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HB 704

Establish Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Commission.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Cynthia Ball and 16 co-sponsors

Creates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Commission in DNCR to advise on preservation, education, and promotion of AAPI history and culture, with $250k/year funding.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 704

Summary — HB 704: Establish Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Commission

Status: Passed 1st Reading (filed Apr 2, 2025)
Introduced: 2024-11-12 (multiple procedural entries follow)
Primary sponsor(s): Rep. Cervania (NC) and others
Effective date (per bill text): July 1, 2025

Purpose

Create a statutorily authorized Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Commission within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) to advise the Secretary and to support preservation, interpretation, promotion, and education about AAPI history, arts, and culture in the State.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the "Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Commission" in Article 2, Chapter 143B (new Part 30B).
  • Defines the Commission’s core duties, including:
    • Advising the DNCR Secretary on preservation and promotion strategies;
    • Promoting public awareness of AAPI historic sites, buildings, artworks, and culture through programs, exhibits, and publications;
    • Supporting AAPI heritage education in K–12 schools (in coordination with public schools);
    • Building a statewide network of individuals and groups engaged in AAPI cultural preservation;
    • Developing a program to catalog, preserve, assess, and interpret AAPI history, arts, and culture.
  • Authorizes the Commission to advise the Secretary on referred matters.

Composition, terms, and governance

  • Nine members, staggered initial terms:
    • 4 appointed by the Governor (two 3-year terms, one 2-year, one 1-year); at least one must be a member of the NC Historical Commission.
    • 2 appointed on recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate (one 3-year, one 2-year).
    • 2 appointed on recommendation of the Speaker of the House (one 2-year, one 1-year).
    • 1 appointed by the Secretary of DNCR (3-year term).
  • After initial terms, members serve three-year terms and remain until successors are appointed.
  • Chair designated by the Governor (serves at Governor’s pleasure); Commission elects a vice-chair and other officers annually.
  • Meetings at least semiannually; majority constitutes a quorum.
  • Members receive no salary but are eligible for per diem, subsistence, and travel reimbursements under existing statutes.
  • Commission may remove members for neglect of duty, incompetence, or unprofessional conduct; disciplinary suspension during proceedings.

Funding and staffing

  • Appropriates $250,000 in recurring General Fund support for each year of the 2025–2027 biennium to DNCR to support Commission operations (explicitly including funding for a director and an associate director).
  • DNCR must provide necessary clerical and administrative support.

Timeline & procedural notes

  • Initial Commission members must be selected on or before October 1, 2025.
  • Bill text sets the effective date as July 1, 2025.
  • Implementation will require DNCR administrative setup (staffing, program development, coordination with public schools and cultural partners).

Who is affected / likely impact

  • DNCR: administrative responsibility and host agency; will receive appropriated funds and be required to staff and support the Commission.
  • AAPI communities, cultural organizations, museums, historical sites, and schools: potential beneficiaries of increased preservation, programing, education, and state coordination.
  • State budget: recurring appropriation of $250,000/year (2025–2027 biennium noted) for Commission operations.
  • Statewide cultural preservation infrastructure: establishment of a formal advisory body focused on AAPI history and culture may increase visibility, resource coordination, and public education efforts.

This bill creates a permanent advisory commission with defined duties, funded staff positions, and a modest recurring appropriation to institutionalize state-level attention to AAPI heritage preservation and education.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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