North Carolina Rep. Pare’s bill designating Moravian star as state star passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Rep. Erin Paré seeks to recognize the Moravian star’s cultural and historical significance in North Carolina as the official state star, according to the North Carolina State House.

In the House, 48 Democrats and 70 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 13 Democrats and 26 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while six Democrats voted against it.

Pare filed the bill in the North Carolina House on Feb. 13 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as HB 125, was passed on June 24 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “Continuing Budget Operations.”

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

In essence, this bill designates the Moravian star as the official state star of North Carolina. The bill acknowledges the origins of the Moravian star in Germany during the 1830s and its adoption by the Moravian Church as an advent symbol. It highlights the cultural influence of the Moravians in North Carolina and emphasizes the star’s significance as a symbol displayed from the first Sunday of Advent until January 6. The effective date of this act is upon its enactment into law.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Donny Lambeth (Republican-75th District), Rep. Kyle Hall (Republican-91st District), and Rep. Donna McDowell White (Republican-26th District), along with one other sponsor.

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.

Paré graduated from George Mason University in 2000 with a BA.

Paré, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 37th House district, replacing previous state representative Sydney Batch.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.