A new bill filed by State Rep. Ya Liu in the North Carolina House seeks to clarify laws on deed restrictions to promote residential solar energy installations, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 856 on April 9 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Clarify Deed Restrictions/Solar Collectors.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill clarifies the law surrounding deed restrictions on solar collectors, aiming to encourage the use of solar energy by voiding and making unenforceable any deed restrictions, covenants, or agreements that prohibit or effectively prohibit the installation of solar collectors for residential properties. It allows for the regulation of the location or screening of solar collectors, provided such regulations do not reduce the operating efficiency of the solar collectors by more than 10%. However, restrictions can prohibit solar collectors visible from public areas on building facades or roofs sloping toward public areas. Owners’ associations can require title owners to be responsible for any damages or maintenance related to solar collectors, unless an agreement states otherwise. This act applies to agreements recorded on or after it becomes law.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Julie von Haefen and Julia Greenfield proposed the most bills (25) 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.
Liu graduated from North Carolina Central University with a JD.
Liu, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 21st House district, replacing previous state representative Raymond Smith Jr..
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ya Liu, Carolyn G. Logan, Julia Greenfield, and Julie von Haefen | HB 856 | 04/09/2025 | Clarify Deed Restrictions/Solar Collectors. |
| Ya Liu, Edward C. Goodwin, Jarrod Lowery, and Maria Cervania | HB 835 | 04/08/2025 | Learning AAPI Contributions in Schools. |
| Ya Liu, Edward C. Goodwin, and Maria Cervania | HB 704 | 04/02/2025 | Establish AAPI Heritage Commission. |
| Ya Liu, Allen Buansi, Amos L. Quick, III, and Cecil Brockman | HB 713 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch. |
| Ya Liu, Brian Turner, Jordan Lopez, and Maria Cervania | HB 730 | 04/02/2025 | Comprehensive State Communications. |
| Ya Liu, Brenden H. Jones, Julia C. Howard, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 734 | 04/02/2025 | Modernize Debt Settlement Prohibition. |
| Ya Liu, Brian Biggs, Laura Budd, and Sarah Stevens | HB 431 | 03/18/2025 | Preventing Deed Fraud. |
| Ya Liu and Frank Iler | HB 444 | 03/18/2025 | Homeowners Association Reform Bill. |
| Ya Liu, Ray Pickett, Tricia Ann Cotham, and Zack Hawkins | HB 378 | 03/11/2025 | Leon’s Law (Dual Enrollment Info Parents). |
| Ya Liu, Matthew Winslow, Mike Schietzelt, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 361 | 03/10/2025 | Funds to Fight Deed and Title Fraud. |
| Ya Liu, Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, and Julia C. Howard | HB 187 | 02/24/2025 | Credit Union Update. |
