In the 2025–26 “long” legislative long session, I introduced 19 bills — 10 as first primary sponsor — aimed at addressing the House District 27’s unique challenges.
These proposals spanned the areas of healthcare, education, infrastructure, veterans' services, and environmental justice.
Unfortunately, none of these bills met the crossover deadline, a legislative hurdle requiring most bills to pass at least one chamber by a set date to be considered by the other chamber.
However, it's important to recognize that I was not alone in this outcome.
Many Democrats and Republicans in both chambers also saw their bills fail to cross over. Senate and House Democrats filed over 700 bills collectively that never got a single committee hearing.
My legislation addressed pressing district and state issues, including:
Healthcare access: Expanding free or low-cost prostate cancer testing for uninsured or underinsured individuals.
Educational 0pportunities: Providing funding for field trips to the legislative building, allowing students to engage directly with the democratic process and understanding how government operates.
Childcare services: Establishing childcare facilities in underserved and rural areas, supporting working families and contributing to economic stability.
School calendar flexibility: Allowing public schools in District 27 to adjust their calendars to better serve the needs of students and families.
Veterans' support: Securing funding to expand and renovate facilities for disabled veteran chapters.
Teacher support: Implementing programs to support new teachers, particularly those in Tier I counties.
Forest Service funding: Advocating for a well-deserved pay increase for North Carolina Forest Service employees, recognizing their vital role in environmental conservation.
Athletic coaches' compensation: Proposing an annual salary of up to $3,000 for public school athletic coaches, acknowledging their contribution to student development.
Support for small farmers: Creating a grant program to assist small farmers and adjusting sales tax exemption thresholds to support local agriculture.
Environmental justice: Establishing laws to assess the cumulative impact of environmental permitting on minority and low-income communities, ensuring equitable environmental policies.
Tribal rights: Providing exemptions on hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for Native American tribe members with tribal IDs, respecting cultural practices.
Despite the crossover setback, amendments I introduced to include colon cancer among the cancers that qualify for a firefighter being killed in the line of duty, and another to use $100,000 to fund grants for public playgrounds to be built or adapted for people with disabilities were unanimously adopted during floor votes and House budget discussion in the Appropriations Committee.
It's crucial to recognize the effort and intent behind each of my legislative proposals.
My initiatives were not just about passing bills; they were about addressing real issues affecting real people in our community.
They set a foundation for future legislative efforts and underscore the importance of having a representative who listens to and advocates for the needs of District 27.
Rodney Pierce
Representative, House District 27