A new bill filed by State Sen. Bob Brinson aims to let local governments manage development near military bases to protect military operations and community interests, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 947 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Military Influence Areas.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill allows North Carolina local governments to create “military influence areas,” defined as all property within 5 miles of a major military installation, and adopt zoning or unified development rules specific to those areas. It requires developers in these zones to show they coordinated with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and that projects will not harm military readiness or training. Local boards must notify base commanders before certain hearings, and site plans must include buffers to reduce light and noise and protect base privacy. The bill preserves vested property rights and appropriates $50,000 in one-time General Fund money for a joint land-use study in the 2026-27 fiscal year. The act takes effect when it becomes law.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Michael A. Lazzara proposed the most bills (52) 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.
Brinson graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1991 with a BA.
Brinson, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 3rd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Robert Hanig.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Brinson, Michael A. Lazzara, and Tom McInnis | SB 947 | 04/30/2026 | Military Influence Areas. |
| Bob Brinson, Bobby Hanig, and Michael A. Lazzara | SB 1008 | 04/30/2026 | Pilot for Shoreline Stabilization Projects. |
| Bob Brinson, Bobby Hanig, and Michael A. Lazzara | SB 1009 | 04/30/2026 | Repeal Hardened Structure Ban. |
| Bob Brinson and Sophia Chitlik | SB 1018 | 04/30/2026 | The HEAL Act. |
| Bob Brinson, DeAndrea Salvador, and Lisa S. Barnes | SB 1019 | 04/30/2026 | Grid Utilization. |
| Bob Brinson, Michael V. Lee, and Norman W. Sanderson | SB 1066 | 04/30/2026 | Alternative Bridge Funding Formula. |
| Bob Brinson, Kevin Corbin, and Michael A. Lazzara | SB 870 | 04/28/2026 | Funds for Veterans/HBOT. |
| Bob Brinson | SB 832 | 04/23/2026 | Washington Deannexation. |
| Bob Brinson | SB 818 | 04/22/2026 | Even-Yr Elections/Voting/Pink Hill. |
| Bob Brinson | SB 803 | 04/21/2026 | Beaufort Dist. B Occupancy Tax. |
| Bob Brinson, Carl Ford, and Tom McInnis | SB 816 | 04/21/2026 | Child. of Wartime Vets Sch’ship Funds & Flex. |
| Bob Brinson, Buck Newton, and Warren Daniel | SB 670 | 03/25/2025 | Drones/Certain Vendor Purchases Prohibited. |
| Bob Brinson, Bobby Hanig, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 394 | 03/24/2025 | Prohibit Foreign Ownership of NC Land. |
| Bob Brinson, Gale Adcock, and Mark Hollo | SB 430 | 03/24/2025 | Revise Child Passenger Restraint System Law. |
| Bob Brinson | SB 356 | 03/20/2025 | Global Transpark Authority Sales Tax Mods. |
| Bob Brinson, Bobby Hanig, and Todd Johnson | SB 276 | 03/12/2025 | Study Residual Property Market Mechanisms. |
| Bob Brinson, Buck Newton, and Michael A. Lazzara | SB 245 | 03/05/2025 | The Rakim Shackleford Embalming Fluid Act. |
| Bob Brinson and Buck Newton | SB 228 | 03/04/2025 | Disabled Veterans Tax Relief Bill. |
| Bob Brinson, Amy S. Galey, and Kevin Corbin | SB 229 | 03/04/2025 | Authorize NIL Agency Contracts. |
| Bob Brinson, Dana Jones, and Jim Burgin | SB 31 | 01/30/2025 | The Wells Act. |
| Bob Brinson | SB 8 | 01/29/2025 | 3rd Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
