North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina H443: Const. Amendment: Council of State Vacancies.
Status: In committee, May 20, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend the north carolina constitution to modify the process for filling a vacancy in the office of secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of labor, and commissioner of insurance.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO MODIFY THE PROCESS FOR FILLING A VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE, AUDITOR, TREASURER, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, ATTORNEY GENERAL, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, AND COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: SECTION 1. Section 7(3) of Article III of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten: "(3) Vacancies. If the office of any of these officers is vacated by death, resignation, or otherwise, it shall be the duty of the Governor to appoint another to serve until his a successor is elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election at the first election for members of the General Assembly that occurs more than 60 days after the vacancy has taken place, and the person chosen shall hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term fixed in this Section. When a vacancy occurs in the office of any of the officers named in this Section and the term expires on the first day of January succeeding the next election for members of the General Assembly, the Governor shall appoint to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the office. If the officer was elected as the nominee of a political party, the Governor …
Sponsors
- Hall, Kyle (R, 91) · primary sponsor
- Blackwell, Hugh (R, 86) · primary sponsor
- Stevens, Sarah (R, 90) · primary sponsor
- Huneycutt, Cody (R, 67) · primary sponsor
- Arp, Dean (R, 69)
- Jennifer Balkcom (R, HD-117)
- Biggs, Brian (R, 70)
- Cairns, Celeste C. (R, 13)
- Jackson, Neal (R, 78)
- Johnson, Todd (R, 35)
- Kidwell, Keith (R, 79)
- McNeely, Jeffrey C. (R, 84)
Latest actions
- : Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- : Passed 1st Reading
- : Special Message Received From House
- : Special Message Sent To Senate
- : Passed 3rd Reading
- : Passed 2nd Reading
- : Amend Failed A1
- : Placed On Cal For 05/20/2026
- : Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)
- : Reptd Fav
Votes
- Constitutional Amendment: Council of State Vacancies. Third Reading (May 20, 2026): 73 yea, 46 nay, passed
- Constitutional Amendment: Council of State Vacancies. Second Reading (May 20, 2026): 73 yea, 46 nay, passed
- Constitutional Amendment: Council of State Vacancies. A1 Smith, Charles Second Reading (May 20, 2026): 48 yea, 71 nay, failed
Subjects: Education, Public, Public Instruction Dept., Labor Dept., Elections, Council Of State, Public Officials, Insurance
Common questions
- What is H443?
- H443 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Const. Amendment: Council of State Vacancies.
- What does H443 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the north carolina constitution to modify the process for filling a vacancy in the office of secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of labor, and commissioner of insurance.
- What is the status of H443?
- In committee as of May 20, 2026. Latest action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (May 20, 2026).
- Who sponsored H443?
- Hall, Kyle (R, 91), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H443?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H443
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.