A new bill filed by State Sen. Phil Berger seeks to create a division that assesses the effectiveness and necessity of state agencies and positions, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 474 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘The DAVE Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill, known as the DAVE Act, establishes a Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency within the North Carolina Department of State Auditor. By October 1, 2025, each state agency is required to report to the division on its use of public funds and the status of any positions vacant for more than six months. The new division will use this information, along with other relevant data and tools like artificial intelligence, to assess the necessity of each agency and its vacant roles. The assessment focuses on factors such as spending effectiveness and potential duplications. By December 31, 2025, the division must provide the General Assembly with recommendations regarding the potential dissolution of state agencies or departments and the elimination of unnecessary positions. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Timothy D. Moffitt proposed the most bills (52) 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.
Berger graduated from Averett College with a BS and again in 1982 from Wake Forest University School of Law with a JD.
Berger, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 26th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dave Craven.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Berger, Steve Jarvis, and Timothy D. Moffitt | SB 474 | 03/24/2025 | The DAVE Act. |
| Phil Berger, Carl Ford, and Vickie Sawyer | SB 320 | 03/17/2025 | LEO Special Separation Allowance Options. |
| Phil Berger, Lisa S. Barnes, and Paul Newton | SB 261 | 03/10/2025 | Energy Security and Affordability Act. |
| Phil Berger, Brad Overcash, and Michael V. Lee | SB 227 | 03/03/2025 | Eliminating “DEI” in Public Education. |
| Phil Berger, Buck Newton, and Warren Daniel | SB 153 | 02/24/2025 | North Carolina Border Protection Act. |
| Phil Berger | SB 33 | 01/30/2025 | 26th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
