New leaders and new lawmakers mixed with former members as the North Carolina General Assembly started its 2025 legislative session on Wednesday.

Here are key takeaways from opening day, which is a mostly ceremonial day as all 170 newly elected members of the House and Senate were sworn in, elected their leadership and passed rules governing themselves.

New House Speaker Destin Hall joined by Tillis, Moore, Brubaker

The state House has its first new speaker in more than a decade, as former Speaker Tim Moore is now in Congress. However, Moore was back for the ceremony, as well as two other former speakers, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and Harold Brubaker.

New Speaker Destin Hall was chosen by his caucus after the November election to lead the House, so the election on Wednesday was just a formality. After he was sworn in, he was joined at the podium by Tillis, Moore and Brubaker for photos.

Tillis quipped that he was there just to make sure that Moore leaves — resulting in laughter throughout the chamber, as Moore was the state’s longest-serving speaker.

In a speech after being sworn in Hall, 37, said that “only in America” could someone who grew up as he did, in rural, small-town North Carolina from a family without college graduates or lawyers, become speaker. Hall was raised by his grandparents in Caldwell County.

Hall also spoke about his faith in God.

The House opening prayer was given by the Rev. William Franklin Graham IV, grandson of the late Rev. Billy Graham.

Hall said their No. 1 job as lawmakers is to “make it as easy as possible” for North Carolinians to realize the American dream.

He talked about the economy and Republicans’ years of tax cuts.

“But we’ve got to do more than just cut taxes,” Hall said, saying that they need to encourage new business expansion and job growth and build a business climate that brings high wages and high benefits.

Hall also said they need to continue to invest in the education system, both K-12 and the UNC System.

Among his education priorities, he said: incentivize new teachers, increase parent involvement in schools, and spend money on school safety, including a school resource officer for every school.

Speaker Hall wants a mini budget bill about Helene

Hall told reporters on Wednesday that rather than waiting for the overall budget bill this summer, he’d like to see a “mini” budget bill passed soon after the session work begins. After Wednesday, lawmakers have a two-week break until they reconvene on Jan. 29 and begin holding committee meetings and filing bills.

His first priority is “no question, Western North Carolina storm relief. It’s the most urgent need that we have. We’re going to get to it very quickly.”

Hall said that lawmakers are taking a look at the federal relief passed in December to determine what the state needs to do next.

“So now that we have some of that funding, we’re going to focus on how we get it out most efficiently, getting people back in their homes, rebuilding homes, and, most importantly, avoiding a lot of the mistakes that we saw in eastern North Carolina, where folks are still not back in their homes eight years later,” Hall said.

New Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt presides over Senate

One notable change was in who presided over the Senate. Democratic Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, a former state senator, appears likely to take a more active role than her predecessor.

Convening the Senate with little pomp or fanfare, Hunt noted that her father, former Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt, was seated in the gallery, and she introduced state Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. and Chief Justice Paul Newby.

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, an Eden Republican who is starting his eighth two-year term as Senate leader, typically presided over the Senate rather than the previous lieutenant governor, Republican Mark Robinson, who did not seek reelection and lost his bid to become governor.

Hunt said her father taught her about the importance of public service and giving back to the community. Hunt said she believed in providing high-quality education, strengthening child care and “defending women’s health care.”

Hunt also said she’d travel across the state to hear from constituents and keep her door open for discussions — even with those she disagreed with.

Berger on Helene recovery, budget, bills

Berger was unanimously reelected as president pro tempore, with his son administering the oath.

“It’s been an honor to lead this body for the past 14 years,” Berger said, highlighting challenges posed by North Carolina’s rapid growth.

He cited education, infrastructure, child care, and health care as priorities, along with the need for a “renewed look” at disaster preparedness and response.

Berger told reporters after the ceremony that it was key to figure out how to deal with the situation in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, noting that there was still a lack of clarity on how much of the $100 billion allotted by the federal government for recovery efforts in numerous states was dedicated to North Carolina, and what federal strings are attached to the money.

Berger said that as for the budget, conversations with House leadership would begin to “hopefully” reach an agreement on a spending cap and then move forward on details.

The Senate has favored legalizing medical marijuana but the House has not taken up the issue. “There’s an opportunity there to address the medical marijuana issue and address” the issues of unregulated THC content in some products, Berger said.

Senate Republicans kept their supermajority but House Republicans lost theirs, meaning Democratic support is more necessary this session.

More new leaders in both chambers

The Senate reelected not just Berger, but also Spruce Pine Republican Sen. Ralph Hise as deputy president pro tempore. In his remarks, Hise focused on the lasting impact of Helene in Western North Carolina.

One change in Senate leadership was the election of Sen. Amy Scott Galey as the Republican majority whip.

And while Senate Republicans largely retained their leadership structure, Senate Democrats selected Sen. Sydney Batch to replace Sen. Dan Blue, a veteran legislator who led the caucus for over a decade, as minority leader.

Rep. Mitchell Setzer, a Catawba County Republican who begins his 14th term this session, was elected to serve as House speaker pro tempore after being chosen for the position by the GOP caucus during leadership elections in November.

Setzer was formally nominated during Wednesday’s session by fellow Republican Rep. Julia Howard, the current longest-serving member of the House, and Rep. Cody Huneycutt, a freshman representative beginning his first term.

Addressing the body, Setzer said he was honored to serve in the new position, and said that “North Carolinians are a proud family.”

“The recent trauma experienced in the west by Hurricane Helene showed the world that we can take a hit, but we will come back swinging, and that we will also look after our own,” Setzer said.

“We are North Carolina, and we are proud and strong, and together we are unstoppable.”

House seats shift, with swing Democrats near front

In general, lawmakers with the most seniority or who lead powerful committees sit closest to the front of the House.

And on Wednesday, some returning House members’ seats had shifted. Democrats who have shown a willingness to vote with Republicans were seated near each other: Rep. Garland Pierce in the first row on the Democratic side of the House, Reps. Cecil Brockman and Shelly Willingham right behind him, and Rep. Carla Cunningham on the next row. Some of them previously sat further back. Pierce’s chair was previously held by former Rep. Marvin Lucas, who retired.

On the Republican side, the Rules Committee chair and majority leader sit in the front row. Rules Chair John Bell has moved one seat over, as he replaced Hall as Rules chair. Next to him is new Majority Leader Brenden Jones.

Rep. Tricia Cotham, who changed parties from Democrat to Republican in 2023, moved a few rows closer to the front.

©2025 The Charlotte Observer. Visit at charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.