Lindsey Prather is a Democratic state representative from North Carolina House District 115 in Buncombe County who has served since January 1, 2023, and is running for re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2]Ballotpedia describes her as a former special education and social studies teacher in Buncombe County Schools.[1]
Prather graduated from Cary High School, according to Ballotpedia.[1]She earned a B.A. in sociology from the University of North Carolina, Asheville, in 2010 and an M.P.A. from Western Carolina University in 2019.[1]Her career has included work as a special education teacher and a social studies teacher in Buncombe County Schools, and the General Assembly lists her occupation as university admissions.[1][2]
Prather serves on the House Appropriations, Higher Education, Pensions and Retirement, and State and Local Government committees, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, and the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery.[3]
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 living133 with · 9 against145 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.
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.
On the version voted Jun 23, 2025: Provides that parents or caregivers who raise or refer to a child consistent with the child's biological sex cannot face abuse or neglect findings on that basis alone, and bars adoption agencies from rejecting parents who do not support a child's gender transition.
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.
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 24-hour-staffed fire, rescue and emergency department buildings install temperature-controlled newborn safety devices where a parent can leave an infant up to 30 days old, with alarms, signage and annual state inspection.
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.
Makes using an ignition interlock device for at least six months before trial a factor that can lower an impaired-driving sentence, for defendants with no recent impaired-driving convictions, a blood alcohol level under 0.15 and no crash causing serious injury or death.
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.
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.
Lets a property owner start an expedited court process to remove an unauthorized person occupying residential property, with a hearing no later than 48 hours after service.
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.
Clarifies that business contracts with reciprocal attorneys' fee provisions may be signed by hand or electronically, and that notary applicants must sign initial applications in pen and ink while the Secretary of State may accept other signatures electronically.
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 13 of 227 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (5), Rights & public safety (4)
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 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 28, 2026: Amends the absentee-ballot statute in the elections bill so ballots transmitted to county boards under that statute or under federal law are counted, and requires State Board rules i…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 11–35, Republicans 62–0
What it does: Makes technical and clarifying changes to the 2026 budget act and other acts, including Hurricane Helene fund transfers, school facility funding cross references, and the principal salary schedule.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 19–20, Republicans 63–1
What it does: Tightens pretrial release rules for people charged with violent offenses or with significant criminal histories, requires mental health evaluations for some defendants before release, and makes other changes to crimin…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 16–30, Republicans 64–0
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.