State Rep. Allen Chesser has introduced legislation intended to let employers decrease employee work hours as an alternative to layoffs, with affected workers receiving partial unemployment benefits, the North Carolina State House reports.
Filed as HB 1149 on April 30 as part of the 2025 regular session, the measure carries the official short title: ‘Keep NC Working Act.’
Below is our summary, based on the full bill text, and may include clarification for understanding.
This legislation would establish a short-time compensation program in North Carolina’s unemployment insurance system, starting Oct. 1, 2026. The program would allow employers to cut workers’ hours from 10% to 60% in lieu of layoffs, with employees eligible for prorated unemployment benefits. To qualify, employers must submit plans that meet specific criteria, such as maintaining comparable health and retirement benefits, confirming hours are reduced instead of layoffs, complying with labor regulations, and securing agreement from any relevant collective bargaining unit. The Division of Employment Security is responsible for approving, overseeing, amending, or discontinuing plans, with benefits limited to 52 weeks. The bill allocates $100,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026-27 to support program implementation and outreach, beginning July 1, 2026.
Among the four sponsors of this legislation, Chesser leads with 64 proposed bills during the 2025 session.
All bills considered in North Carolina undergo a multi-step legislative process. Lawmakers begin by filing the bill, which is then referred to committee. Every bill is required to be read three times in each chamber. If modifications occur after passing in either chamber, both chambers must accept the revised measure. Passage by both chambers sends the bill to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 when the legislature is out of session) to sign, veto, or take no action for the bill to become law.
Find additional information about current bills and legislative activity here.
Chesser earned a BS from North Carolina Wesleyan University in 2019.
Chesser, a Republican, was elected to represent North Carolina’s 25th House district in 2023, succeeding former State Rep. James Gailliard.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Chesser, Heather H. Rhyne, Mike Schietzelt, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 1149 | 04/30/2026 | Keep NC Working Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Carla D. Cunningham, Donny Lambeth, and Mike Colvin | HB 1144 | 04/30/2026 | Dominique Moody Safety Act. |
| Allen Chesser, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Heather H. Rhyne, and Phil Rubin | HB 1186 | 04/30/2026 | Equipping Law Enf. for Better Drug Detection. |
| Allen Chesser, Donnie Loftis, Timothy Reeder, MD, and Vernetta Alston | HB 1191 | 04/30/2026 | Fostering Care in NC Act 2026. |
| Allen Chesser, Erin Paré, Mike Schietzelt, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 1199 | 04/30/2026 | The Seatbelt Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Heather H. Rhyne, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 1200 | 04/30/2026 | Tax-Free Family Essentials Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Heather H. Rhyne, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 1203 | 04/30/2026 | Family Support for Those Who Serve Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Donnie Loftis, Eric Ager, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 1111 | 04/29/2026 | Military Service Buyback Reduction: Teachers. |
| Allen Chesser, Allen Buansi, Mike Schietzelt, and Shelly Willingham | HB 1118 | 04/29/2026 | Workforce Housing Loan Renewal Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Erin Paré, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 1074 | 04/28/2026 | Prescription Drug Expenses Tax Deduction. |
| Allen Chesser, Celeste C. Cairns, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 1081 | 04/28/2026 | Funds for Veterans/HBOT. |
| Allen Chesser, Heather H. Rhyne, Mike Schietzelt, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 1083 | 04/28/2026 | Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Donnie Loftis, Erin Paré, and Hugh Blackwell | HB 1020 | 04/21/2026 | PESA Class Aides & Child. Wartime Vets Funds. |
| Allen Chesser, David Willis, Mike Schietzelt, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 1029 | 04/21/2026 | NC Digital Asset and Stablecoin Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Erin Paré, Mike Schietzelt, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 1032 | 04/21/2026 | Repeal Two Percent Local Grocery Tax. |
| Allen Chesser, Dennis Riddell, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 905 | 04/10/2025 | Public School Part-Time Enrollment. |
| Allen Chesser, Mike Schietzelt, and Vernetta Alston | HB 923 | 04/10/2025 | Protect Personal Info/Judicial Personnel. |
| Allen Chesser, Dennis Riddell, and Jeff Zenger | HB 926 | 04/10/2025 | Regulatory Reform Act of 2025. |
| Allen Chesser, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carla D. Cunningham, and Celeste C. Cairns | HB 928 | 04/10/2025 | Allow PTs in School Concussion Protocol. |
| Allen Chesser | HB 980 | 04/10/2025 | Remove Barriers to Employment from Court Debt. |
| Allen Chesser and Phil Rubin | HB 868 | 04/09/2025 | Due Process in LEO Field Drug Testing. |
| Allen Chesser, Jonathan L. Almond, and Matthew Winslow | HB 874 | 04/09/2025 | North Carolina Healthy Schools Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Jonathan L. Almond, Mike Schietzelt, and Wyatt Gable | HB 886 | 04/09/2025 | AEDs and CPR in Public Schools. |
| Allen Chesser, Matthew Winslow, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 829 | 04/08/2025 | Locksmith Licensing Act Modernization. |
| Allen Chesser and Jarrod Lowery | HB 833 | 04/08/2025 | The FRESH Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Carson Smith, Mike Schietzelt, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 789 | 04/03/2025 | Mitigating Factor/Pretrial Use of IID. |
| Allen Chesser, Frank Iler, Jeffrey C. McNeely, and Phil Shepard | HB 652 | 04/01/2025 | Transportation Goods Unit Pricing Cost. |
| Allen Chesser, Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, and Larry W. Potts | HB 672 | 04/01/2025 | Physician Assist. Omnibus/Team-based/Compact. |
| Allen Chesser, Timothy Reeder, MD, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 680 | 04/01/2025 | The Protect Children from Cannabis Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Sarah Crawford, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 681 | 04/01/2025 | Update Opioid Abatement Treatment Prog. Rules. |
| Allen Chesser, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Sarah Crawford | HB 682 | 04/01/2025 | Public Safety Through Food Access Act. |
| Allen Chesser and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 607 | 03/31/2025 | Regulate Hemp Consumable Products. |
| Allen Chesser, Donnie Loftis, John R. Bell, IV, and Vernetta Alston | HB 612 | 03/31/2025 | Fostering Care in NC Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Erin Paré, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 571 | 03/27/2025 | Funds for PTSD Treatment for Police Officers. |
| Allen Chesser, Brenden H. Jones, David Willis, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 572 | 03/27/2025 | Veterans/eTMS Pilot Program. |
| Allen Chesser, Cody Huneycutt, Heather H. Rhyne, and Kyle Hall | HB 574 | 03/27/2025 | Workforce Development Pilot Project. |
| Allen Chesser, Donny Lambeth, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 536 | 03/26/2025 | Physical Therapy Practice Act Mods. |
| Allen Chesser, Diane Wheatley, Edward C. Goodwin, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 540 | 03/26/2025 | Additional Funds for Patriot Star Scholarship. |
| Allen Chesser, Donna McDowell White, Heather H. Rhyne, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 546 | 03/26/2025 | Inmate Medicaid Suspension/Team-Based Care. |
| Allen Chesser, Jennifer Balkcom, Mike Schietzelt, and Neal Jackson | HB 547 | 03/26/2025 | Children’s Services Protection Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Brandon Lofton, Heather H. Rhyne, and Kyle Hall | HB 517 | 03/25/2025 | Modify Nonprofit Corp. Act/Charitable Org. |
| Allen Chesser, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Jeffrey C. McNeely, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 468 | 03/20/2025 | Regulate Kratom Products. |
| Allen Chesser, Neal Jackson, Terry M. Brown Jr., and Tim Longest | HB 462 | 03/19/2025 | Personal Data Privacy/Social Media Safety. |
| Allen Chesser, Heather H. Rhyne, and Ray Pickett | HB 437 | 03/18/2025 | Establish Drug-Free Homeless Service Zones. |
| Allen Chesser, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Cody Huneycutt | HB 450 | 03/18/2025 | Private Property Rights Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Jeff Zenger, John R. Bell, IV, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 402 | 03/13/2025 | Limit Rules With Substantial Financial Costs. |
| Allen Chesser, Erin Paré, Matthew Winslow, and Steve Tyson | HB 364 | 03/11/2025 | STIP Grant Anticipation Notes. |
| Allen Chesser, Heather H. Rhyne, Jake Johnson, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 372 | 03/11/2025 | Home-Based Business Fairness Act. |
| Allen Chesser, David Willis, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Ray Pickett | HB 373 | 03/11/2025 | UNC Tuition Discounts for Certain Students. |
| Allen Chesser, Cody Huneycutt, Heather H. Rhyne, and Kyle Hall | HB 351 | 03/10/2025 | Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program/Funds. |
| Allen Chesser | HB 332 | 03/06/2025 | Nash/Rocky Mount District Occupancy Tax. |
| Allen Chesser, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Jeff Zenger | HB 272 | 03/04/2025 | The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Bill Ward, Brenden H. Jones, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 224 | 02/26/2025 | Strengthen Our Tribal Communities Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Charles Smith, Dennis Riddell, and Edward C. Goodwin | HB 227 | 02/26/2025 | U.S. & N.C. Flags/Made In USA. |
| Allen Chesser, Donnie Loftis, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 118 | 02/13/2025 | Disabled Veterans Tax Relief Bill. |
| Allen Chesser, Brian Biggs, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 112 | 02/12/2025 | Increase Permissible Interstate Speed Limit. |
| Allen Chesser, Allen Buansi, Jarrod Lowery, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 93 | 02/10/2025 | Constitutional Amendment/Repeal Literacy Test. |
| Allen Chesser, Edward C. Goodwin, Erin Paré, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 94 | 02/10/2025 | Dis. Veteran Homestead Excl. Prequalification. |
| Allen Chesser, Dante Pittman, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Kelly E. Hastings | HB 69 | 02/06/2025 | Military and Veterans Educational Promise Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, and Kyle Hall | HB 46 | 02/04/2025 | Make Healthcare Affordable. |
| Allen Chesser, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 50 | 02/04/2025 | LEO Special Separation Allowance Options. |
| Allen Chesser, Brenden H. Jones, Heather H. Rhyne, and Jay Adams | HB 35 | 02/03/2025 | Establish Military Appreciation Month. |
| Allen Chesser, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Edward C. Goodwin | HB 38 | 02/03/2025 | Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act. |
| Allen Chesser, Erin Paré, Harry Warren, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 11 | 01/29/2025 | No Tax on Tips, Overtime, Bonus Pay. |
