A new bill filed by State Rep. Mark Brody in the North Carolina House seeks to allow parties to recover attorneys’ fees when local governments intentionally violate development statutes, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 913 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Liability/Unfair/Deceptive Develop. Actions.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends Article 14 of Chapter 160D of the North Carolina General Statutes to allow parties seeking legal recourse against local governments in development-related cases to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees if the government intentionally violates statutory guidelines. The court is required to award attorneys’ fees if the local government intentionally causes delays or acts in a flagrantly unfair or deceptive manner that results in the party initiating legal action. For particularly egregious cases, the court may also award punitive damages up to 10 times the proven damages, which include loss of revenue and increased costs due to delays. Attorneys’ fees cannot be awarded if the local government reasonably relied on a relevant court judgment, published appellate opinion, or written guidance from the Attorney General. The act is effective Oct. 1, 2025, and applies to causes of action arising on or after that date.
Brody proposed another 21 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.
Brody graduated from Concordia University, Wisconsin with a BA.
Brody, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2013 to represent the state’s 55th House district, replacing previous state representative Frank McGuirt.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Brody | HB 913 | 04/10/2025 | Liability/Unfair/Deceptive Develop. Actions. |
| Mark Brody, Dean Arp, Dudley Greene, and Laura Budd | HB 924 | 04/10/2025 | Board for Gen. Contractors/Crim. Referrals. |
| Mark Brody, Dennis Riddell, Mike Schietzelt, and Ray Pickett | HB 996 | 04/10/2025 | Further Limit General Fund Operating Budget. |
| Mark Brody, Brian Turner, Dennis Riddell, and Paul Scott | HB 997 | 04/10/2025 | Certify Reading of NC Constitution. |
| Mark Brody, Jay Adams, Jeff Zenger, and Neal Jackson | HB 870 | 04/09/2025 | Sedimentation Act & Other Env.’l Changes. |
| Mark Brody, Jeff Zenger, Karl E. Gillespie, and Matthew Winslow | HB 876 | 04/09/2025 | Development Application Review Time Lines. |
| Mark Brody, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Brenden H. Jones, and Jeff Zenger | HB 831 | 04/08/2025 | Comm. Inspect. Efficiency Act. |
| Mark Brody and Harry Warren | HB 836 | 04/08/2025 | North Carolina Sound Money Act. |
| Mark Brody, Carla D. Cunningham, Jeff Zenger, and Matthew Winslow | HB 765 | 04/03/2025 | Save the American Dream Act. |
| Mark Brody, Jeff Zenger, Matthew Winslow, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 768 | 04/03/2025 | Clarify Emerg. Comm. Exemptions/Fire Code. |
| Mark Brody, Carla D. Cunningham, Jeff Zenger, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 661 | 04/01/2025 | Building Industry Efficiency Act of 2025. |
| Mark Brody, David Willis, and Donnie Loftis | HB 591 | 03/31/2025 | Elec. Monitoring in Nursing/Adult Care Homes. |
| Mark Brody, Dennis Riddell, Jarrod Lowery, and Steve Tyson | HB 605 | 03/31/2025 | Definitions for Advanced Recycling. |
| Mark Brody, Allison A. Dahle, John R. Bell, IV, and Wyatt Gable | HB 520 | 03/25/2025 | Abuse and Deception by Telemarketers. |
| Mark Brody, Allison A. Dahle, Donnie Loftis, and Howard Penny, Jr. | HB 369 | 03/11/2025 | Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act. |
| Mark Brody, Dennis Riddell, and Jeff Zenger | HB 376 | 03/11/2025 | Various On-Site Wastewater & Well Provisions. |
| Mark Brody, Dudley Greene, Howard Penny, Jr., and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 184 | 02/24/2025 | Promote North Carolina Sawmills. |
| Mark Brody, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Rodney D. Pierce, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 128 | 02/13/2025 | Establish Prostate Cancer Control Program. |
| Mark Brody, Dennis Riddell, Harry Warren, and Mary Belk | HB 99 | 02/11/2025 | Reflexologists Right to Work Act. |
| Mark Brody, Destin Hall, Mike Schietzelt, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 92 | 02/10/2025 | NC Digital Assets Investments Act. |
| Mark Brody, Brian Echevarria, Mike Clampitt, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 64 | 02/05/2025 | Const. Amend. – Gubernatorial Clemency. |
| Mark Brody, Harry Warren, Julia C. Howard, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 48 | 02/04/2025 | Increase UI Max Benefit/2025 UI Tax Credit. |
