Rep. Reives files rural transit bill in North Carolina House

A new bill filed by State Rep. Robert T. Reives, II in the North Carolina House aims to improve rural transit access through a pilot grant program, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 1098 on April 29 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Rural Commuter Microtransit Pilot Grant.’

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

In essence, this bill creates a Rural Commuter Microtransit Pilot Grant Program in the Department of Transportation’s Division of Integrated Mobility to expand public transit in rural counties, defined as those with 250 or fewer people per square mile. It makes counties, regional councils of government, certain municipalities and regional transit authorities eligible for grants. Funds may support employer-assisted rural commuter services during peak hours and general-use, on-demand shuttles during off-peak hours, prioritizing seniors, families with children and people with disabilities for medical and grocery trips. Grants require at least a 50% local match and a 20% employer contribution for workforce services. The division must set rules based on need, scalability, feasibility and partnerships. The bill appropriates $30 million in nonrecurring Highway Fund money for fiscal 2026-27 and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Reives proposed the most bills (49) 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.

Reives graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992 with a BA and again in 1995 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a JD.

Reives, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2014 to represent the state’s 54th House district, replacing previous state representative Deb McManus.