The House Appropriations Committee of the North Carolina State Legislature convened on February 17, 2025, to discuss a significant bill aimed at providing property tax relief. The meeting was led by Chairman Craig Hedlund, who outlined the bill's amendments, which propose a 10-mill reduction across all classes of property. This reduction is estimated to result in approximately $120 million in fiscal relief.

During the discussion, Representative Nelson raised a question regarding the provisions for raising the mills after the proposed reduction. Chairman Hedlund deferred this question to Representative Louser, who clarified that there is a 3% cap on other political subdivisions, requiring a supermajority to increase the mills after the reduction. However, schools are excluded from this cap, as the bill specifically reduces the required mills from 60 to 50 for all property types, while maintaining the existing structure for school funding.

Representative Wagner inquired about the ability of school districts to override or expand their mill levy authority through public votes. Louser confirmed that while the bill does not alter the existing election processes for school districts, it does require a supermajority for any additional mill levy authority. The current provisions for school funding, including general, special, and building funds, remain unchanged.

The committee concluded the discussion without any further questions, indicating a consensus on the bill's direction. The proposed tax relief measures are set to be further evaluated as the legislative process continues.