Sen. Lazzara files bill in North Carolina Senate to establish motor vehicles board

A new bill filed by State Sen. Michael A. Lazzara seeks to establish a board responsible for appointing and overseeing the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 63 on Feb. 6 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Board of Motor Vehicles/Authority Study.’

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

In essence, this bill establishes a nine-member Board of Motor Vehicles responsible for appointing and overseeing the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in North Carolina. Members include designees from the Secretary of Transportation, the Department of Information Technology, and the State Highway Patrol, with additional appointments by the Governor and the General Assembly. The board will meet at least quarterly and can enforce its own rules. Additionally, the bill mandates a study by the Department of Transportation, in consultation with other agencies, on the feasibility of creating a Motor Vehicle Authority as a successor to the current Division of Motor Vehicles. The study will evaluate statutory changes, timelines, and other relevant factors, with a report due by Jan. 1, 2026. Part I of the bill is effective July 1, 2025, while the rest is effective upon becoming law.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Bill Rabon proposed the most bills (four) 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.

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.