A new bill filed by State Rep. Allen Chesser seeks to reduce employment barriers by ending license suspensions tied to court debt and improving related administrative processes, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 980 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Remove Barriers to Employment from Court Debt.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill aims to alleviate barriers to employment caused by court debt by repealing authority to suspend driver’s licenses for nonpayment of fines or failure to appear in court. It mandates the reinstatement of suspended licenses without action required from the license holder and waives associated fees. Additionally, it requires the Division of Motor Vehicles to collect data on the impact of these changes and publish a report by Oct. 1, 2025. Unpaid fines due to license suspensions related to failure to appear or pay are rendered unenforceable. $250,000 is allocated to implement a text reminder system for court appearances, effective July 1, 2025, while other sections become effective Oct. 1, 2025.
Chesser proposed another 48 bills 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.
Chesser graduated from North Carolina Wesleyan University in 2019 with a BS.
Chesser, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 25th House district, replacing previous state representative James Gailliard.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Chesser | HB 980 | 04/10/2025 | Remove Barriers to Employment from Court Debt. |
| 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 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. |
