Sen. Lazzara files bill in North Carolina Senate to extend dealer license renewal period

A new bill filed by State Sen. Lazzara seeks to extend the grace period for dealer license renewals and align registration plate renewal periods with license renewals, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 401 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, 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.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Lazzara proposed the most bills (26) 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.