State Rep. Kanika Brown has introduced a bill intended to grant Winston-Salem’s planning board the authority to make final decisions on zoning changes, with review by the governing board, records from the North Carolina State House show.
Filed as HB 1225 on May 5 during the 2025 regular session, the measure carries the short title: ‘Winston-Salem Zoning Procedure Changes.’
Below is a summary based on the actual bill text, offering clarification on its main features.
The proposed legislation allows Winston-Salem’s governing board, by ordinance, to transfer its rezoning authority to a designated planning board. After holding hearings and following procedures set by the governing board, the planning board would make final decisions on zoning map amendment requests. There must be an option for appeal and review by the governing board regarding rezoning decisions made by the planning board. The bill would apply exclusively to Winston-Salem and become effective upon enactment.
Brown, one of two sponsors, introduced the most bills (41) during the 2025 regular session.
North Carolina bills must go through a multi-step process before becoming law. A legislator begins by filing a bill, which is then sent to a committee for examination. The proposal must be read three times in both legislative chambers. If either chamber alters the bill after passage by the other, concurrence is required on the final bill. Approval by both sends the bill to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let the bill become law without a signature.
More information about this and other measures is available here.
Brown, a Democrat, started serving in the North Carolina State House in 2023, representing District 71 after succeeding Evelyn Terry.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanika Brown and Jeff Zenger | HB 1225 | 05/05/2026 | Winston-Salem Zoning Procedure Changes. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 1224 | 05/05/2026 | Local Gov. Assisting Affordable Housing. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 1226 | 05/05/2026 | Winston-Salem/Forsyth Co. Planning & Zoning. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 1170 | 04/30/2026 | Funding for Winston-Salem. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1190 | 04/30/2026 | Mindset Advantage Pilot Program. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 1194 | 04/30/2026 | Winston-Salem/Forsyth Joint EOC Funds. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 1201 | 04/30/2026 | Youth Placement Study. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 1202 | 04/30/2026 | First Responder Training Track. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1125 | 04/29/2026 | The Wakaboomee Program. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1087 | 04/28/2026 | Smith Reynolds Airport Hangar Improvements. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1088 | 04/28/2026 | Traffic Signal Preemption Software. |
| Kanika Brown, Deb Butler, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 1047 | 04/27/2026 | North Carolina Microplastics Study Act. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1048 | 04/27/2026 | Funding for HIV/AIDS Awareness Walk. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1049 | 04/27/2026 | Funding for Shotgun House Museum. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1050 | 04/27/2026 | Funding for Sex Ed Health Awareness. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1051 | 04/27/2026 | Funding for Senior Care/Community Health. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 1052 | 04/27/2026 | Cure Violence Program Grant. |
| Kanika Brown, Allen Buansi, Lindsey Prather, and Tim Longest | HB 1059 | 04/27/2026 | Fair Minimum Wage Act. |
| Kanika Brown, Julia Greenfield, Marcia Morey, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 1061 | 04/27/2026 | Plyler Educational Protections Act. |
| Kanika Brown, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Jarrod Lowery, and Pricey Harrison | HB 965 | 04/10/2025 | Environmental Rights Constitutional Amendment. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 995 | 04/10/2025 | Shotgun House Funding Act. |
| Kanika Brown, Deb Butler, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 871 | 04/09/2025 | North Carolina Microplastics Study Act. |
| Kanika Brown, Marcia Morey, Maria Cervania, and Renée A. Price | HB 885 | 04/09/2025 | Revise Suspension & Parental Notice Policies. |
| Kanika Brown, Aisha O. Dew, Deb Butler, and Pricey Harrison | HB 738 | 04/02/2025 | Restore Wetlands Protections. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 756 | 04/02/2025 | Funds for Harmony Empowerment Life Center. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 757 | 04/02/2025 | Funds for Joyful Soul Treasures. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 758 | 04/02/2025 | Funds for Mind and Heart Haven Project. |
| Kanika Brown | HB 759 | 04/02/2025 | Family and Community Wellness Act/Funds. |
| Kanika Brown, Carolyn G. Logan, Garland E. Pierce, and Renée A. Price | HB 662 | 04/01/2025 | Support the State Highway Patrol. |
| Kanika Brown, Jordan Lopez, Julia Greenfield, and Pricey Harrison | HB 621 | 03/31/2025 | Funds for the Umbrella Center. |
| Kanika Brown, Bryan Cohn, James Roberson, and Phil Rubin | HB 548 | 03/26/2025 | NC Economic Progress and Well-Being. |
| Kanika Brown, Howard Penny, Jr., and Renée A. Price | HB 457 | 03/19/2025 | Increase Small County Funding. |
| Kanika Brown, Carla D. Cunningham, Julia Greenfield, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 452 | 03/18/2025 | Revise Law/Obstruction of Health Facility. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 392 | 03/13/2025 | Funds/Forsyth United Way/Summer Learning. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 393 | 03/13/2025 | Funds for One Love Festival. |
| Kanika Brown, Amos L. Quick, III, Becky Carney, and Carla D. Cunningham | HB 398 | 03/13/2025 | Enact KinCare & Safe Days. |
| Kanika Brown, Aisha O. Dew, Bryan Cohn, and Carolyn G. Logan | HB 374 | 03/11/2025 | NCARCOG Funding/Operations Improvements. |
| Kanika Brown, Julie von Haefen, Pricey Harrison, and Zack Hawkins | HB 344 | 03/10/2025 | Litter Reduction Act of 2025. |
| Kanika Brown, Marcia Morey, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 345 | 03/10/2025 | Rights of Nature/Certain River Basins. |
| Kanika Brown, Bryan Cohn, Carolyn G. Logan, and Sarah Crawford | HB 269 | 03/03/2025 | Workforce Freedom and Protection Act. |
| Kanika Brown, Bryan Cohn, Sarah Crawford, and Tracy Clark | HB 115 | 02/12/2025 | Child Care Facility Tax Exemption. |
