Sen. Everitt files bill in North Carolina Senate to redefine legislative public records

A new bill filed by State Sen. Terence Everitt seeks to clarify which legislative documents are considered public records and revise related confidentiality statutes, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 331 on March 19 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Make Legislators’ Docs Public Records.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill seeks to amend existing North Carolina legislation to define certain documents and requests made by legislators as public records. It repeals specific sections of S.L. 2023-134 and revises statutes related to documents produced by legislative employees, confidentiality of drafting and information requests, and conditions under which such documents become public. The bill stipulates that documents prepared by legislative employees for legislators are confidential unless they meet certain criteria, such as being introduced bills or resolutions, offered amendments, proposed reports, or other specified documents distributed in non-executive sessions. It also outlines circumstances under which legislative employees may disclose documents or information and allows judges to compel disclosure if deemed necessary for justice. This act becomes effective upon enactment.

Everitt proposed another 12 bills during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Everitt graduated from Rutgers University in 1997 with a BA and again in 2001 from Columbus School of Law with a JD.

Everitt, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 18th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Mary Wills Bode.