North Carolina Rep. Cotham building code exemption bill passes both chambers of North Carolina General Assembly

Passed bill sponsored by State Rep. Tricia Ann Cotham aims to amend the State Building Code and Fire Prevention Code to establish exemptions for specific buildings from emergency responder radio coverage requirements, according to the North Carolina State House.

In the House, 43 Democrats and 63 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while one Republican opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, two Democrats and 28 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 17 Democrats voted against it.

Cotham filed the bill in the North Carolina House on April 3 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as HB 768, was passed on June 23 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “Clarify Emerg. Comm. Exemptions/Fire Code.”

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

In essence, this bill mandates the North Carolina Building Code Council to amend the State Building Code and Fire Prevention Code to establish exemptions for certain buildings from in-building emergency responder radio coverage requirements. These include apartment buildings under 75 feet high with fewer than 150 units, structures not exceeding two stories that provide direct exterior egress, one-family and two-family dwellings, townhouses regulated by the Residential Code, and buildings under 12,000 square feet with no subterranean levels. Existing radio systems in exempted buildings installed prior to the bill’s effective date do not need removal and can be deactivated. Until permanent rules are adopted, interim exemptions apply. The bill becomes effective upon enactment, and its provisions sunset with the implementation of the permanent rules.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Mark Brody (Republican-55th District), Rep. Jeff Zenger (Republican-74th District), and Rep. Matthew Winslow (Republican-7th District), along with one other sponsor.

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.

Cotham graduated from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte with a BA.

Cotham, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 105th House district, replacing previous state representative Wesley Harris.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.