Sen. Lowe files bill in North Carolina Senate to fund minority economic development

A new bill filed by State Sen. Paul A. Lowe, Jr. seeks to support minority economic development and housing recovery efforts in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 542 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Western NC Support; Expand Comm. Eco. Dev.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill allocates $20.3 million in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the National Institute of Minority Economic Development for the 2025-26 fiscal year. It directs $300,000 for programming support in three women’s business centers in western North Carolina, the Triad, and the Piedmont, $5 million to expand community economic development services, $10 million for long-term housing recovery for residents affected by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, and $5 million for the Institute Capital institution. Additionally, the bill provides $1 million in recurring funds for the same fiscal year for housing recovery efforts, federal disaster-recovery state match requirements, and community development services across the state. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Gladys A. Robinson and Lowe proposed the most bills (25) 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.

Lowe graduated from Bishop College in 1985 with a BA and again from Drew University School of Theology with a DMIN.

Lowe, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2015 to represent the state’s 32nd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Earline Parmon.