A new bill filed by State Rep. Julia Greenfield seeks to encourage solar energy use by clarifying and limiting deed restrictions on solar collectors in residential areas, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 856 on April 9 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Clarify Deed Restrictions/Solar Collectors.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill clarifies the law surrounding deed restrictions on solar collectors, aiming to encourage the use of solar energy by voiding and making unenforceable any deed restrictions, covenants, or agreements that prohibit or effectively prohibit the installation of solar collectors for residential properties. It allows for the regulation of the location or screening of solar collectors, provided such regulations do not reduce the operating efficiency of the solar collectors by more than 10%. However, restrictions can prohibit solar collectors visible from public areas on building facades or roofs sloping toward public areas. Owners’ associations can require title owners to be responsible for any damages or maintenance related to solar collectors, unless an agreement states otherwise. This act applies to agreements recorded on or after it becomes law.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Julie von Haefen and Greenfield proposed the most bills (25) 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.
Greenfield graduated from Appalachian State University in 1982 with a BA.
Greenfield, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 100th House district, replacing previous state representative John Autry.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Greenfield, Carolyn G. Logan, Julie von Haefen, and Ya Liu | HB 856 | 04/09/2025 | Clarify Deed Restrictions/Solar Collectors. |
| Julia Greenfield, Becky Carney, Mary Belk, and Nasif Majeed | HB 839 | 04/09/2025 | Advanced Teaching Roles Updates. |
| Julia Greenfield, Becky Carney, Beth Helfrich, and Sarah Crawford | HB 842 | 04/09/2025 | Vis., Hear., Dental Screenings Opt-Out. |
| Julia Greenfield, Maria Cervania, and Sarah Crawford | HB 861 | 04/09/2025 | Taxpayer Accountability/Pregnancy Centers. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, Phil Rubin, and Pricey Harrison | HB 867 | 04/09/2025 | Poultry Waste Management. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 882 | 04/09/2025 | Break Free From Plastic & Forever Chemicals. |
| Julia Greenfield, Diane Wheatley, and Maria Cervania | HB 888 | 04/09/2025 | Funds for NC Community Health Worker Assn. |
| Julia Greenfield, Dennis Riddell, Dudley Greene, and Mike Clampitt | HB 890 | 04/09/2025 | School Internet Emergency Access Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Donna McDowell White, Donny Lambeth, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 826 | 04/08/2025 | No Retaliation Against Mandatory Reporters. |
| Julia Greenfield, Amber M. Baker, Brian Turner, and Tim Longest | HB 798 | 04/07/2025 | Expand Access to Cold Weather Shelters/Funds. |
| Julia Greenfield, Abe Jones, Phil Rubin, and Renée A. Price | HB 784 | 04/03/2025 | Prohibit Assault Weapons. |
| Julia Greenfield, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Mike Clampitt | HB 692 | 04/02/2025 | AEDs and CPR in Schools. |
| Julia Greenfield, Julie von Haefen, Sarah Crawford, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 760 | 04/02/2025 | Bloodborne Pathogen Training for Tattooists. |
| Julia Greenfield, Dante Pittman, Rodney D. Pierce, and Shelly Willingham | HB 653 | 04/01/2025 | Adjust FMAP Trigger for Medicaid Expansion. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, Eric Ager, and Gloristine Brown | HB 665 | 04/01/2025 | DPI Disaster Preparedness Fund. |
| Julia Greenfield, Abe Jones, Marcia Morey, and Renée A. Price | HB 589 | 03/31/2025 | The Second Look Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Jordan Lopez, Kanika Brown, and Pricey Harrison | HB 621 | 03/31/2025 | Funds for the Umbrella Center. |
| Julia Greenfield, Aisha O. Dew, Deb Butler, and Julie von Haefen | HB 509 | 03/25/2025 | Right to Reproductive Freedom Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Abe Jones, Sarah Crawford, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 467 | 03/20/2025 | Reenact Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. |
| Julia Greenfield, Beth Helfrich, Lindsey Prather, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 474 | 03/20/2025 | Right to Use Contraception. |
| Julia Greenfield, Allen Buansi, Julie von Haefen, and Mike Colvin | HB 456 | 03/19/2025 | No Surprises for Ambulance Services Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, Laura Budd, and Pricey Harrison | HB 459 | 03/19/2025 | Income Tax Rate Reduction Trigger Mods. |
| Julia Greenfield, Carla D. Cunningham, Kanika Brown, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 452 | 03/18/2025 | Revise Law/Obstruction of Health Facility. |
| Julia Greenfield, Carolyn G. Logan, James Roberson, and Pricey Harrison | HB 403 | 03/13/2025 | Workers’ Rights Act. |
