Rep. Rodney Price (D-Halifax) speaks to reporters at a press conference on April 28, 2026. (Photo: Christine Zhu/NC Newsline)
North Carolina Democratic House lawmakers and local leaders spoke out against a bill Tuesday that would allow a county to take away another county’s property.
Senate Bill 214, or “Various Local Provisions VII,” contains a provision that allows Franklin County to seize property in Halifax, Vance or Warren counties “without the consent or approval” of the other county’s local government.
“This should not be a partisan issue,” Rep. Rodney Pierce (D-Halifax) said. “The idea that one county can take property in another county without consent should concern you.”
The bill would allow Franklin County to seize a Henderson water treatment plant in Vance County, which is the owner of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System. At the moment, Franklin County isn’t an owner of the system, but does purchase water from it as well as from other sources like Raleigh and Louisburg.
Franklin County, which is growing quickly, has sought more water “through existing regional arrangements” repeatedly but failed to secure a long-term solution, according to a statement from County Manager Ryan Preble’s office obtained by WIZS.
It isn’t “cost-effective or sustainable” to obtain water from multiple sources at the scale needed to serve Franklin County, according to the statement.
The provision would give Franklin County the right to take the water it wants without an agreement with surrounding counties. It was inserted into the bill behind closed doors. It did not undergo any public discussion or input.
Pierce criticized his Republican colleagues for failing to extend a hand across the aisle to consult with local municipalities and their concerns.
“Nobody came to me and said, ‘Hey, we have a bill that’s impacting your counties. We’d like your input or the input of your local elected officials,’” Pierce said.
Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott said the issue is turning into a fight over environmental justice, control and morals. Halifax, Vance and Warren counties are already among the most economically distressed in North Carolina.
“When decisions about land, water and power fall hardest on rural, economically distressed communities… We must tell the truth about what is at stake,” she said. “Water is life, land is legacy, and justice belongs to poor people, too.”
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From a legal standpoint, the measure violates established statutory procedures.
Melissa Dixon, an attorney for the Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District, said the state constitution forbids the use of local bills to regulate water and sanitation issues. She called the attempt by Franklin County “illegal, immoral, and unconscionable.”
“It is a blatant attempt to steal the land and water resources from the citizens of Halifax, Vance and Warren counties without the consent of their elected representatives,” Dixon said.
Earl Evans, vice chairman of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe of North Carolina, said he was disappointed that a proposal like this was made without consulting a neighboring tribal nation.
“We consider ourselves to be friends and neighbors to all of the other governments that surround us, still do, and would be willing to be a partner in whatever comes across, because we’re all in this together,” he said. “We need each other to survive, and that requires cooperation.”
It’s unclear who authored the provision. Daniel Woody, legislative assistant for Rep. Bryan Cohn (D-Granville, Vance), said Cohn did not write any part of the proposed bill. Rep. Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin, Vance) did not immediately respond to NC Newsline’s request for comment.
Senate Bill 214 began as a local bill in February 2025. Local bills are not subject to the governor’s veto. Because the bill is a conference committee report, it can no longer be amended. It can only be sent back to the conference committee for revision.
The bill has been pulled from the House calendar for Tuesday, but the Senate is still expected to vote on it Tuesday afternoon.
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