A new bill filed by State Rep. Mitchell S. Setzer in the North Carolina House seeks to enhance competition and cost efficiency in publishing notices for local governments and schools, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 518 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Project Newsletter.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill aims to promote competition and reduce costs for the publication of notices by local government units and local school administrative units in North Carolina. Beginning July 1, 2026, it mandates an annual contract process for publishing notices, requiring informal bids to be secured to maximize competition among newspapers. Contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder considering factors such as quality, performance, reach, and compliance with existing legal statutes. Additionally, if a local eligible newspaper is unavailable, the contract should be awarded to an alternatively eligible publication. The bill also amends existing laws to ensure payment practices for legal advertising align with the newly established contract terms.
A related bill, SB 390, was also filed in the North Carolina Senate, introduced by Sen. Jim Burgin (and one other) on March 24, 2025.
Setzer proposed another 20 bills 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.
Setzer graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1987 with a BA.
Setzer, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 1999 to represent the state’s 89th House district, replacing previous state representative Robert Brawley.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 518 | 03/25/2025 | Project Newsletter. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Carla D. Cunningham, Donna McDowell White, and Donny Lambeth | HB 514 | 03/25/2025 | APRN Definitions. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Becky Carney, Julia C. Howard, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 515 | 03/25/2025 | North Carolina Economic Abuse Prevention Act. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Dean Arp, Dennis Riddell, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 435 | 03/18/2025 | Mod. Bd. of Eng’ers & Surveyors. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jennifer Balkcom, Jonathan L. Almond, and Neal Jackson | HB 380 | 03/12/2025 | Conscientious Objections to Vaccine Mandates. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Carla D. Cunningham, Larry W. Potts, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 343 | 03/10/2025 | Advocacy for Long-Term Care Residents Act. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Chris Humphrey, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 356 | 03/10/2025 | Permitted Trade Practices/Insurance Rebates.-AB |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Chris Humphrey, Dean Arp, and Jonathan L. Almond | HB 357 | 03/10/2025 | Continuing Care Retirement Communities Act.-AB |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Chris Humphrey, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 358 | 03/10/2025 | Maintain NAIC Accreditation of DOI.-AB |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jeffrey C. McNeely, and Todd Carver | HB 304 | 03/05/2025 | Allow Flex. for Trades HS in Iredell Co. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jeff Zenger, and Sam Watford | HB 247 | 02/27/2025 | Underground Safety Revisions. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Cody Huneycutt, and Pricey Harrison | HB 120 | 02/13/2025 | Expand Project C.A.R.E./Funds. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Carla D. Cunningham, Cody Huneycutt, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 121 | 02/13/2025 | SchCalFlex/Statewide/Open Cal. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Eric Ager, Lindsey Prather, and Pricey Harrison | HB 84 | 02/10/2025 | The Pollinator Protection Act. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Brian Echevarria, Mark Brody, and Mike Clampitt | HB 64 | 02/05/2025 | Const. Amend. – Gubernatorial Clemency. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Stephen M. Ross, and Todd Carver | HB 43 | 02/04/2025 | Designate State Balloon Rally. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Harry Warren, Julia C. Howard, and Mark Brody | HB 48 | 02/04/2025 | Increase UI Max Benefit/2025 UI Tax Credit. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, and Larry W. Potts | HB 54 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for NC APSE. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer, Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, and Larry W. Potts | HB 55 | 02/04/2025 | Funds for the IGNITE Program. |
| Mitchell S. Setzer and Cody Huneycutt | HB 25 | 01/29/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Stanly & Catawba. |
