A new bill filed by State Rep. Jones seeks to promote community development and attract business investment in rural and downtown areas of North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 604 on March 31 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Rural and Downtown Community Eco. Dev. Grants.’
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 Rural Community Development Grant Program and the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program, allocating $40 million each from the General Fund for the fiscal year 2025-26. The grants aim to support rural and downtown communities in North Carolina by attracting business investment, reversing rural depopulation, and enhancing community amenities, such as restaurants, hotels, and parks. Grants are capped at $2 million each and require a matching contribution from non-state funds. Local governments must use funds as part of a comprehensive plan for development. The bill mandates annual reporting on grant activities to relevant legislative committees by Sept. 15 each year. The programs will remain funded through June 30, 2027, and the act becomes effective July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Robert T. Reives, II proposed the most bills (23) 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.
Jones graduated from Harvard University in 1974 with an AB and again in 1977 from Harvard Law School with a JD.
Jones, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 38th House district, replacing previous state representative Yvonne Lewis Holley.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abe Jones, Becky Carney, Robert T. Reives, II, and Shelly Willingham | HB 604 | 03/31/2025 | Rural and Downtown Community Eco. Dev. Grants. |
| Abe Jones and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 585 | 03/31/2025 | Human Trafficking Reporting/Response System. |
| Abe Jones, Julia Greenfield, Marcia Morey, and Renée A. Price | HB 589 | 03/31/2025 | The Second Look Act. |
| Abe Jones, Julia Greenfield, Sarah Crawford, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 467 | 03/20/2025 | Reenact Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. |
| Abe Jones, Robert T. Reives, II, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 446 | 03/18/2025 | Prohibition on Disclosing Booking Photographs. |
| Abe Jones, Charles Smith, Julie von Haefen, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 367 | 03/11/2025 | Provide Rape Kit Status Updates to Victims. |
| Abe Jones, Garland E. Pierce, Hugh Blackwell, and Marcia Morey | HB 335 | 03/06/2025 | Expand Emergency Judge Eligibility. |
| Abe Jones, Marcia Morey, Phil Rubin, and Tim Longest | HB 129 | 02/13/2025 | Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act. |
