A new bill filed by State Sen. Bradley seeks to restore local governments’ ability to regulate land use and development density in Mecklenburg County, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 138 on Feb. 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Mecklenburg Co.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill aims to restore the authority for local governments in Mecklenburg County and its municipalities to initiate down-zoning, overriding the requirement for property owner consent established in Section 3K.1(a) of S.L. 2024-57. Down-zoning refers to reducing the development density or permitted uses of a land area or creating nonconformities on non-residential land. The legislation applies exclusively to Mecklenburg County and retroactively affects any ordinances adopted on or before Dec. 11, 2024, reinstating them to their status prior to this date. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Bradley proposed one other bill 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.
Bradley graduated from Hollins University in 1995 with a BA.
Bradley, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 42nd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Rachel Hunt.
| Legislative Session | Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Woodson Bradley | SB 138 | 02/24/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Mecklenburg Co. |
| 2025 | Woodson Bradley, Kandie D. Smith, and Terence Everitt | SB 134 | 02/21/2025 | Inclusionary Zoning/Workforce Housing Funds. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 909 | 05/15/2024 | Protect Women’s Healthcare. |
| 2023 | Natasha R. Marcus and Rachel Hunt | SB 831 | 05/02/2024 | Menstrual Products Sales Tax Exemption. |
| 2023 | Natasha R. Marcus and Rachel Hunt | SB 892 | 05/02/2024 | Student Voter ID Grant Program/CCs. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 642 | 04/05/2023 | Independent Redistricting Commission. |
| 2023 | Natasha R. Marcus and Rachel Hunt | SB 537 | 04/04/2023 | The Patrick Mays Hazard Light Safety Act. |
| 2023 | Natasha R. Marcus and Rachel Hunt | SB 462 | 04/03/2023 | Highway Safety Omnibus/Addit’l Magistrates. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 493 | 04/03/2023 | Go Big for Early Childhood Education. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 502 | 04/03/2023 | Modify School Performance Grades. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 522 | 04/03/2023 | Informational Literacy Bill. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 532 | 04/03/2023 | Restore State Emp/Teacher Retiree Med Benefit. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 440 | 03/30/2023 | Increase NC Minimum Wage/$15. |
| 2023 | Natasha R. Marcus and Rachel Hunt | SB 229 | 03/08/2023 | School Calendar Flexibility/Charlotte-Meck. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 196 | 03/02/2023 | Student Borrowers’ Bill of Rights. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 184 | 03/01/2023 | Restore Master’s Pay for Teachers & ISP. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 185 | 03/01/2023 | Restore Educator Longevity. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 74 | 02/06/2023 | Parents’ and Students’ Bill of Rights. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 63 | 02/02/2023 | 42nd Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
| 2023 | Rachel Hunt | SB 19 | 01/25/2023 | Codify Roe and Casey Protections. |
