Sen. Mohammed files bill in North Carolina Senate to increase Mecklenburg County magistrates

A new bill filed by State Sen. Mujtaba A. Mohammed in the North Carolina Senate aims to expand magistrates’ staffing levels in Mecklenburg County, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 935 on April 29 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Increase Number of Magistrates/Mecklenburg.’

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

In essence, this bill increases the minimum number of magistrates in Mecklenburg County from 38.5 to 43.5 and provides recurring funding to support the added positions. It appropriates $236,140 in recurring funds from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year to hire five additional magistrates for the county, aligning the staffing level with the new statutory minimum. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Mohammed proposed another 32 bills 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.

Mohammed graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2008 with a BA and again in 2013 from North Carolina Central University School of Law with a JD.

Mohammed, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 38th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Joel Ford.