By Brianna Kraemer for the Carolina Journal

The North Carolina General Assembly’s 2025-26 biennium began on Wednesday with the swearing-in of all 170 state legislators who will represent their constituents in the state legislature in Raleigh for the next two years. 

Elected officials and their families were present as they stood and took the oath of office, promising to uphold the US Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution while in the General Assembly. North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby administered the oath of office to elected officials in the Senate chamber, and Associate Justice Tamara Barringer administered the oath in the House of Representatives.

Following the swearing-in, both chambers immediately began official leadership elections. Senator Phil Berger was reelected as the President Pro Tempore position for 2025 North Carolina. Representative Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, was unanimously elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Thank you to all the members of this body for giving me the honor to serve as your speaker,” said Hall.

Former Speakers of the North Carolina House, including US Rep. Tim Moore, Sen. Thom Tillis, and Harold J. Brubaker, were in attendance. 

“I’m told I’m on the younger side of speakers in our state, and I see Speakers Tillis, Moore, and Brubaker here today,” Hall said. “I’m told that the average age of our speakers has gone down by a few years today. But according to some of the liberal trolls on Twitter, the IQ average hasn’t changed, so you’re safe there.”

In addressing their respective chambers, both Hall and Berger highlighted the state’s tax cuts and reforms, which have been implemented under a Republican-led General Assembly since 2011, putting more money back in the pockets of North Carolinians. They pledged to continue working to reduce tax relief while expanding economic opportunities acorss the state.

“Thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of serving as President pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate. It’s been an honor to lead this body for the past 14 years,” said Berger. “Today, without question, North Carolina is the best state in America in which to live, to work, to start a business, and to raise a family; a state of unparalleled opportunity. Nevertheless, there is still work to be done.”

In other leadership positions, Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, was elected to serve as Deputy President pro tempore of the Senate. Rep. Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba, was elected to lead the House as Speaker pro tempore. Rep. John Bell, R-Wayne, will serve as chairman of the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House.

In the first year of the biennium, legislators focus their efforts on drafting the state budget. Though they typically aim to complete their work by the summer, the schedule oftentimes runs into the fall. 

During his floor speech, Hall thanked his colleagues for their time away from family, and noted that “we’re going to try to make sure that time of commitment is not as much as it has been in the past.”

Both chambers are adjourned and will reconvene on Jan. 29, 2025.

The preceding article originally appeared on January 8, 2024 at the Carolina Journal’s website and is made available here for educational purposes only. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the U.S. Copyright Law.