State Rep. John R. Bell, IV has introduced legislation intended to modify the boundaries of Walnut Creek and clarify planning and development powers for the village, according to the North Carolina State House.
Filed as HB 1058 on April 27 during the 2025 regular session, the bill’s short title appears as: ‘Walnut Creek Deannex.’
Below is an overview based directly on the bill text with explanatory notes to help interpret its contents.
This bill proposes to remove 3 named parcels, covering roughly 43 acres, from the Village of Walnut Creek’s corporate limits. The village would retain its tax and special assessment liens on the affected properties. Effective June 30, 2026, those parcels would not be taxed by the village for municipal property taxes for tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2026. The legislation also prohibits Walnut Creek from using extraterritorial planning and development powers outside its adjacent corporate limits but permits current development regulations to remain temporarily as allowed by state law. Additionally, it confirms the validity of any prior village real or personal property transactions.
During the 2025 regular session, Bell introduced 36 other bills.
In North Carolina, a bill must go through several steps before becoming law. After a lawmaker files a bill, it is assigned to a committee, and must be read 3 times in both legislative chambers. If either chamber amends a bill passed by the other, both bodies must agree on the final version. Once both pass an identical version, the bill goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is adjourned) to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature.
Further details on bills and measures are available here.
Bell earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington in 2001.
A Republican, Bell began his tenure in the North Carolina House in 2013, representing the 10th House district after succeeding Karen Kozel.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| John R. Bell, IV | HB 1058 | 04/27/2026 | Walnut Creek Deannex. |
| John R. Bell, IV | HB 1015 | 07/24/2025 | General Assembly Appointments. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Jennifer Balkcom, Karl E. Gillespie, and Matthew Winslow | HB 895 | 04/10/2025 | Emergency Citizen Pilot Training Program. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Donna McDowell White, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 906 | 04/10/2025 | Reagan’s Law. |
| John R. Bell, IV | HB 907 | 04/10/2025 | NC Recovery and Resiliency Act. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Julia C. Howard, Robert T. Reives, II, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 909 | 04/10/2025 | State Infrastructure Bank Board. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Brian Biggs, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 945 | 04/10/2025 | Reporting of Sexual Assault on School Buses. |
| John R. Bell, IV and Jimmy Dixon | HB 972 | 04/10/2025 | Funds for Public Projects in Wayne County. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Brian Biggs, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 985 | 04/10/2025 | Increase Punishment for Assaulting Teachers. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Brenden H. Jones, David Willis, and Destin Hall | HB 780 | 04/03/2025 | All Pro Dads & Responsible Fatherhood NC. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Carla D. Cunningham, Jeff Zenger, and Mark Brody | HB 661 | 04/01/2025 | Building Industry Efficiency Act of 2025. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Allen Chesser, Donnie Loftis, and Vernetta Alston | HB 612 | 03/31/2025 | Fostering Care in NC Act. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Allen Chesser, Diane Wheatley, and Edward C. Goodwin | HB 540 | 03/26/2025 | Additional Funds for Patriot Star Scholarship. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Allison A. Dahle, Mark Brody, and Wyatt Gable | HB 520 | 03/25/2025 | Abuse and Deception by Telemarketers. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Bill Ward, Stephen M. Ross, and Steve Tyson | HB 496 | 03/24/2025 | Patriotic Youth Group Access. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Timothy Reeder, MD, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 434 | 03/18/2025 | Lower Healthcare Costs. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Allen Chesser, Jeff Zenger, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 402 | 03/13/2025 | Limit Rules With Substantial Financial Costs. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Brian Turner, Cody Huneycutt, and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 382 | 03/12/2025 | Elk Permit Auction/Raffle. |
| John R. Bell, IV | HB 385 | 03/12/2025 | Competition Parity Act. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Larry C. Strickland | HB 389 | 03/12/2025 | Child Care Workforce Pilot Program. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Robert T. Reives, II, Stephen M. Ross, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 283 | 03/04/2025 | Small Business Investment Grant Program. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Dudley Greene, Jennifer Balkcom, and Kelly E. Hastings | HB 251 | 02/27/2025 | Various Disaster Recovery Reforms. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Brian Echevarria, Dennis Riddell, and Donnie Loftis | HB 214 | 02/25/2025 | Faithful Article V Commissioner Act. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Jennifer Balkcom, John Sauls, and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 177 | 02/24/2025 | Reduce Barriers to State Employment. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Brian Biggs, Jennifer Balkcom, and Neal Jackson | HB 186 | 02/24/2025 | The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Jennifer Balkcom, Julia C. Howard, and Ya Liu | HB 187 | 02/24/2025 | Credit Union Update. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Jeff Zenger, Jennifer Balkcom, and Neal Jackson | HB 133 | 02/17/2025 | NC Farmland and Military Protection Act. |
| John R. Bell, IV and Dudley Greene | HB 47 | 02/04/2025 | Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I. |
| John R. Bell, IV, Allen Chesser, Erin Paré, and Harry Warren | HB 11 | 01/29/2025 | No Tax on Tips, Overtime, Bonus Pay. |
| John R. Bell, IV, David Willis, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Harry Warren | HB 12 | 01/29/2025 | Observe Standard Time All Year. |
