North Carolina Sen. Lazzara’s dealer license renewal extension bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Sen. Michael A. Lazzara seeks to extend the grace period for dealer license renewals and align the renewal periods for dealer registration plates, aiming to streamline licensing processes, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

In the House, 42 Democrats and 65 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while two Democrats opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 17 Democrats and 27 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Lazzara filed the bill in the North Carolina Senate on March 24 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as SB 401, was passed on June 25 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “NC Farm Act of 2025.”

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

In essence, this bill extends the grace period for dealer license renewals from 30 to 60 days, allowing a license to remain valid for up to 60 days after expiration while an application is being processed by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. The Division is required to update databases accordingly and provide a temporary license to renewal applicants during this review period. Additionally, the bill aligns the renewal of dealer registration plates with dealer license renewals, changing the duration of dealer license plates from one year to two years and mandating that such plates be replaced every four years instead of every three. This act becomes effective Oct. 1, 2025, for licenses and registration plates issued or renewed on or after that date.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Brent Jackson (Republican-9th District), Sen. Vickie Sawyer (Republican-37th District), and Sen. Michael A. Lazzara (Republican-6th District).

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.

Lazzara, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2021 to represent the state’s 6th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Harry Brown.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.