RALEIGH — The 2025 legislative session kicked off Jan. 8 with the swearing in of members in both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly, including the formal installation of Rep. Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) as the new speaker of the House.
Hall was unanimously elected as the first millennial in state history to hold the position.
With his wife by his side holding a Bible, Hall was sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Tamara Barringer. Afterward, former Republican House Speakers Thom Tillis, Tim Moore and Harold Brubaker joined Hall at the podium to congratulate him.
Moore was recently sworn in as the state’s 14th Congressional District representative. Tillis is in his second term as one of North Carolina’s two U.S. senators.
Other officers and positions were also formalized, including Rep. Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba) being elected as House speaker pro tempore.
“Only in America can someone with my childhood and background have the opportunity to serve in a role like speaker of the House,” Hall said after being sworn in.
Hall discussed school choice, tax cuts, cost of living and public safety.
“Our job as members of the state House is to do everything in our power to make sure the people of our state have the opportunity to experience the American Dream,” said Hall.
He also addressed the need to continue helping victims of Hurricane Helene.
“I want to make clear that our first priority and most urgent issue this session will be rebuilding western North Carolina,” said Hall. “The road to recovery will be long and difficult, but North Carolina is prepared, determined and moving forward.”
Hall said his commitment to being speaker would be to “focus on what matters” and “on the things that I learned from my grandparents and on the things every North Carolinian needs to thrive in our great state.”
Hall also thanked the members for electing him speaker.
“Thank you for the incredible honor you’ve bestowed on this Caldwell County boy who never dreamed of standing here today,” he said. “God bless you and God bless the great state of North Carolina. Now… let’s get to work.”
N.C. Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby administered the oaths of office in the Senate. Sen. Phil Berger’s (R-Eden) oath of office as Senate pro tempore was administered by his son, N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Phil Berger Jr.
Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt presided over proceedings in the Senate. Former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt and former first lady Carolyn Hunt joined her on the Senate floor following chamber business.
Berger, now in his 13th term in the Senate, gave formal remarks touching on fiscal policy and education, as well as economic and population growth.
“Fourteen years ago I stood here, and we began a journey that fundamentally transformed our state government and our state,” Berger said at the outset of his speech. “At that time, we faced staggering challenges that were the consequences of decisions made over the previous decades.
“It was clear that we could not continue down the same path. We had to chart a different course. And that’s what we’ve done.”
Berger described moving away from the “unsteady roller coaster of boom-and-bust budgets toward consistent, conservative, fiscally sound budgets.” He credited lowering taxes and removing regulations for the growth of business and population in the state.
“We took a fresh look at education, enacted reforms, challenged entrenched bureaucracies and created new opportunities for students and families,” Berger said. “What began on that opening day was a paradigm shift, and in many respects, a generational change.”
Berger said the state’s K-12 public schools were “bolstered and supplemented by diverse school choice options.”
He also noted that the state’s population had grown from 8 million people 25 years ago to recently passing 11 million.
“We’re the ninth-largest state and well on our way to being the seventh largest within the decade,” Berger said.
The Senate leader also addressed the state’s response to natural disasters.
“We must take a renewed look at how we prepare for and respond to natural disasters in our state,” he said. “Many of our citizens in Eastern North Carolina were left behind by the previous administration — citizens who have not returned to a permanent home after Hurricane Florence, more than six years later. That is unacceptable.”
He said he hopes the legislature can work with new Gov. Josh Stein to “ensure that response doesn’t become the norm.” He also noted lawmakers have appropriated $1.1 billion for Hurricane Helene relief, and the federal government has recently added additional funds.
Berger’s complete set of remarks can be found at bergerpress.medium.com.
Both chambers also adopted rules for the upcoming session, including legislation filing deadlines.
Local bills in the House are to be filed by Feb. 20 and introduced by April 3. In the Senate, filings are due by Feb. 13 and must be introduced by Feb. 27. Public bills must be filed in the House by March 6 and introduced by April 3. For the Senate, such bills need to be filed by Feb. 27 and introduced by March 25.
The crossover deadline for bills this year will be May 8.
