North Carolina bill proposes new red wolf conservation license plate

State Rep. Cynthia Ball has introduced new legislation intended to create a specialty license plate that would raise awareness and funds for red wolf conservation in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State House.

The legislation, HB 1157, was submitted April 30 in the 2025 regular session and carries the short title: ‘Red Wolf Special Registration Plate.’

The summary below outlines the provisions as laid out in the official bill text, with clarifying interpretations where helpful.

If enacted, the bill would authorize a Red Wolf specialty vehicle registration plate featuring both the “Red Wolf” phrase and a red wolf image. Some of the standard plate application and issuance requirements would not apply. Buyers would pay an additional $30 for the plate—$10 would go to the Special Registration Plate Account and $20 to the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account. The portion collected for the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account would be distributed quarterly to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to support red wolf conservation. The bill also calls for North Carolina State University to promote the plate and report on outreach efforts. It allocates $15,000 from the Highway Fund to the Division of Motor Vehicles and $50,000 from the General Fund to N.C. State for designing, setting up, and advertising the plate. These appropriations take effect July 1, 2026; the remainder of the bill takes effect upon becoming law.

Among the three primary sponsors, Vernetta Alston had introduced the highest total with 35 bills during the 2025 regular session.

North Carolina’s bill-making process follows a detailed sequence. A lawmaker begins by filing a bill, at which point it is referred to a committee. The legislation must go through three readings in each chamber; if either chamber amends the bill after it has been passed by the other, both chambers must concur on the revised version. Once both chambers have adopted identical legislation, it is sent to the governor, who then has 10 days (or 30 days if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or allow it to take effect without a signature.

More information about current bills and recent actions can be found here.

Ball earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and continued her studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

A Democrat, Ball entered the North Carolina State House in 2017, representing District 49 after succeeding predecessor Gary Pendleton.