A new bill filed by State Rep. Blair Eddins in the North Carolina House seeks to add the Brushy Mountains State Natural Area to the State Parks System and enable land acquisition and development, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 273 on March 4 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Create/Fund Brushy Mtns. State Natural Area.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill authorizes the creation of the Brushy Mountains State Natural Area (BMSNA) in Alexander, Caldwell, and Wilkes counties, adding it to the State Parks System. It permits the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to receive land donations and use funds from various sources, including the NC Land and Water Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, for land purchases. The bill appropriates $250,000 in nonrecurring funds and $250,000 in recurring funds from the General Fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year, designated for initial land acquisition, site development, and operating costs. Section 2 of the act becomes effective July 1, 2025, while the rest takes immediate effect upon becoming law.
Eddins proposed another six 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.
Eddins graduated from North Carolina State University in 1995.
Eddins, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 94th House district, replacing previous state representative Jeffrey Elmore.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blair Eddins | HB 273 | 03/04/2025 | Create/Fund Brushy Mtns. State Natural Area. |
| Blair Eddins, Brenden H. Jones, Jarrod Lowery, and Neal Jackson | HB 171 | 02/21/2025 | Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI. |
| Blair Eddins | HB 155 | 02/18/2025 | SchCalFlex/Wilkes,Alexander/Open Cal. |
| Blair Eddins, Howard Penny, Jr., Jimmy Dixon, and Neal Jackson | HB 130 | 02/13/2025 | Agriculture Crops Disaster Relief. |
| Blair Eddins, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Keith Kidwell, and Wyatt Gable | HB 98 | 02/11/2025 | Patriotism Expression Act. |
| Blair Eddins, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Keith Kidwell, and Wyatt Gable | HB 72 | 02/10/2025 | AG/Restrict Challenge to Presidential EOs. |
| Blair Eddins, Brian Biggs, Mike Schietzelt, and Neal Jackson | HB 87 | 02/10/2025 | Cell Phone-Free Education. |
