A new bill filed by State Rep. Julia Greenfield in the North Carolina House aims to ensure bars provide free potable drinking water to customers during permitted alcohol sales hours, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 1196 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Require Free Water in Bars.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill requires bars and other on-premises ABC permit holders to provide potable drinking water at no charge to any customer on the premises who requests it, but only during hours when alcohol sales are allowed. The water must meet federal and state purity standards and be served in a receptacle that holds at least 6 fluid ounces. The bill defines “customer” broadly to include anyone who pays to enter or buys any product. It also appropriates $15,000 in nonrecurring funds for 2025-26 to the Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement to create and distribute informational posters, which permit holders must prominently display. The appropriation is retroactive to July 1, 2025, and the rest of the act takes effect when it becomes law.
Greenfield proposed another 40 bills 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.
Greenfield graduated from Appalachian State University in 1982 with a BA.
Greenfield, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 100th House district, replacing previous state representative John Autry.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Greenfield | HB 1196 | 04/30/2026 | Require Free Water in Bars. |
| Julia Greenfield, Carolyn G. Logan, Maria Cervania, and Zack Hawkins | HB 1161 | 04/30/2026 | Omnibus Artificial Intelligence Protections. |
| Julia Greenfield and Zack Hawkins | HB 1169 | 04/30/2026 | Prohibit Driving with Animal in Lap. |
| Julia Greenfield, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Tracy Clark | HB 1172 | 04/30/2026 | The Ciji Graham Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Jonathan L. Almond, and Zack Hawkins | HB 1182 | 04/30/2026 | Part-Time Status for Disabled Students. |
| Julia Greenfield, Amanda P. Cook, Deb Butler, and Pricey Harrison | HB 1187 | 04/30/2026 | Save Our Beaches. |
| Julia Greenfield and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 1198 | 04/30/2026 | SANE Nurses Data/Registration Info Reqs. |
| Julia Greenfield, Carolyn G. Logan, and David Willis | HB 1204 | 04/30/2026 | Require Seat Belts on School Buses. |
| Julia Greenfield, Maria Cervania, Pricey Harrison, and Tracy Clark | HB 1132 | 04/29/2026 | LEO Facial Coverings and Identifications. |
| Julia Greenfield, Laura Budd, Marcia Morey, and Phil Rubin | HB 1060 | 04/27/2026 | AG Investigations/Certain ICE & CBP Incidents. |
| Julia Greenfield, Kanika Brown, Marcia Morey, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 1061 | 04/27/2026 | Plyler Educational Protections Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, and Maria Cervania | HB 1062 | 04/27/2026 | Immigration Cooperation Agreements. |
| Julia Greenfield, Marcia Morey, Pricey Harrison, and Tracy Clark | HB 1064 | 04/27/2026 | Civil Rights Helpline. |
| Julia Greenfield, Aisha O. Dew, Julie von Haefen, and Marcia Morey | HB 902 | 04/10/2025 | Free to Learn – Library Bill of Rights Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Cynthia Ball, Gloristine Brown, and Mike Colvin | HB 979 | 04/10/2025 | Update Volunteer System/LTC Ombudsman Program. |
| Julia Greenfield, Maria Cervania, Mary Belk, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 984 | 04/10/2025 | Regulate Research of Medical Cannabis. |
| Julia Greenfield, Becky Carney, Mary Belk, and Nasif Majeed | HB 839 | 04/09/2025 | Advanced Teaching Roles Updates. |
| Julia Greenfield, Becky Carney, Beth Helfrich, and Sarah Crawford | HB 842 | 04/09/2025 | Vis., Hear., Dental Screenings Opt-Out. |
| Julia Greenfield, Carolyn G. Logan, Julie von Haefen, and Ya Liu | HB 856 | 04/09/2025 | Clarify Deed Restrictions/Solar Collectors. |
| Julia Greenfield, Maria Cervania, and Sarah Crawford | HB 861 | 04/09/2025 | Taxpayer Accountability/Pregnancy Centers. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, Phil Rubin, and Pricey Harrison | HB 867 | 04/09/2025 | Poultry Waste Management. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 882 | 04/09/2025 | Break Free From Plastic & Forever Chemicals. |
| Julia Greenfield, Diane Wheatley, and Maria Cervania | HB 888 | 04/09/2025 | Funds for NC Community Health Worker Assn. |
| Julia Greenfield, Dennis Riddell, Dudley Greene, and Mike Clampitt | HB 890 | 04/09/2025 | School Internet Emergency Access Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Donna McDowell White, Donny Lambeth, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 826 | 04/08/2025 | No Retaliation Against Mandatory Reporters. |
| Julia Greenfield, Amber M. Baker, Brian Turner, and Tim Longest | HB 798 | 04/07/2025 | Expand Access to Cold Weather Shelters/Funds. |
| Julia Greenfield, Abe Jones, Phil Rubin, and Renée A. Price | HB 784 | 04/03/2025 | Prohibit Assault Weapons. |
| Julia Greenfield, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Mike Clampitt | HB 692 | 04/02/2025 | AEDs and CPR in Schools. |
| Julia Greenfield, Julie von Haefen, Sarah Crawford, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 760 | 04/02/2025 | Bloodborne Pathogen Training for Tattooists. |
| Julia Greenfield, Dante Pittman, Rodney D. Pierce, and Shelly Willingham | HB 653 | 04/01/2025 | Adjust FMAP Trigger for Medicaid Expansion. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, Eric Ager, and Gloristine Brown | HB 665 | 04/01/2025 | DPI Disaster Preparedness Fund. |
| Julia Greenfield, Abe Jones, Marcia Morey, and Renée A. Price | HB 589 | 03/31/2025 | The Second Look Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Jordan Lopez, Kanika Brown, and Pricey Harrison | HB 621 | 03/31/2025 | Funds for the Umbrella Center. |
| Julia Greenfield, Aisha O. Dew, Deb Butler, and Julie von Haefen | HB 509 | 03/25/2025 | Right to Reproductive Freedom Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Abe Jones, Sarah Crawford, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 467 | 03/20/2025 | Reenact Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. |
| Julia Greenfield, Beth Helfrich, Lindsey Prather, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 474 | 03/20/2025 | Right to Use Contraception. |
| Julia Greenfield, Allen Buansi, Julie von Haefen, and Mike Colvin | HB 456 | 03/19/2025 | No Surprises for Ambulance Services Act. |
| Julia Greenfield, Deb Butler, Laura Budd, and Pricey Harrison | HB 459 | 03/19/2025 | Income Tax Rate Reduction Trigger Mods. |
| Julia Greenfield, Carla D. Cunningham, Kanika Brown, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 452 | 03/18/2025 | Revise Law/Obstruction of Health Facility. |
| Julia Greenfield, Carolyn G. Logan, James Roberson, and Pricey Harrison | HB 403 | 03/13/2025 | Workers’ Rights Act. |
