The NC Chamber supports Senate Bill 205: Swimming Pools/Housing Regulatory Reform and will score this middle-class housing bill as a key vote.

This legislation streamlines the regulatory process to allow for more efficient development – without compromising safety. While territorial fights will no doubt continue, our state must rise beyond how it has always been done if we want families to be able to live in the communities where they work.

In North Carolina, the median price of a home is $450,000, which requires a family to earn $130,000 to afford it. North Carolina’s median household income is $69,000. More specifically, the average salary for a police officer in North Carolina is roughly $56,889, and for a firefighter it’s just $50,251. We are pricing out critical members of our communities.

Threats of slowing the development decision-marking because of this legislation are disappointing. Families in our communities bear the brunt of these political threats via increased home prices. North Carolina can do better.

Senate Bill 205 is an important step forward in managing our state’s economic growth in a way that connects the middle-class with home ownership. We urge legislative support of Senate Bill 205, a key vote for the NC Chamber.