Chesser appointed chair of NC House Committee on Regulatory Reform

Last week NC House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, named Rep. Allen Chesser, R-Nash, chair of the House Committee on Regulatory Reform, among additional assignments. Chesser, a combat veteran and former law enforcement officer, is serving in his second term.

“Allen Chesser has demonstrated exceptional dedication, expertise, and a strong commitment to serving the people of Nash County and our state,” said Hall following the announcement. “With Allen’s work on the Regulatory Reform Act of 2023 and his previous experience working with the Department of Transportation, I know he will bring valuable knowledge to his two respective committee chairmanships.”

In addition to Regulatory Reform, Chesser was also assigned to chair the House Appropriations Committee on Transportation.

“I am honored to have been given these appointments,” said Chesser in a press release. “These two committees play a critical role in the legislative process, and I thank Speaker Hall for his confidence in my ability to chair them.”

Since Republicans took control of the North Carolina General Assembly more than a decade ago, regulatory reforms, in the form of the perennial “Regulatory Reform Act,” have consistently been one of lawmakers largest undertakings each session.

Previous regulatory reform bills have instituted significant changes.

For instance, in the early innings of Republicans’ long-held majority, the Regulatory Reform Act of 2013 created a rules review process in which state agency rules are consistently reevaluated to determine whether or not they’re still necessary. Over the several years following passage, the regulatory change resulted in thousands of agency rules being deemed “unnecessary” with thousands more tagged for further attention in the rules making process.

Further regulatory reform bills tackled everything from motorcycle financing to removing burdens and barriers to starting an agri-tourism business. More recently, the legislature overrode the veto of former Gov. Roy Cooper last fall to enact regulatory reforms to building codes, aiming to reduce lengthy permit review times and ease superfluous regulations so builders can increase housing inventory.

As the long legislative session of 2025 ramps up, focused largely on constructing and passing a biennial budget, regulatory reform is likely to receive considerable attention again.

There are more than 100,000 state rules and regulations on the books in the Tar Heel State. Regulatory changes that could gain traction during the long session include:

• Further reforms to building codes and construction regulations
• Easing occupational licensing requirements for multiple industry sectors
• Bolstering government transparency requirements
• Changes to healthcare facility regulations like Certificate of Need laws (CON)
• Introducing regulatory “shot clocks“
• Further empowering the rules review process with more frequent reviews

Chesser was a primary sponsor of the Regulatory Reform Act of 2023, and introduced several other pieces of legislation to improve various regulatory areas during his first term.

Lawmakers return to Raleigh this Wednesday, January 29. Follow Carolina Journal for more coverage of developing legislative action as the long session kicks off in earnest.

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