A new bill filed by State Sen. Jay J. Chaudhuri in the North Carolina Senate seeks to explore the feasibility of creating a professional wrestling museum in the state, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 404 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘RIC FLAIR Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for the 2025-26 fiscal year to study the feasibility of establishing a professional wrestling museum in North Carolina. The study aims to foster learning, awareness, and interest in wrestling as a tribute to iconic wrestlers. The department is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources by July 1, 2026. The act becomes effective on July 1, 2025.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Ralph Hise proposed the most bills (28) 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.
Chaudhuri graduated from Davidson College in 1991 with a BA and again in 1999 from North Carolina Central University with a JD.
Chaudhuri, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 15th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Terry Van Duyn.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jay J. Chaudhuri, Danny Earl Britt, Jr., and Ralph Hise | SB 404 | 03/24/2025 | RIC FLAIR Act. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri, Kandie D. Smith, and Natalie S. Murdock | SB 392 | 03/24/2025 | Safeguard Fair Elections. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri and Jim Burgin | SB 393 | 03/24/2025 | Betting and Addiction in Pers. Finance Course. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri and Val Applewhite | SB 409 | 03/24/2025 | Ban Ghost Guns & Undetectable Firearms. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri and Jim Burgin | SB 465 | 03/24/2025 | Agency Vacant Property. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri, Mujtaba A. Mohammed, and Sophia Chitlik | SB 358 | 03/20/2025 | Hate Crimes Prevention Act. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri, Graig Meyer, and Natalie S. Murdock | SB 350 | 03/19/2025 | Marijuana Justice and Reinvestment Act. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri | SB 351 | 03/19/2025 | Right to Start Act. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri, Dan Blue, and Gale Adcock | SB 156 | 02/25/2025 | SchCalFlex/Wake/CC. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri, Lisa Grafstein, and Sydney Batch | SB 107 | 02/17/2025 | Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act. |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri | SB 111 | 02/17/2025 | 15th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
