Hollow.

Present.

Forty-sixth, Warren Daniel.

Present.

Forty-seventh, Ralph Heiss.

Present.

Forty-eighth, Tim Moffett.

Present.

Forty-ninth, Julie Mayfield.

Present.

Fiftieth, Kevin Corbin.

Present.

>> Senators elect, you will find your holy book on your desk.

Some of you may have brought your personal volume.

At this time, the chair invites your spouse or guest to stand with you as you take your oath of office.

The oath of office will be administered to the senators elect by the Honorable Paul Newby, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina.

>> Thank you, Madam Lieutenant Governor.

It's my honor to be with you to fulfill the constitutional requirements, which has been a constitutional requirement since 1776.

Having appropriately placed your left hands, if we would please raise your right hands.

Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support the Constitution and laws of the United States, and do you solemnly and sincerely swear or affirm that you will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of North Carolina and to the constitutional powers and authorities which are or may be established for the government thereof, and that you will endeavor to support, maintain, and defend the Constitution and laws of said state, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, to the best of your knowledge and ability?

And do you solemnly and sincerely swear or affirm that you will faithfully discharge the duties of your office as a member of the Senate of the 2025 General Assembly of the State of North Carolina to the best of your knowledge and ability?

So help you God.

Congratulations.

Thank you for your service.

[applause] >> Congratulations to each and every one of you.

You may be seated.

Fifty senators being present and having taken the oath of office, I declare a quorum present and qualified.

The Senate will now proceed with the election of a President Pro Tempore as established by the Constitution of North Carolina, and who shall serve until the expiration of the term of office as senator.

The chair declares nominations are in order for the office of President Pro Tempore of the 2025 Senate.

Madam President.

For what purpose do you rise?

To make a nomination.

Please make your nomination.

Thank you, Madam President.

Members, I rise today to nominate Phil Berger of Rockingham County for President Pro Tempore of the State of North Carolina.

Since 2011, Senator Berger has graciously led this chamber and overseen a culture of robust civil debate.

He treats every senator, no matter the party affiliation or seniority, with the utmost respect.

He values all our thoughts and opinions because he understands that we're all working with a sincere desire to make a difference for the people of North Carolina.

Senator Berger is the standard bearer for elected leaders in this state.

He leads by example, never having forgotten that he was called to public service.

While at the helm of the Senate, Senator Berger has ushered an era of growth and vitality that makes North Carolina the envy of states across the country.

His vision when first elected President Pro Tem has unleashed North Carolina's potential.

While some states are suffering from population loss, we are enjoying positive growth.

People and job creators are flocking to our great state.

Main streets are flourishing.

Educational and vocational opportunities abound.

And this has been made possible through Senator Berger's vision and leadership.

Now, we're going to face significant challenges this year, and most pressing is how to best support and rebuild Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.

Each of us knows how vitally important it is to prioritize that recovery process.

Over the course of history, our state has faced many daunting challenges.

And thanks to Senator Berger's steady hand and leadership over the last 14 years, we've been able to navigate those challenges and come out successful.

I know that Senator Phil Berger is the right person at the right time to continue to lead this body effectively in the face of Helene and all other challenges we face, both known and unknown.

And with that, Madam President, I formally nominate Philip E. Berger to serve as President Pro Tempore of the 2025 North Carolina Senate.

Madam President.

Senator Raven, for what purpose do you rise?

To second the nomination and to make a motion, please, ma'am.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, members.

I rise to second the nomination of Senator Phil Berger to the President Pro Tem position for 2025 North Carolina Senate.

To be rather than to seem is our state motto.

When we're here in this building often.

One man that I emulate, but impossible for me to do is Senator Berger.

Someone who is kind, understanding, driven, intelligent, funny, caring and authentic.

He's never forgotten his roots.

The man he was before he was given a fancy title.

The man who painted walls at night to feed his family and to put himself through law school.

Even if it seems.

Well, that I could possibly be an ounce like him, I would be a happy man for that purpose.

He represents the best of us.

He represents an era of politics and elected leaders.

And at his core, he is a man called to serve.

He's a man called to lead.

He stands by his morals and does not compromise his principles.

When Republicans won the majority in the General Assembly in 2011, he was the lead architect of many of the policies that transformed our state.

He saw the promise of North Carolina long before many of us in this room were ever elected.

He cares about his state.

He cares about the future of the state.

He cares about the people in it.

And what we're going to leave behind for them.

That is why he takes his duty as state senator and as president approach him so seriously.

He's not here for the social media likes.

He's not here to make bombastic speeches and broad views.

He's here to do the work.

Phil Berger is here to get the job done.

And he has done it well.

Madam President, it is my great honor to second the nomination of Senator Phil Berger as president pro tempore of the Senate.

Furthermore, I move that the nominations be closed and that Senator Berger's nomination be accepted by acclamation.

The motion is that the nominations be closed and that the nomination of Senator Philip E. Berger as president pro tempore of the 2025 Senate be accepted by acclamation.

Is there discussion or debate?

If not, those in favor will say aye.

Opposed, no.

The ayes have it.

And the chair declares Senator Philip E. Berger of Rockingham County unanimously elected to the office of president pro tempore of the 2025 Senate.

Senator Paul Newton, Senator Rabin, Senator Blue, and Senator Jones are appointed as a committee to escort president pro tempore elect Philip E. Berger to the well of the Senate to receive the oath of office.

[applause] [inaudible] >> Thank you, Senator Newton.

The escort committee may return to their seats.

Members and guests may be seated.

The sergeant at arms may escort Mrs. Ashley Snyder to the well of the Senate to stand with the president pro tempore elect.

>> The honorable Phil Berger, Jr. of the Supreme Court of North Carolina will administer the oath.

>> Place your left hand on the Bible, raise your right.

Please state your name.

>> Philip Berger.

>> Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution and laws of the United States, so help you God?

Do you solemnly and sincerely swear that you will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the state of North Carolina?

and to the constitutional powers and authorities which are or may be established for the government thereof?

And will you endeavor to support, maintain, and defend the Constitution and laws of said state, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, to the best of your knowledge and ability?

>> I will.

>> Do you solemnly and sincerely swear that you will faithfully discharge your duties as President pro tempore of the 2025 General Assembly to the best of your skill and ability, so help you God?

>> I will, so help me God.

>> Congratulations.

>> Congratulations, Senator Berger.

[applause] >> Senator Berger recognizes you to address the Senate and our guest.

>> Lieutenant Governor Hunt, Chief Justice Newby, Associate Justice Berger, Leader Newton, Leader Batch, former Governor Hunt, family, friends, fellow members, and others joining us from around the state, thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of serving as President pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate.

It's been an honor to lead this body for the past 14 years.

I want to thank also the members of the Rockingham County High School Air Force Junior ROTC, Reverend Adams, Lydia Ussery for helping make this opening day special and memorable for all of us.

I'd also like to recognize and thank our clerk, Sarah Holland, and her staff.

You know, when the Senate runs smoothly, it's because of Sarah and her folks.

When we find a hiccup here and there, it's probably us, so thank you.

A special thanks to Sergeant at Arms Bob Myrick, who is retiring.

I want to congratulate Eddie Broughton, who I anticipate will be elected Sergeant at Arms shortly.

Sergeant at Arms staff does great work to help us and to keep us safe every day.

I'd also like to thank members of the pro temp staff, particularly Darrell Malcolm, for their work to make today's events run smoothly.

You know, 14 years ago, I stood here and we began a journey that fundamentally transformed our state government and our state.

At that time, we faced staggering challenges that were the consequence of decisions made over previous decades.

It was clear that we could not continue down that same path.

We had to chart a different course.

And that's what we've done.

We've moved away from the unsteady roller coaster of boom and bust budgets towards consistent, conservative, fiscally sound budgets.

We steered away from high taxes and some regulations that stymied private sector job growth towards transformational tax reform and tax reductions.

We took a fresh look at education, enacted reforms, challenged entrenched bureaucracies, and created new opportunities for students and families.

What began on that opening day was a paradigm shift and in many respects, a generational change.

Without question, North Carolina is the best state in America in which to live, to work, to start a business, and to raise a family.

A state of unparalleled opportunity.

Nevertheless, there is still work to be done.

We want a state where citizens can follow their dreams, can succeed, and can raise those families.

North Carolina's traditional public school system is now bolstered and supplemented by diverse school choice options, public charter schools, private schools, home schools.

Our community colleges and universities are the envy of the nation, producing a talented workforce capable of filling the jobs being created in our dynamic economy.

Without a doubt, education continues to be the key that unlocks the door to a brighter future.

We must work to improve both educational opportunities and educational outcomes.

We must work together to safeguard and improve the good things about our state.

We cannot be complacent.

We are competing with 49 other states and a multitude of foreign economies.

We must continue to pursue policies that create and expand our competitive advantage, policies that have made today's North Carolina an economic and opportunity powerhouse.

There is and always has been greatness in our state, greatness in the people of North Carolina.

As we approach America's 250th anniversary and America celebrates the giants like Washington and Madison and Hamilton, we recall North Carolinians who declared independence three months before Jefferson's declaration, Joseph Hughes, William Hooper, John Penn, and other delegates who adopted the Halifax Resolves.

We continue to work to be a state that lives up to high standards enunciated in those documents.

Like those North Carolinians who preceded us, regular folks who stepped up to lead, we are ordinary people entrusted to make decisions for an extraordinary state.

Like them, we bring to this chamber unique experiences and knowledge and are expected to work together, do our best, to leave the state in a better place than we found it.

Today, hundreds of thousands of families see North Carolina as a place of opportunity.

25 years ago, our state's population was about 8 million.

We just surpassed 11 million.

We're the ninth largest state and well on our way to be the seventh largest state within the decade.

This growth presents challenges for us as policymakers.

How we deal with those challenges will impact the North Carolina we leave to our children and to our grandchildren.

Education, infrastructure needs, child care, health care, and dozens of other issues will present themselves to us over the next two years.

And for this session, we have another issue.

We must take a renewed look at how we prepare for and respond to natural disasters in our state.

Many of our citizens in eastern North Carolina were left behind by previous administrations.

Citizens who have not returned to a permanent home after Hurricane Florence more than six years ago.

That is unacceptable.

I hope we can partner with Governor Stein and his administration to ensure that response doesn't become the norm here in North Carolina.

Last year, the General Assembly was able to put $1.1 billion toward Hurricane Helene response efforts.

We cannot do this alone.

Fortunately, the federal government recently appropriated additional funds, but we're going to need continued and additional support from Congress to ensure that we can adequately respond.

I want to thank our congressional delegation for all the work they've done thus far to prepare the state for Hurricane Helene recovery and for funding for western North Carolina.

But all of that is just the beginning.

I implore everyone in this room to come together to find ways to improve our response and recovery efforts.

To the people of western North Carolina, you are not, you will not be forgotten.

We will work tirelessly to ensure that our response to Hurricane Helene does not leave you behind.

It is not an exaggeration to say that had we not taken seriously our mission to reform how state government operates in North Carolina, we would not have the capacity we have today to respond.

There were naysayers 14 years ago.

Frankly, there still are naysayers, but our conservative approach has lifted our state out of a dark place.

We've made incredible strides in improving education, facilitating access to health care, supporting public safety, supporting law enforcement, reducing burdensome regulations, and providing our citizens with the tools they need to take control of their futures.

I've been bullish about North Carolina for decades.

Over the last 14 years, I've seen our state grow and thrive in ways that I could have only imagined.

It has been an honor to stand side by side with the members of this body to usher in this new era.

To the people of North Carolina, thank you for trusting us to serve you.

May God bless this chamber, and may God bless North Carolina.

Thank you.

[APPLAUSE] >> Please be seated.

The next order of business to come before the Senate is the adoption of rules of procedure by which this body shall govern itself.

Senator Raven is recognized.

Thank you, Madam President.

I move that Senate Resolution 1 be filed and brought before the Senate for first reading and immediate consideration upon second reading.

Thank you.

Introduction of a resolution.

The clerk will read.

Submitted by Senator Raven.

Senate Resolution 1, a Senate resolution adopting the permanent rules of the Senate for the later session of the 2025th General Assembly.

Second reading of Senate Resolution 1, the clerk will read.

Senate Resolution 1, Senate permanent rules.

Senator Raven is recognized to explain the resolution.

Thank you, Madam President.

With that, members, I urge you to support this motion to adopt a Senate resolution.

I'm happy to take any questions after I give you a brief explanation.

These are the new rules for the 2025-6 biennium, and they look very much like the ones in years past.

We made a few changes, and we've circulated them to our members of the Senate.

I do want to highlight some of the bill requests and filing deadlines along with this year's crossover date because these are ones we should all put on our calendar, not just vote into the rules and say they are there.

So please be aware of these.

Local bills need to be requested by February 13th and filed by February 27th.

Public bills need to be requested by February 27th and filed by March 25th.

The crossover date, which is very important, this year will be May 8th.

Bills can be filed every day until 4 p.m., so everyone needs to know those little things.

I'm happy to answer any specific questions that someone in the Senate may have for me.

Thank you.

Is there discussion or debate?

Hearing none, the question before the Senate is the adoption of Senate Resolution 1.

All those in favor of the adoption of Senate Resolution 1 will vote aye, opposed no.

Ten seconds will be allowed for voting.

The clerk will record the vote.

Fifty having voted in the affirmative, zero in the negative, the rules of the 2025 Senate are adopted.

Senate Rule 65 establishes the office of the Deputy President Pro Tempore.

Nominations are now in order for Deputy President Pro Tempore of the 2025 Senate.

Senator Newton, for what purpose do you rise?

Thank you, Madam President, to make a nomination.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

Madam President, members, I rise to nominate Ralph Heiss of Mitchell County as Deputy President Pro Tempore.

Senator Heiss has served the North Carolina Senate in this chamber since 2011.

His colleagues recognize him to be one of the brightest minds in this chamber.

And although brilliant, Senator Heiss is equally humble.

And he exemplifies what it means to be a citizen legislator.

That was never more evident than during Hurricane Helene recovery.

Senator Heiss's district was perhaps one of the hardest hit.

He worked around the clock without reliable water or power to get resources to his district and to keep us informed of the needs on the ground.

He is fighting and continues to fight for people, for everyone affected.

And he and his family have been personally affected.

And I'd like to publicly thank his family, his wife Lynn and his sons Thomas and Darren, because they, as much as Senator Heiss, have been serving North Carolina.

And they deserve to be honored today as we honor their father and husband.

Senator Heiss has been an incredible mentor to many of us in this chamber, from his masterful grasp of the rules to his understanding of policy and for his demonstrated dedication to his constituents.

Ralph Heiss is often the calm in our legislative storm, and for that we are all thankful.

And with that, Madam President, I formally nominate Senator Ralph Heiss to serve as our Deputy President Pro Tempore.

Senator Daniel, for what purpose do you rise?

To second the nomination and make a motion.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Members, I rise to second the nomination of Senator Ralph Heiss to serve as our Deputy President Pro Tempore.

Senator Heiss, over the past 14 years, we have accomplished a lot together.

When we began this endeavor in 2011, we brought North Carolina back from the brink of financial ruin, balancing a $2 billion deficit, repaying a $3 billion debt to the federal government, and charting a new course for economic recovery.

The Carolina comeback was a resounding success.

North Carolina has regularly been recognized as the top state for business in the country.

As people from across the nation realize this, our state has become more than a tourist destination.

It's a place where people want to come to work and raise their families.

As a result, our population has grown significantly.

We must safeguard the important policies that laid the groundwork for this prosperity and protected our residents from government overreach.

We protected the taxpayers by continuing to lower the personal and corporate income tax rates.

We protected our businesses by restraining the regulators from placing additional burdens on their businesses.

We protected prayer in schools, the lives of the unborn, and young women striving to do their best as athletes.

And there are more accomplishments that we don't have time to mention.

As we enter 2025 as members of the Western delegation and for our entire Senate body, we have a new challenge before us, one that has become routine for our Eastern colleagues, but is new for Senator Heiss and I, hurricane recovery.

I look forward to all that we are going to do to address these challenges together, and I know that Senator Heiss is the right man to lead us as Deputy President Pro Tempore.

And with that, I formally second the nomination of Senator Heiss to serve as our Deputy President Pro Tempore.

I further move that nominations be closed and that Senator Heiss' nomination be accepted by acclamation.

The motion is that the nominations be closed and that the nomination of Senator Ralph Heiss for Deputy President Pro Tempore of the 2025 Senate be accepted by acclamation.

Is there discussion or debate?

If not, those in favor will say aye.

Opposed, no.

The ayes have it, and the Chair declares Senator Ralph Heiss of Mitchell County unanimously elected to the office of Deputy President Pro Tempore of the 2025 Senate.

Senator Galey, Senator Sanderson, Senator Buck Newton, and Senator Settle are appointed to escort the Deputy President Pro Tempore-elect Ralph Heiss to the well of the Senate to receive the oath of office.

[Applause.]

>> Senator Galey, you have the floor.

>> Madame President, I present the Deputy President Pro Tempore-elect of the 2025 session, Senator Ralph Heiss.

>.

Thank you, Senator Galey.

The escort committee may return to their seats.

Members and guests may be seated.

The Sergeant-at-Arms may escort Mrs. Lynn Heiss to the well of the Senate to stand with the Deputy President Pro Tempore-elect.

Chief Justice Newby will administer the oath.

>> I ask that you stand with your right hand on the Bible and your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand.

Do you, Ralph Heiss, solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution and laws of the United States, so help you God?

I do.

Do you solemnly and sincerely swear that you will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of North Carolina and to the Constitutional powers and authorities which are or may be established for the government thereof, so help you God?

I do.

Do you solemnly and sincerely swear that you will faithfully discharge your duties as Deputy President Pro Tempore-elect of the Senate of the 2025 General Assembly, to the best of your skill and ability, so help you God?

So help me God, I will.

Congratulations.

Thanks for your service.

[applause] Congratulations, Senator Heiss.

You have the floor to address the Senate.

Thank you, Madam President, President Pro Tempore, distinguished members of the judiciary, visitors, guests, and fellow members of the Senate.

Thank you for your vote.

I will do the very best I can for this office to support President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and all the members of this exalted chamber.

I truly appreciate the support you have given me.

Chief Justice Newby, I truly appreciate you coming down and giving the oath of office today.

I am humbled and honored that you would take time to return and fill this role for this chamber and myself.

I will keep my comments brief.

For four sessions now, you have afforded me the privilege to stand here and serve in this role.

I want to begin by honoring my wife, Lynn, my sons, Thomas and Darren, my mother-in-law, Mary Ann England, who have tremendously supported me now over 14 years serving in the Senate.

When looking for where I should go, actually last night, it hit me to open with a verse from Esther that I think so many of us are familiar with.

414, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arrive from another place, but you and your father's family will perish.

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this."

I am truly amazed at what this body has led in and accomplished over the 14 years that I have served in the Senate.

We all remember 14 years ago when deficits seemed insurmountable.

All of our tax rates were uncompetitive with any of the states around us.

Organization was not part of government.

We were barely hanging on after the '08 and the '10 recessions.

But we set and Phil led us on a path that we would do the right things with the economy of the state of North Carolina.

We have actively sought to cut corporate tax rates, personal tax rates.

We let the sales tax increase expire.

And at each step, we heard the doom and gloom that was coming from all the revenue loss that the state was going to experience.

There is no doubt we saw the very opposite.

When I look at the story of Joseph in the Old Testament, he was given the interpretation of Pharaoh's visit that gave seven years of plenty because seven years of famine was coming and how they stored up the grain to prepare for what was coming.

I will say that for me individually, a lot of the reasons I had at the time were simply that changing the tax code and building the savings reserve was the right thing to do for North Carolina.

It was because that we saw that we could be more competitive or we can grow industry.

But nearly 100 days ago, a little more than three months, I feel like in western North Carolina, we saw the real reason behind why we had to make those changes.

I think all of you know the devastation that we have seen from the floods in western North Carolina that the former governor estimated at over $60 billion now.

If you have not been to western North Carolina and seen this devastation, I invite you all to come.

Pick one of the hundreds of miles of devastation along the rivers and come see because the devastation hasn't gone anywhere.

It's not fixed.

It's not better.

Two weeks ago, we had four inches of rain and saw flooding again.

Bridges washed out again and gone.

Yesterday, we saw a winter storm with 50 miles an hour take entire towns out of electricity again.

We're fragile, and we're still recovering.

But we had a 14-year time period to build up a savings reserve to be prepared to serve.

Maybe it was only three days that our famine came, but it has been devastating.

But we are prepared as a state, and we are strong as a state because of the work we have put together for more than a decade in North Carolina.

I hope North Carolina never again experiences this kind of devastation.

But history will tell us another storm is coming, whether it be drought, whether it be rain, whether it be hurricanes, whether it be economic downturns.

They are coming.

And we have to continue with the same mindset.

Once we appropriate funds, we have got to rebuild the savings reserve.

We have to prepare the state of North Carolina for the next disaster that is coming.

We have to take lessons from Matthew and now Helaine about how we did not respond or could not respond.

I apologize to my colleagues in eastern North Carolina.

It is unacceptable that after six years we have not rebuilt the housing that was necessary from their storms.

And I want to stand here to declare that we will not be sitting here in six years in western North Carolina talking about what the state has not done.

But we have to have the reserves for the next disaster that's coming.

We did a formula that was two storms that we needed in savings reserve.

Helaine has blown that out of the water.

But we can accomplish it and compare our state so that we don't have these setbacks continually.

I thank you all for this opportunity to serve you.

More importantly, I thank you all for what you have done and will done for our communities.

The state of North Carolina has stepped up.

We need more from the feds.

I urge you to lobby every congressman you've ever thought you knew because they have to come to North Carolina's aid.

And we will be there for our match.

We will be there to support our citizens.

I ask each of you, not that you only do all you can through this legislative body to improve the conditions and lives for all the constituents we serve and specifically those in western North Carolina that are devastated by this historic storm.

But I once again, as I have each time elected, ask you as leaders, each of you to answer your higher purpose and lift up your district, this state, and this nation as stated in our constitution we just confirmed in Arthur to Almighty God, the sovereign ruler of nations, that he may heal our land.

Thank you.

[applause] The constitution of North Carolina directs the senate to elect its other officers.

The general statutes define them to be a principal clerk and a sergeant at arms.

The chair now declares nominations are in order for the office of principal clerk of the 2025 senate.

Madam President.

Senator Raven, for what purpose do you rise?

Madam President, members, I rise today to nominate Sarah Holland again to serve as our senate principal clerk.

Madam President, members, it should come as no surprise to you that we again would like to have Miss Holland taking over this office.

I don't know if many of you have seen my desk during a given legislative session, but it's not exactly the tidiest one here.

It takes a lot of work to keep me on track and on task and organized.

Sarah is one of the people who have made my life a lot easier, and if you haven't realized how amazing the clerk staff is, as you serve here a little longer, you will.

They're all phenomenal professionals who are true public servants.

Sarah's service as principal clerk has been highlighted by streamlining the behind-the-scenes work and bringing us all into a modern era.

When I came into this body in 2011, we literally had paperwork stacked on the back corner here this high.

Many times it was still warm, was it not, Senator Newton, we had to read it and then vote on it.

That doesn't happen today.

We are in a new era, and we thank the principal clerk for that.

There's a lot of work that the clerks do that none of us see.

We go home at night, or we go out to have dinner together, and they're still here.

We come in in the morning, and their doors are open, and they're already at work.

Without them, we could accomplish very little.

All of this has come about because of Sarah's leadership, and they've been able to accomplish everything over the last decade because of that leadership from electronic bill filing to technological upgrades in the chamber.

They've literally done it all, and we have been the beneficiaries of that hard work.

Sarah and her staff care deeply for the Senate, and they care for all of the senators and all of our staff.

They're really wonderful people.

You should get to know them.

We're the ones that push the green buttons, and we push the red buttons on occasion, Senator O'Leary.

But they're the ones that make the buttons work.

That's the hard job.

They're the ones who make our voices so they can be heard across the state, and they're the ones that keep record of what is being said and by whom and what is done in the chamber for everyone to look back on when we're gone.

With that, Madam President, I formally nominate Sarah Holland to serve as principal clerk for the 2025 Senate.

Senator Heiss, for what purpose do you rise?

To second the nomination and to make a motion.

You have the floor.

Madam President, members, I rise to second the nomination of Sarah Holland to serve as principal clerk for the 2025 North Carolina Senate.

Sarah has also held this position for 14 years, and as Raben mentioned, so many of the things that changed when she came on to this clerk position, moving us to the electronic age, not having to have our L.A.s make books of all the bills every day as we sort through them, to understand and know the rules of this body, to tolerate my conversations and questions about the rules of this body and my what-if scenarios that she always has an answer for, even if I argue with it, as we're coming in.

She has been an incredible service to this body, and one of the greatest things that her leadership shows is the staff that she puts around her in that office.

Never once has any member of this Senate had challenges with her staff or conflicts with her staff.

In the time that we've been here, they are incredible individuals that are hard workers, that are not stereotypical state employees that work some regular schedule, but tolerate the schedule of the Senate that's supposed to be five months, but sometimes runs 18 months during a session.

But she's always there.

No one can name me a single flaw for a bill or a messenger or a send to the house in 14 years.

There is no one better that could serve in this role.

I am proud of the service she has given to the state, and with that, I further move that nominations be closed and that Sarah Holland's nomination as principal clerk be accepted by acclamation.

The motion is that the nominations be closed and that the nomination of Sarah Holland for principal clerk of the Senate of the 2025 session be accepted by acclamation.

Is there discussion or debate?

If not, those in favor will say aye.

Opposed, no.

The ayes have it, and the chair declares Sarah Holland unanimously elected to the office of principal clerk of the Senate for the 2025 session.

The sergeant at arms will escort the principal clerk elect to the well of the Senate to receive the oath of office.

The sergeant at arms may escort Perry Holland and Reeves Holland to the well of the Senate to stand with the principal clerk elect.

Justice Berger will administer the oath.

The left hand on the Bible, raise your right, please.

Please state your name.

Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution and laws of the United States, so help you God?

And do you solemnly and sincerely swear that you will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the state of North Carolina and to the constitutional powers and authorities which are or may be established for the government thereof, and you will endeavor to support, maintain, and defend the Constitution and laws of said state, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, to the best of your knowledge and ability?

And do you solemnly and sincerely swear that you will faithfully discharge your duties as principal clerk of the Senate of the 2025 General Assembly to the best of your skill and ability, so help you God?

Congratulations.

[applause] You may assume your seat.

Nominations are now in order for the Sergeant-at-Arms of the 2025 Senate.

Senator Bergen, for what purpose do you rise?

To make a nomination.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

First, I want to acknowledge and thank Bob Myrick, our retiring Sergeant-at-Arms.

Thank you for your service and your friendship.

Good job, my friend.

Ladies and gentlemen-- [applause] Members, it is my honor to rise to nominate Eddie Broughton as Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

Eddie was hired with the Sergeant-at-Arms Office in May of 2018.

He has been Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms for the past five years.

My wife, Anne, was telling me this morning she was the first Sergeant-at-Arms she met here, and what an impression that he made on her that first day.

He started his law enforcement career in 1991 with North Carolina Secretary of State's Office as an investigator.

Eddie has over 34 years of law enforcement experience.

He also served as a Reserve Officer Investigator at North Carolina's State Capitol Police Department, and in 1992 he was hired with the Wake County Sheriff's Office where he worked numerous positions including civil process, warrant, unit patrol, criminal investigations, and drug investigations.

He was assigned to the United States Marshal Service's Violent Fugitive Task Force for Eastern North Carolina apprehending wanted violent criminal suspects.

Eddie was then promoted and worked his way through the ranks as a Captain in the Patrol Service, School Resource Officer Program, Criminal Investigations Division, and Special Operations Unit.

I think he's going to be able to handle all of us.

Eddie retired in 2016 as a Major over the Special Operations Units where he supervised the Drug Unit, the K-9 Unit, Special Response Team, Criminal Interdiction Surveillance Unit, and Task Force Units.

He holds numerous law enforcement certifications and qualifications.

He's a Reserve Officer with the General Assembly Police Department and a Reserve Deputy with the Wake County Sheriff's Office.

Eddie's on the Executive Board with the National Legislative Service and Security Association under the National Conference of State Legislators.

Eddie's been married to his wife, Christy, for 20 years.

They have two sons, Phillip, 28, and Cameron, 27.

Phillip is an inspector with a North Carolina license at the Federal Bureau.

He and his wife, Tara, live in Hampstead, and they have a beautiful son, Grayson, who is six months old.

Cameron is in the accounts receivable and customer relations with Medgar Corp.

He lives in Wilmington, and he's engaged to his fiancée, Casey, to be married in 2026.

I formally nominate Eddie Broughton for Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

Madam President.

Senator Ford, for what purpose do you rise?

To second the nomination and make a motion.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Members, I'm honored to second the nomination of my friend, Eddie Broughton, to serve as our Sergeant-at-Arms.

I also move that the nominations be closed and that Eddie Broughton's nomination be accepted by acclamation.

The motion is that the nominations be closed and that the nomination of Eddie Broughton for Sergeant-at-Arms of the 2025 Senate be accepted by acclamation.

Is there discussion or debate?

If not, those in favor will say aye.

Opposed, no.

The ayes have it, and the Chair declares Eddie Broughton unanimously elected to the office of Sergeant-at-Arms for the Senate for the 2025 session.

The Sergeant-at-Arms elect may proceed to the well to receive the oath of office.

Mrs. Christy Broughton will be escorted to the well to stand with the Sergeant-at-Arms elect.

Chief Justice Newby will administer the oath.

Do you, Eddie Broughton, solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution and laws of the United States, so help you God?

I will.

And do you solemnly and sincerely swear that you will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of North Carolina and to the constitutional powers and authorities which are or may be established for the government thereof, and that you will endeavor to support, maintain, and defend the Constitution and laws of said State, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, to the best of your knowledge and ability?

I will.

And do you solemnly and sincerely swear that you will faithfully discharge your duties as Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate of the 2025 General Assembly to the best of your skill and ability, so help you God?

I will.

Congratulations.

[applause] Message from the Majority Caucus.

The clerk will read.

Dear Honorable Rachel Hunt, President of the Senate, Dear President Hunt, This is to advise you that the Senate Republican Caucus met on November 20, 2024, with 29 members present, and elected the following officers for the 2025 Session of the General Assembly.

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Paul Newton.

Senate Majority Whip, Senator Amy Galey.

Senator Majority Whip, Senator Todd Johnson.

Senate Republican Joint Caucus Leader, Senator Carl Ford.

In addition, the following officers were nominated for the 2025 Session of the General Assembly.

President Pro Tempore, Senator Philip Berger.

Deputy President Pro Tempore, Senator Ralph Heiss.

Principal Clerk, Ms. Sarah Lang Holland.

Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Eddie Brodden.

Sincerely, Senator Paul Newton, Majority Leader of the Republican Caucus.

The Chair recognizes Senator Paul Newton, Majority Leader, Senator Amy Galey, Majority Whip, Senator Todd Johnson, Majority Whip, Senator Carl Ford, Republican Joint Caucus Leader.

Congratulations to you all.

[applause] Message from the Minority Caucus.

The clerk will read.

The Honorable Rachel Hunt, Lieutenant Governor.

Dear Lieutenant Governor Hunt, the Senate Democratic Caucus met on December 2, 2024, and elected the following officers for the 2025-2026 legislative session.

Senator Sidney Batch, Wake County Caucus Minority Leader.

Senator Jay Chaudhry, Wake County Caucus Minority Whip.

Senator Julie Mayfield, Buncombe County Caucus Secretary.

Respectfully, Senator Julie Mayfield, Senator Democratic Caucus Secretary.

The Chair recognizes Senator Sidney Batch, Minority Leader.

Senator Jay Chaudhry, Minority Whip.

Senator Julie Mayfield, Caucus Secretary.

Congratulations to you all.

[applause] Senator Rabin is recognized.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to make a motion.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

Madam President and members, having voted on the majority of the election, Senator Phil Berger is President Pro Tempore.

I move that the Senate do now reconsider the vote by which he was elected.

I further move that my motion be to reconsider to be laid upon the table.

Madam President.

Senator Hice, for what purpose do you rise?

I second the motion to lie upon the table.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

I would just take, as we go through this clincher process, that we solidify this election by tabling it so that it can only be considered by a supermajority of the body.

Thank you.

This is a non-debatable motion, and we'll go straight to a vote.

The question before the body is a motion to table the motion to reconsider the vote for President Pro Tempore.

All in favor will vote aye.

All opposed will vote no.

Ten seconds will be allowed for voting, and the clerk will record the vote.

Fifty, having voted in the affirmative, zero in the negative.

The motion has been tabled.

Senator Rabin is recognized.

Thank you, Madam President.

I've got to catch up with where we are now.

This concludes what we're going to be done today.

I move that the Senate joint resolution, adjournment resolution, to a date certain be filed now and brought to the floor in its first reading and for immediate consideration on its second reading.

I further move that Senate joint resolution 2 be sent to the House by special message.

Without objection, so ordered.

Introduction of a resolution, the clerk will read.

Senate joint resolution 2, a joint resolution adjourning the 2025 regular session of the General Assembly to a date certain and provided by law.

Senator Rabin is recognized to explain the resolution.

Thank you, Madam President.

This is probably the most simple adjournment resolution you're going to see in the next two years, and that is that today we adjourn to a date certain, that being January 29, 2025, because the Constitution requires that we adjourn by joint resolution.

Senate joint resolution is simply going to do this.

I appreciate your support, and let's send it over to the House.

Is there further discussion or debate?

Hearing none, the question before the Senate is the passage of Senate joint resolution 2 on its second reading.

All those in favor will vote aye, oppose no.

Ten seconds will be allowed for voting.

The clerk will record the vote.

Fifty, having voted in the affirmative, zero in the negative.

Senate joint resolution 2 has passed its second reading and, without objection, will be read a third time.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts.

Is there further discussion or debate?

Hearing none, all in favor of the passage of the Senate joint resolution 2 on its third reading will say aye.

Opposed, no.

The ayes have it.

Senate joint resolution 2 passes its third reading and will be sent to the House by special message.

As the new president of this dignified and honorable chamber, I would like to say a few words about my vision for our state and what brings us all together here today.

North Carolina is the greatest state in the nation.

Like many of you, I have spent most of my life in this beautiful state.

I have seen how lives can be shaped and changed by good government and dedicated public officials just like you and me.

My dad, who is here today, one of North Carolina's greatest governors, taught me many things about the importance of public service and how to give back to our community.

From his time as lieutenant governor, before serving as governor for four terms, he was steadfast in his commitment to bettering the lives of North Carolinians in everything from public education to creating good paying jobs.

It is the greatest honor to continue his work in the same position that he first served in 50 years ago.

As my dad did, I believe in the great promise of North Carolina.

From my years attending our strong public schools and universities, I believe in the chance for every student to succeed and get a high quality education no matter where they live.

From growing up on a farm in Rock Ridge, I believe in the importance of good paying jobs for hard working families and supporting our rural communities.

And from my work fighting for women and children in the courtroom and in this very state legislature, I believe in strengthening child care and defending women's health care.

However, the promise of our great state does not come without work.

My dad likes to say, "Creative thinking fuels innovation."

And that's exactly what we have to do in this chamber to unlock all North Carolina has to offer.

While we might disagree on some things, everyone in this room has a deep love for North Carolina.

We must be willing to hear each other out and listen to each other to find common ground for the sake of our people.

We must reach our shared goals through civility, respect, and dignity to make sure we can deliver for North Carolina.

We must also be willing to listen to those in our state who feel as though our government is no longer working for them.

That will be a priority for me in this office.

I plan to travel across our state to hear directly from people in their communities about how we can better serve them and their families.

In that spirit, I want each and every person in this room to know my door is always open for questions or discussions, even if we disagree.

I believe we have more in common than we do not.

It may just take a little work to find it.

It is important that we never lose sight of the reason why we are here in the first place, to make the lives of North Carolinians better in any way possible.

It is with great honor that I step into this role as Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate.

I look forward to working with each and every one of you in the years to come to make our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Thank you.

[applause] Senators, having received your oath of office, adopted rules of procedure, and elected your officers, the Chair directs the Principal Clerk to send a message to the House of Representatives informing that honorable body that the Senate of the 2025 General Assembly is organized and ready to proceed with public business.

Are there any notices and announcements?

With no further business to come before the Senate, the Chair will entertain a motion for adjournment and recognizes Senator Berger.

Thank you, Madam President.

I move that the Senate do now adjourn in accordance with Senate Joint Resolution 2 to reconvene on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 12 p.m.

The motion by Senator Berger, seconded by Senator Rabun, is that the Senate do now adjourn pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 2, subject to the stipulations stated by Senator Berger, to reconvene on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 12 p.m. All in favor, say "aye."

Opposed, "no."

The ayes have it, and the Senate stands adjourned.

[Gavel] [Applause] [Gavel]