A new bill filed by State Rep. Phil Shepard in the North Carolina House seeks to improve transportation project efficiency by establishing standardized unit pricing and expediting review processes, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 652 on April 1 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Transportation Goods Unit Pricing Cost.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill modifies the calculation of transportation goods unit pricing by mandating the North Carolina Department of Transportation to streamline project delivery through various measures such as consolidating environmental reviews and expediting processes. It requires the establishment of a baseline unit pricing structure for highway maintenance and construction projects, with annual targets based on data collected from each Highway Division’s expenditures over the previous three fiscal years. A variance of up to 10% over the baseline is permitted, accounting for regional differences. If this threshold is exceeded, the Department must report to legislative bodies with explanations and corrective actions. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Allen Chesser proposed the most bills (38) 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.
Shepard, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2011 to represent the state’s 15th House district, replacing previous state representative Robert Grady.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Shepard, Allen Chesser, Frank Iler, and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 652 | 04/01/2025 | Transportation Goods Unit Pricing Cost. |
| Phil Shepard, Diane Wheatley, Garland E. Pierce, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 663 | 04/01/2025 | Living Donor Protection Act. |
| Phil Shepard, Cody Huneycutt, Larry W. Potts, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 565 | 03/27/2025 | Check Yes, Save Lives. |
| Phil Shepard and Wyatt Gable | HB 333 | 03/06/2025 | Jacksonville/ETJ Prohibited. |
