The open meetings law requires all official meetings of public bodies to be open to the public. G.S. 143-318.10(a). However, government bodies can hold closed-door meetings, known as closed sessions, in certain limited circumstances. This post focuses on one of … Read more

North Carolina counties and municipalities and a handful of other special purpose local governments (collectively, local units) are authorized to engage in certain public enterprise activities. A public enterprise is an activity of a commercial nature. When a local unit … Read more

North Carolina will soon have a new law, effective October 1, 2024, that prohibits local governments, state agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch from allowing pornography to be viewed on their networks or devices. The law, found at … Read more

Local government attorneys across the State subscribe to electronic-based or email discussion groups, more commonly known as “listservs.” Some actively participate in listserv discussions on a routine (if not daily) basis. Others passively observe. Lawyer listserv traffic can include information … Read more

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises, Inc. v. Raimondo, 603 U.S. ___ (2024) altered a decades-long balance of interpretive authority between the federal judiciary and executive agencies. This decision will have far-reaching implications for federal agencies and … Read more

UPDATE (December 2024): The new posting requirement discussed below was eliminated by Section 2J.1 of S.L. 2024-57. The Machinery Act has long required counties to advertise their delinquent real property tax liens in local newspapers each spring.  GS 105-369. I’ve … Read more

Can the county charge a monetary fee to offset the impacts of a big new residential subdivision? And if so, what are the limits on the fee? Two notable cases from the last couple of years—one from the North Carolina … Read more

Many local government procurement officials are familiar with the requirements for the licensure of general contractors in North Carolina. An individual or entity is a “general contractor” when they bid upon, construct, or superintend the construction of any building, highway, … Read more

Two men fined in 2018 for failing to stop at red light camera locations in Greenville, NC filed declaratory judgment actions arguing that the program violated the Fines and Forfeitures Clause of the North Carolina Constitution because the local school … Read more

This post was co-authored by School of Government faculty member Kirsten Leloudis and three of the School’s 2024 Summer Law Fellows: Rose Chang, Nevaeh Haddock, and Sheridan King.   On February 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human … Read more

9/16/2025: Please see this blog post for an update on this public health law topic. On June 25, 2024, changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule aimed at supporting reproductive health care privacy went into effect. Last week, I published a … Read more

There’s a big new development proposed for the edge of town. Schools are already overcrowded. Can the town require the developer to provide for the community’s school needs? There’s a new charter school proposed near an established neighborhood downtown. Does … Read more

Across North Carolina, there are 55 child advocacy centers (CACs) providing services to children who have experienced maltreatment, including physical or sexual abuse. County departments of social services and local law enforcement agencies often coordinate with CACs to conduct child … Read more

When property is owned by a single party, it’s easy to determine who is personally responsible for delinquent taxes.  It’s the owner as of the date of delinquency (usually January 6) and all subsequent owners.  GS 105-365.1. But what if … Read more

9/16/2025: Please see this blog post for an update on this public health law topic. On June 25, 2024, changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule that are aimed at supporting reproductive health care privacy will take effect. One of the … Read more

In a previous blog post, I discussed how the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis opened the door for employees to bring employment discrimination claims over transfers and other seemingly minor employment actions under Title … Read more

As detailed here, as part of nationwide settlements (and bankruptcy resolutions) with major opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, North Carolina local governments are expected to receive over a billion dollars in funding over an 18-year period to address the ongoing impacts … Read more

In a unanimous April 2024 ruling in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, the U.S. Supreme Court has made it easier for employees to bring job discrimination claims related to lateral transfers and similar employment actions under Title VII of … Read more

We are excited to welcome Rebecca (Becca) Fisher-Gabbard to the faculty of the UNC School of Government. She joins the Law & Finance Division where she will focus on local government authority and liability. Becca will work closely with municipal … Read more

The American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA/CSLFRF) provided significant funding to North Carolina counties and municipalities. As discussed in many previous posts, the ARPA/CSLFRF funds may only be spent for certain eligible purposes that … Read more