Raleigh -- August 13, 2026: Governor Josh Stein has signed four key bills passed by the General Assembly into law, approving measures that directly impact housing availability, disaster relief efforts, education, and voting procedures across North Carolina.
The action covers Senate Bill 445, House Bill 268, House Bill 562, and House Bill 834.
Cutting Red Tape to Expand Housing and Solar Energy
A focal point of the legislative action is Senate Bill 445 (the Regulatory Reform Act of 2026), which targets the state's growing housing shortage by lifting local zoning barriers. The bill mandates that North Carolina cities with a population of at least 50,000 allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs)—such as garage apartments, in-law suites, and backyard cottages—on single-family residential lots. It also limits restrictive rules on residential solar panels and battery storage systems.
Governor Stein emphasized the urgency of addressing housing costs across the state:
"North Carolina is growing rapidly, and the cost of housing is increasing. We need to build more housing units of all types to drive down rents and mortgages. This bill cuts red tape to help produce more houses and apartments and deliver results for North Carolinians. It also makes it easier for families to install solar panels or battery systems to save on their utility bills."
Supporting Western NC, Teachers, and Economic Growth
House Bill 268 allocates vital funding for disaster relief and economic development, alongside education reforms. The bill provides direct funding to the Small Business Infrastructure Program and the Division of Community Revitalization to continue recovery work in Western North Carolina following recent natural disasters.
On the education front, HB 268 enables public schools to launch teacher apprenticeship programs as early as this year and expands loan access for North Carolina Teaching Fellows to help strengthen the educator pipeline.
While signing the bill to secure these critical programs, Governor Stein criticized legislative additions that restrict executive oversight:
"This bill strengthens disaster relief, teacher workforce pipelines, and economic development programs. It supports the Small Business Infrastructure Program and the Division of Community Revitalization, which are working tirelessly to support western North Carolina recovery. It also enables public schools to start teacher apprenticeship programs as early as this year and supports access to loans for North Carolina teaching fellows. I regret that the General Assembly saw fit to include some petty provisions that undermine the executive branch and impede the work of government on behalf of North Carolinians."
Additional Bills Signed
Governor Stein also signed two additional measures into law:
House Bill 562: Makes technical corrections and budgetary adjustments related to health care funding and appropriations tied to House Bill 268.
House Bill 834: Updates election administrative procedures, including extending deadlines for voters to resolve ballot issues, formalizing rules regarding early voting, and adjusting procedural guidelines for election disputes.