Sen. Jones files bill in North Carolina Senate to revise state auditor’s duties and cost recovery

Dana Caudill Jones, North Carolina State Senator for 31st District
Dana Caudill Jones, North Carolina State Senator for 31st District
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A new bill filed by State Sen. Dana Jones in the North Carolina Senate aims to revise the state auditor’s responsibilities and strengthen oversight of agency financial reporting and contracts, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 1013 on April 30 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘2026 Office of the State Auditor Agency Bill.-AB’

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

In essence, this bill revises the duties, cost recovery and contracting authority of the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor. It requires state agencies receiving financial statement audits to submit financial statements and supplementary information in a format set by the auditor within 60 days after their reporting deadline and allows the auditor to bill agencies and federal or other government entities for actual audit costs. It clarifies the auditor’s role in reviewing the state’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, restricts state agencies from entering into certain external audit contracts without prior written approval from the auditor, and authorizes agreements for prosecutors, State Bureau of Investigation agents and Medicaid audit experts. Section 1 takes effect Oct. 1, 2026, Section 2 on July 1, 2026, and the rest upon becoming law.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Benton G. Sawrey proposed the most bills (61) 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.

Jones graduated from High Point University in 1993 with a BA.

Jones, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 31st Senate district, replacing previous state senator Joyce Krawiec.

Bills Introduced by Your Senators in North Carolina Senate During 2025 Regular Session

Authors Bill Number Date Filed Title
Dana Jones and Benton G. Sawrey SB 1013 04/30/2026 2026 Office of the State Auditor Agency Bill.-AB
Dana Jones, Benton G. Sawrey, and Lisa S. Barnes SB 1004 04/30/2026 Family Support for Those Who Serve Act.
Dana Jones, Kevin Corbin, and Michael V. Lee SB 1006 04/30/2026 K-12 Innovation and Transformation Act.
Dana Jones, Sophia Chitlik, and Todd Johnson SB 983 04/30/2026 TIPs Tax Deduction.
Dana Jones and Vickie Sawyer SB 905 04/29/2026 Foster Care Motor Vehicle Insurance.
Dana Jones SB 864 04/28/2026 Safe and Responsible AI in Schools Act.
Dana Jones and Eddie D. Settle SB 845 04/27/2026 Luggage for Children Placed in Foster Care.
Dana Jones, Michael V. Lee, and Tom McInnis SB 508 03/25/2025 LL to CPL/Apprenticeship Program.
Dana Jones and Michael V. Lee SB 580 03/25/2025 Competency-Based Education Grant Program.
Dana Jones, David W. Craven, Jr., and Steve Jarvis SB 690 03/25/2025 Modify Licensing Real Est. Appraisers.
Dana Jones and Timothy D. Moffitt SB 759 03/25/2025 Minors Health Protection Act.
Dana Jones, Carl Ford, and Timothy D. Moffitt SB 414 03/24/2025 Pharmacists/Test and Treat.
Dana Jones, Bobby Hanig, and Timothy D. Moffitt SB 415 03/24/2025 Patient Safety/Med. Imaging/Radiation Therapy.
Dana Jones, Benton G. Sawrey, and Michael A. Lazzara SB 346 03/19/2025 Good Samaritan Law/Immunity.
Dana Jones, Benton G. Sawrey, and Michael A. Lazzara SB 328 03/18/2025 Underground Safety Revisions.
Dana Jones, Bobby Hanig, and Ralph Hise SB 302 03/17/2025 The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act.
Dana Jones, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and David W. Craven, Jr. SB 312 03/17/2025 The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act.
Dana Jones and Paul A. Lowe, Jr. SB 241 03/05/2025 Funds for Smith Reynolds Airport MRO Hangar.
Dana Jones and Bobby Hanig SB 162 02/25/2025 Shared Parenting.
Dana Jones, Kevin Corbin, and Michael V. Lee SB 125 02/21/2025 Various Education Changes.
Dana Jones, Michael V. Lee, and Paul Newton SB 101 02/13/2025 Protect Tax-Advantaged Accts. & Living Donors.
Dana Jones, Amy S. Galey, and Brent Jackson SB 59 02/05/2025 Revise Voluntary Ag. District Laws.
Dana Jones, Bob Brinson, and Jim Burgin SB 31 01/30/2025 The Wells Act.
Dana Jones and Amy S. Galey SB 39 01/30/2025 GSC Add Member from High Point Law School.
Dana Jones SB 6 01/29/2025 31st Senatorial District Local Act-1.


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