What is dead may never die.

We are keeping our Game of Thrones theme going with our next blog post about Crossover. The Crossover Deadline has now passed – so we don’t have to worry about bills that didn’t meet crossover…. right?  

Wrong! When it comes to Crossover in the North Carolina General Assembly, not everything is as it seems. Just because a bill hasn’t met Crossover… doesn’t mean the bill (or the language within it) is truly dead. 

As any Greyjoy fan and NCGA veteran knows –  

What is dead may never die. 

Welcome to the shadowy realm of zombie bills—those sneaky pieces of legislation that appear to perish when they miss the Crossover deadline but somehow rise again, resurrected in surprising and sometimes brand- new ways. And then there are the bills that were never really in danger of dying at all. 

Here’s the twist: not all bills are subject to the Crossover rule. Many are immune by design. 

Wait—What Is Crossover Again?

Crossover is the deadline by which most bills must pass one chamber (either the House or the Senate) in order to remain eligible for consideration in the current session. For most bills, it’s do-or-die. If they don’t make it through their chamber by that date, they’re considered dead… or at least, that’s what we’re meant to believe. 

But savvy advocates and insiders know better. 

Exemptions: The Real Power Behind the Throne

Some bills don’t need to meet the Crossover deadline at all. These include:

• Appropriations bills

• Bills affecting fees or taxes

• Bills affecting elections and redistricting

• Gubernatorial nominations or appointments 

• Amendments to the North Carolina Constitution and bills containing statutory amendments necessary to implement proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution 

• Ratifying an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States 

• Adjournment resolutions

Take a stroll through the Finance committee, for example, and you’ll see dozens of bills that haven’t moved an inch. That’s not neglect—it’s strategy. Many of these bills are intentionally not heard before Crossover because they don’t have to be. They’re exempt, alive and well, and could reappear later this session or even in the 2026 Short Session.

The Undead Walk Among Us: Example - HB765

For example, take a look at HB 765 (Save the American Dream Act.). (View on ncleg.gov)

This bill is a comprehensive overhaul of local government development regulations, zoning, housing density, and water/sewer allocation processes.

Just before Crossover, this bill sprouted a tiny provision: a $5 permit fee increase (specifically, in G.S. 143-215.3D(a)(10)b., increases the NPDES general stormwater permit fee from $120 to $125). That small change was enough to reclassify the bill under the Finance umbrella—et voilà, it’s now exempt from Crossover and very much alive.

This kind of maneuver isn’t rare. It’s strategic. And it’s one of the many reasons why staying ahead of the legislative game is so challenging. A seemingly innocuous amendment can change a bill’s trajectory in an instant.

The Lesson? Don’t Assume Anything Is Truly Dead

In a landscape where rules bend, deadlines blur, and bills rise from the grave, it’s not enough to follow what’s moving. You have to understand why it’s moving—or not moving—and what it could become.

That’s where Roboro comes in.

We track these twists and turns, including monitoring and alerting you when language from one bill (that may be presumed dead) has resurfaced in another. Whether it’s a stalled bill that suddenly lurches into action or zombie language that gets a whole new life, Roboro keeps you informed with the insights that matter—before the headline drops.

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Because when it comes to NC legislation… 

What is dead may never die. 

Want more insights?

Got a data question you want the Roboro Team to dig into? Tell us about it – hello@roboro.ai. 

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