A new bill filed by State Rep. Cody Huneycutt seeks to change how vacancies in major state offices are filled, aiming to involve political parties in the selection process, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 443 on March 18 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Const. Amendment: Council of State Vacancies.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill proposes an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution regarding the process for filling vacancies in key state offices including Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Attorney General, and various commissioners. It mandates that such vacancies, when left by an officer elected as a political party nominee, be filled by the Governor from a list of three qualified people recommended by the departing officer’s party. This amendment would be subject to voter approval in the November 3, 2026, general election. If a majority favor the amendment, it would become effective upon certification by the State Board of Elections.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Huneycutt proposed the most bills (20) 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.
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.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Huneycutt, Hugh Blackwell, Kyle Hall, and Sarah Stevens | HB 443 | 03/18/2025 | Const. Amendment: Council of State Vacancies. |
| Cody Huneycutt, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Allen Chesser, and Charles W. Miller | HB 450 | 03/18/2025 | Private Property Rights Act. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Harry Warren, Jeff Zenger, and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 381 | 03/12/2025 | On-Site Wastewater System Amendments. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Brian Turner, John R. Bell, IV, and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 382 | 03/12/2025 | Elk Permit Auction/Raffle. |
| Cody Huneycutt and Mike Schietzelt | HB 387 | 03/12/2025 | Eliminate Tax on Gov’t Retirees. |
| Cody Huneycutt, B. Ray Jeffers, and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 348 | 03/10/2025 | Annexation of PUV Land/School Capacity. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Carla D. Cunningham, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Larry W. Potts | HB 349 | 03/10/2025 | Reqs HC POA/Adv Direct/IEP Nurse Choice. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Allen Chesser, Heather H. Rhyne, and Kyle Hall | HB 351 | 03/10/2025 | Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program/Funds. |
| Cody Huneycutt, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 330 | 03/06/2025 | Controlled Substances Act – Updates. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Heather H. Rhyne, Hugh Blackwell, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 163 | 02/21/2025 | Pharmacy Benefits Manager Provisions. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Donny Lambeth, Larry W. Potts, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 152 | 02/18/2025 | Access to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Mitchell S. Setzer, and Pricey Harrison | HB 120 | 02/13/2025 | Expand Project C.A.R.E./Funds. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Carla D. Cunningham, Mitchell S. Setzer, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 121 | 02/13/2025 | SchCalFlex/Statewide/Open Cal. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, Paul Scott, and Steve Tyson | HB 97 | 02/11/2025 | Support Firefighters Fighting Cancer. |
| Cody Huneycutt and Ben T. Moss, Jr. | HB 71 | 02/06/2025 | Respiratory Care Modernization Act. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, Larry W. Potts, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 54 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for NC APSE. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, Larry W. Potts, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 55 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for the IGNITE Program. |
| Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, Neal Jackson, and Paul Scott | HB 37 | 02/03/2025 | Enhance Firefighter Benefits & Representation. |
| Cody Huneycutt | HB 23 | 01/29/2025 | Various State and Local Gov’t Provisions. |
| Cody Huneycutt and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 25 | 01/29/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Stanly & Catawba. |
