GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2025

SESSION LAW 2025-5

HOUSE BILL 17

AN ACT to extend the term of OFFICE OF the mayor OF the town of madison from two years to four years; to provide that regular municipal elections for the town of faith shall be held in even‑numbered years and to extend the terms of office for members of the board of aldermen in the town of faith from two years to four years; and to provide that regular municipal elections in the town of china grove shall be held in even‑numbered years.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Section 3.3(a) of the Charter of the Town of Madison, being Chapter 289 of the 1973 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 2004‑54, reads as rewritten:

"(a)      The members of the Board of Aldermen shall serve for staggered terms of four years, and the Mayor shall serve for a term of two years, beginning the day and hour of the organizational meeting following their election, as established by ordinance in accordance with this Charter; provided, they shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify. In the 2005 municipal election, six members shall be elected. The three persons receiving the highest numbers of votes shall receive four‑year terms, and the three persons receiving the next highest numbers of votes shall receive two‑year terms. In 2007 and biennially thereafter, three members shall be elected for four‑year terms.four years."

SECTION 1.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

SECTION 2.(a)  Section 4 of the Charter of the Town of Faith, being Chapter 363 of the Private Laws of 1903, as rewritten by Chapter 159 of the 1961 Session Laws and Chapter 1111 of the 1979 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:

"Sec. 4. Elections in the Town of Faith shall be held at the time of the general election in each even‑numbered year. Except as otherwise provided, the election shall be conducted in accordance with Subchapter IX of the uniform municipal election laws in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes."

SECTION 2.(b)  Section 3 of the Charter of the Town of Faith, being Chapter 363 of the Private Laws of 1903, as rewritten by Chapter 159 of the 1961 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:

"Sec. 3. That the officers of said Town shall consist of five aldermen, elected to serve a four‑year term who shall elect one of their number as mayor. The mayor and aldermen when qualified as required by law, may elect a town clerk, a tax collector, a treasurer, such policemen and other officers necessary to the preservation and regulation of the Town's best interests."

SECTION 2.(c)  No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Faith in 2025. The terms of office for the aldermen in the Town of Faith serving on the effective date of this act shall be extended by one year. Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Faith every four years beginning in 2026. In 2026 and quadrennially thereafter, five aldermen shall be elected to serve four‑year terms.

SECTION 2.(d)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

SECTION 3.(a)  Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 of the Charter of the Town of China Grove, being S.L. 2002‑42, read as rewritten:

"Section 3.1. Regular Municipal Elections. Regular municipal elections shall be held at the time of the general election in each odd‑numbered year. even‑numbered year. Except as otherwise provided, the election shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. Elections shall be conducted on a nonpartisan plurality basis and the results determined using the nonpartisan plurality method as provided in G.S. 163‑292.

"Section 3.2. Election of Aldermen. The Town shall continue to have staggered terms for its Aldermen. Two Aldermen shall be elected at the regular municipal election in 2003 to four‑year terms and quadrennially thereafter. Three Aldermen shall be elected at the regular municipal election in 2005 to four‑year terms and quadrennially thereafter.for staggered four‑year terms.

"Section 3.3. Election of Mayor. A Mayor shall be elected in the regular municipal election in 2003 and quadrennially thereafter.for a four‑year term."

SECTION 3.(b)  No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of China Grove in 2025. The terms of office for the three Aldermen serving on the effective date of this section whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended by one year. The terms of office for the two Aldermen and the Mayor serving on the effective date of this section whose terms are set to expire in 2027 are extended by one year. Regular municipal elections in the Town of China Grove shall resume in even‑numbered years beginning in 2026 with the same staggering of terms as when elections were conducted in the odd‑numbered years.

SECTION 3.(c)  This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 4^th day of June, 2025.

                                                                    s/  Rachel Hunt

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Destin Hall

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives