Charles Smith is the Democratic incumbent for North Carolina House of Representatives District 44, a seat he has held since January 1, 2023, and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1]The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled.[1]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Jobs & cost of living119 with · 29 against151 votes
On the version voted Sep 23, 2025: Changes dozens of state regulations, including barring local street paving standards stricter than the state's, limiting local rules on displaying American flags on private property, easing wastewater and stormwater permitting, and expanding where restaurants and food businesses may use liquor for cooking.
On the version voted Jun 30, 2026: Requires cryptocurrency kiosk operators to be licensed and supervised by the state banking commissioner, caps daily transactions at $2,000 for new and $5,000 for existing customers, limits fees to 12%, and requires fraud warnings and refunds for some scam victims.
Bars state agencies from DEI programs in hiring, staffing or training, and bars state and local governments from using public money for DEI. Sets State Auditor compliance audits, removal of violating employees, civil penalties and lawsuits.
On the version voted Jun 24, 2026: Requires state public safety, prison, Highway Patrol and SBI leaders to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, ends state benefits and housing aid for noncitizens lacking legal status where federal law allows, and waives tort immunity for cities and counties with sanctuary ordinances when an unauthorized immigrant commits a crime there.
Lets U.S. citizens 18 or older who are not otherwise prohibited carry a concealed handgun without a permit, raises line-of-duty death payments to $150,000, and increases penalties for firearm assaults on law enforcement and other first responders.
Requires public schools to adopt library policies under which community advisory committees review books for quality and age-appropriateness, requires removal of material that fails the criteria, including depictions of sexual activity, and lets parents or county residents sue over violations.
Bars UNC campuses and community colleges from endorsing or compelling belief in listed "divisive concepts," from discriminatory practices, and from keeping diversity, equity and inclusion offices; requires their governing boards to adopt policies implementing these rules.
Bars public school units from teaching or requiring affirmation of listed "divisive concepts" (such as one race or sex being inherently superior), from discriminatory practices, and from keeping diversity, equity and inclusion offices; requires annual compliance certification.
Requires General Assembly approval before state environmental agencies sign agreements with the U.S. EPA, and directs the Department of Environmental Quality to seek revisions to its sedimentation-control agreements to streamline requirements and to ask EPA to consult it on proposed federal rules.
Sets rules for new data centers of 100 megawatts or more, including site assessments, closed-loop or liquid cooling with no evaporative cooling, electric contracts that shield other customers from costs, and a ban on local incentives; also delays a swine-waste energy requirement to 2029.
Sets timelines and procedures for state review of Clean Water Act 401 water quality certifications, creates permitting rules for upland basin marinas, and excludes certain man-made ditches from the Coastal Area Management Act.
Orders the Division of Health Benefits to disenroll Planned Parenthood and associated entities as Medicaid providers, end their Medicaid contracts, and engage other providers for services they provided.
Requires the State Health Director to issue a standing order by October 1, 2025, letting pharmacists dispense human-use ivermectin without a prescription, with civil and criminal liability immunity for the director and pharmacists.
Gives parents access to a minor child's medical records, with exceptions. Limits minors' own consent to pregnancy care and, from age 16, treatment of reportable diseases with a prescription of 10 days or less. Extends emergency no-consent treatment rules to physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
Lets local governments borrow money to speed up regional and division transportation projects scheduled for state funding, repaying it from expected state or federal money, after signing an agreement with the Department of Transportation.
Requires pharmacy benefit managers to pay pharmacies at least federal benchmark drug costs, bars them from charging pharmacies various fees or stopping pharmacists from mentioning cheaper drugs, limits pharmacy audits, and requires quarterly reports on drug costs and manufacturer price concessions.
Bars cities and counties from allowing regular public camping or sleeping on public property, except on sites a governing board designates by majority vote for up to one year and the state health department certifies, with safety, sanitation and behavioral-health standards.
Lets courts award attorneys' fees to people who win civil actions against local governments over development approvals, requires fees for intentional violations or delay, and requires punitive damages up to 10 times damages for flagrantly unfair or deceptive conduct meant to prompt a suit.
May 1, 2025 · Passed 67–39 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Creates felonies for selling drugs in posted drug-free zones around homeless service facilities, and bars local governments from allowing regular camping or sleeping on public property except at sites they designate for up to a year with Labor Department certification.
Sets rules for new data centers of 100 megawatts or more, including site assessments, closed-loop or liquid cooling with no evaporative cooling, electric contracts that shield other customers from costs, and a ban on local incentives; also delays a swine-waste energy requirement to 2029.
Requires wireless carriers to give police a phone's location when it was used to call 911 or is believed to be with someone at risk of death or serious harm, shields carriers from lawsuits for doing so, and requires them to file emergency contacts with the SBI.
On the version voted Jun 23, 2026: Bars foreign parties tied to adversarial governments from acquiring or holding interests in agricultural land or land within 50 miles of a military installation. Holdings before April 1, 2027 may continue but must be registered; later acquisitions must be sold within one year.
Voted against most of their party on 72 of 243 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (28), Rights & public safety (15), Education & families (7)
2026 Budget Technical Corrections - II.
What it does: Makes technical, clarifying and other changes to the 2026 state budget law, including adjustments to Hurricane Helene recovery grants and programs, budget procedure rules, and several local and board appointment provi…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 17–28, Republicans 61–0
What it does: On the version voted Jul 28, 2026: Adjourns the 2025 General Assembly session in stages, reconvening August 31, September 28, October 26, November 16 and November 30, 2026, each limited to veto overrides, appointments…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 17–28, Republicans 60–0
What it does: On the version voted Aug 5, 2026: Makes technical, clarifying and other changes to the 2026 state budget law, including adjustments to Hurricane Helene recovery grants and programs, budget procedure rules, and several…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 15–31, Republicans 63–0
What it does: On the version voted Jul 29, 2026: Makes dozens of regulatory changes, including de novo review of rule interpretation by administrative law judges and courts, higher penalties for water theft and littering, limits on…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 20–26, Republicans 63–0
What it does: Appoints people to boards and commissions, including community college trustees and a Special Superior Court judge, on the recommendation of the Senate leader and House Speaker, and corrects earlier appointments.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–37, Republicans 62–1
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 147 · NC HOUSE
Various Local Provisions XI.
YesVOTED
Motion: R3 Ruled Mat'l M11 Concur
Removes the satellite annexation cap for Bear Grass, writes the Currituck County Game Commission's waterfowl blind rules into law with online applications and flexible fees, and requires ward-based primaries in Hickory when more than two candidates file for a ward.
Makes technical, clarifying and other changes to the 2026 state budget law, including adjustments to Hurricane Helene recovery grants and programs, budget procedure rules, and several local and board appointment provisions.
On the version voted Jul 29, 2026: Changes court laws, including when juvenile records may be disclosed, giving any attorney of record access to the trial file in indigent appeals, assigning superior court judges to districts with a county over 1 million people, and Judicial Standards Commission definitions.
On the version voted Jul 28, 2026: Adjourns the 2025 General Assembly session in stages, reconvening August 31, September 28, October 26, November 16 and November 30, 2026, each limited to veto overrides, appointments, election laws and certain other matters, then adjourns sine die December 18, 2026.
On the version voted Aug 5, 2026: Removes the satellite annexation cap for Bear Grass, writes the Currituck County Game Commission's waterfowl blind rules into law with online applications and flexible fees, and requires ward-based primaries in Hickory when more than two candidates file for a ward.
Adds parts of Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River and Stones Bay to Jacksonville's city limits, limits city police powers and annexation north of N.C. Highway 24, and ends the city's zoning authority outside its limits.
On the version voted Aug 5, 2026: Makes technical, clarifying and other changes to the 2026 state budget law, including adjustments to Hurricane Helene recovery grants and programs, budget procedure rules, and several local and board appointment provisions.
On the version voted Jul 29, 2026: Adjusts the 2026 budget act: redirects several directed grants, moves authorization of the America's Semiquincentennial license plate into GS 20-63, delays an insurance regulatory charge change to 2027, and appropriates $225,000 for State Fire Marshal and $300,000 for Labor Department positions.
On the version voted Jul 29, 2026: Makes dozens of regulatory changes, including de novo review of rule interpretation by administrative law judges and courts, higher penalties for water theft and littering, limits on local glazing requirements, and new rules on accessory dwelling units and mining permits.
Creates a process for cities and towns to remove land from their limits, either on their own initiative after a report and public hearing or on a petition signed by all owners, with consent required from any local government taking over services.