North Carolina Rep. Cotham’s special separation allowance options bill passes both chambers of North Carolina General Assembly

Passed bill sponsored by State Rep. Tricia Ann Cotham aims to provide additional special separation allowance choices for state and local law enforcement officers with at least 30 years of service. Cotham’s legislation seeks to offer alternative calculation methods for annual allowances, focusing on service length and age criteria, according to the North Carolina State House.

In the House, 48 Democrats and 69 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 17 Democrats and 26 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Cotham filed the bill in the North Carolina House on Feb. 4 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as HB 50, was passed on June 10 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: “LEO Special Separation Allowance Options.”

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

In essence, this bill introduces additional special separation allowance options for state and local law enforcement officers with at least 30 years of creditable service, effective July 1, 2025. Officers can choose between two calculation formulas for their annual special separation allowance. One formula uses 0.85% of the annual base rate for each year of service, applicable to those with 30 years of service or those aged 55 and over with five years of service, ending at age 62. The other multiplies 0.85% of the base rate at 30 years by 30 and applies until reaching 62 or equivalent years of service. The bill also specifies conditions under which payments cease and outlines eligibility determination and payment responsibilities for state departments and local employers.

A related bill, SB 320, was also filed in the North Carolina Senate, introduced by Sen. Phil Berger (and two others) on March 17, 2025.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Charles W. Miller (Republican-19th District), Rep. A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (Republican-65th District), and Rep. Allen Chesser (Republican-25th 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.