A new bill filed by State Rep. Ya Liu in the North Carolina House seeks to establish a commission to preserve and promote Asian American and Pacific Islander history, arts, and culture, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 704 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Establish AAPI Heritage Commission.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Commission within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to oversee the preservation and promotion of AAPI history, arts, and culture. The commission will advise the department, promote public awareness, support educational initiatives, build a statewide network, and catalog and interpret cultural heritage. It consists of nine members with staggered terms, appointed by the governor, the General Assembly, and the department secretary. The commission will convene semiannually, with members serving without salary but eligible for expenses. The bill allocates $250,000 annually for the 2025-27 biennium to fund the commission, which becomes effective July 1, 2025.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Edward C. Goodwin proposed the most bills (20) 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, 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. |
