North Carolina Rep. Huneycutt’s bill allowing Stanly Community College culinary program off-campus passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Rep. Cody Huneycutt seeks to provide Stanly Community College greater flexibility to expand its culinary education offerings beyond its main campus, reflecting a broader goal of enhancing educational access, according to the North Carolina State House.

In the House, 46 Democrats and 66 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 19 Democrats and 26 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Huneycutt filed the bill in the North Carolina House on Jan. 29 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as HB 23, was passed on June 4 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: “Various State and Local Gov’t Provisions.”

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

In essence, this bill permits Stanly Community College to operate a culinary program at a location not situated on its main campus. It repeals Section 9.15 of S.L. 2017-57, which may have previously restricted such off-campus operations. The act becomes effective immediately upon becoming law, allowing the college more flexibility in expanding its culinary education offerings beyond its central grounds.

The bill was sponsored only by Rep. Cody Huneycutt (Republican-67th District).

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.

Huneycutt graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2014 with a BA.

Huneycutt, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 67th House district, replacing previous state representative Clayton Sasser.

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.