Rep. Blust files bill in North Carolina House on legislative document confidentiality

A new bill filed by State Rep. John M. Blust in the North Carolina House seeks to clarify legislators’ custodianship and disclosure obligations regarding official documents, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 900 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Legislators Documents Confidentiality Change.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill modifies the confidentiality rules concerning documents held by North Carolina legislators. It states that legislators are the custodians of all documents, supporting materials, drafting requests, and information requests made or received during their tenure, both while in office and after leaving. Legislators are not obligated to disclose these documents except in specific circumstances, such as in response to federal grand jury subpoenas or requests from investigative authorities. Exceptions also include correspondence regarding state funds allocated to businesses and nonprofits, interactions with lobbyists regarding legislation, records of staff compensation, and communications with state agencies concerning the legislator’s business interests. The act becomes effective upon becoming law.

Blust proposed another 21 bills 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.

Blust graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 1979 with a BS and again in 1982 from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill with a JD.

Blust, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 62nd House district, replacing previous state representative John Faircloth Jr..