Sen. Grafstein files bill in North Carolina Senate to expand community emergency preparedness

A new bill filed by State Sen. Lisa Grafstein in the North Carolina Senate aims to strengthen emergency preparedness through expanded training and community outreach programs, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 871 on April 28 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Community Emergency Response Training.’

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

In essence, this bill appropriates $3 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management for the 2026-27 fiscal year to expand and promote the Community Emergency Response Team program and training. It directs the division to use part of the funds to create or expand a program that partners with local community organizations to conduct training sessions and develop outreach strategies to increase community participation in emergency preparedness training. The act becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Woodson Bradley proposed the most bills (85) 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.

Grafstein graduated from Northwestern University in 1988 with a BA and again in 1995 from University of North Carolina School of Law with a JD.

Grafstein, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 13th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Danny Earl Britt.