A new bill filed by State Rep. Winslow seeks to establish a program that provides financial assistance for improving subdivision roads not eligible for state or municipal maintenance, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 159 on Feb. 21 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Orphan Roads Maintenance Program Grant.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes the Orphan Roads Maintenance Program Grant Fund within the North Carolina Department of Transportation to provide financial assistance for improving subdivision streets ineligible for state or municipal maintenance due to not meeting construction standards. A total of $75 million is appropriated from the Highway Fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year to support this initiative. The bill outlines that grants to subdivisions cannot exceed $250,000, with counties required to provide matching funds of 25 cents per dollar awarded. Procedures and criteria for fund allocation will be developed by the Secretary of Transportation. Roads upgraded to meet standards under this program will be transferred to the state or municipality for maintenance. The program will begin on July 1, 2025, and is set to be repealed by June 30, 2030, with any remaining funds returned to the Highway Fund for future legislative appropriation.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Steve Tyson proposed the most bills (10) 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.
Winslow graduated from East Carolina University with a BS.
Winslow, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 7th House district, replacing previous state representative Lisa Barnes.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Winslow, Celeste C. Cairns, and Steve Tyson | HB 159 | 02/21/2025 | Orphan Roads Maintenance Program Grant. |
| Matthew Winslow | HB 58 | 02/04/2025 | Various Local Elections. |
| Matthew Winslow, Erin Paré, Keith Kidwell, and Steve Tyson | HB 14 | 01/29/2025 | Gambling Loss Tax Deduct, NC Sound Money Act. |
