Rep. Reives files bill in North Carolina House to study county tier system changes

A new bill filed by State Rep. Reives seeks to assess and propose changes to how counties are ranked and designated to better align with state economic goals, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 649 on April 1 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘County Tier Designation Study Bill.’

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

In essence, this bill tasks the North Carolina Collaboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with examining potential changes to the county tier designation system under G.S. 143B-437.08. The study will focus on revising criteria for ranking counties, altering the assignment process for tier designations, and adjusting the ranking time frame. It will assess impacts on the rankings of the state’s 100 counties, associated programs, and ease of business. Consultations with the Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Public Instruction will be required. Additionally, the study will determine if changes align with state economic goals, use current data, implement a comprehensible methodology, and accurately identify distressed areas. A preliminary report is due by Dec. 31, 2025, and a final report by Dec. 1, 2026, to the Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Reives 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.

Reives graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992 with a BA and again in 1995 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a JD.

Reives, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2014 to represent the state’s 54th House district, replacing previous state representative Deb McManus.