Sen. Murdock files labor reform bill in North Carolina Senate

A new bill filed by State Sen. Murdock seeks to enhance worker protections and economic security through comprehensive labor reforms in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 326 on March 18 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Economic Security Act.’

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

In essence, this bill, titled the “Economic Security Act of 2025,” proposes a series of labor reforms in North Carolina aimed at improving economic conditions for workers. It mandates increasing the state minimum wage to $22 per hour, adjusted annually for inflation, and ensures equal pay for equal work, preventing wage disparities based on gender. The bill requires employers to provide paid sick leave and paid family medical leave, along with establishing workplace safety and emergency protocols. Additional measures include increasing the tipped minimum wage, ending wage theft, and improving unemployment benefits, including coverage considerations for gig economy workers. The bill also aims to remove collective bargaining restrictions for public employees, reenact tax credits for low-income earners and child and dependent care, and provide cost-of-living adjustments for retirees from several state retirement systems. The bill contains specific effective dates and appropriations for these initiatives, with funds allocated from the General Fund to support retiree COLAs.

A related bill, HB 339, was also filed in the North Carolina House, introduced by Rep. Pricey Harrison (and three others) on March 6, 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Murdock proposed the most bills (23) 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.

Murdock graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA.

Murdock, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2020 to represent the state’s 20th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Mickey Michaux.