Rep. Ward files bill in North Carolina House to expand cable complaint enforcement

A new bill filed by State Rep. Bill Ward seeks to enhance oversight of cable service complaints and increase the Consumer Protection Division’s enforcement authority, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 1085 on April 28 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Improve Cable Service Complaint Resolutions.’

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

In essence, this bill strengthens how North Carolina handles cable service complaints by expanding the Consumer Protection Division’s role to receive, investigate and resolve customer complaints and by treating persistent or repeated violations of federal customer service rules or customer agreements as unfair or deceptive acts. The bill allows the division to bring civil actions to force cable providers to forfeit revenue from directly affected subscribers in the area and period of violation, with forfeited funds going to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund. It excludes video streaming services, requires continued annual complaint reports, and appropriates $133,000 in recurring funds and $500,000 in nonrecurring funds for staffing and implementation. The funding takes effect July 1, 2026, and the enforcement changes take effect June 1, 2027.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Allen Buansi proposed the most bills (29) 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.

Ward, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 5th House district, replacing previous state representative Howard Hunter III.