Governor · Executive Order 36Housing supply, affordability and construction-workforce coordination
May 19, 2026 · Housing strategy and agency work directed; implementation unverified
Gov. Josh Stein · Issued
Reviewed signed executive order
Governor Josh Stein signed Executive Order 36 on May 19, 2026. Section 1 establishes a Senior Advisor for Housing Policy in the Governor’s Office to develop goals, metrics and an implementation strategy with private, faith, tribal, local and academic partners. An initial proposal is due within 90 days, followed by semiannual progress reporting. Principal departments designate housing leads except the Highway Patrol and State Bureau of Investigation; the Advisor confers with leads within 45 days and at least annually thereafter. Governor-appointed agency heads are directed to participate, while other agency heads are strongly urged. The strategy aligns seven existing plans: the Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs plan, Strategic Housing Plan, Reentry 2030, Historic Preservation Plan, Consolidated Plan, Multisector Plan for Aging and Strategic Economic Development Plan. It does not terminate Order 25’s homelessness council. Section 2 calls for housing data, technology and NCHFA collaboration addressing underserved areas, historic rehabilitation, small developers, zoning, infrastructure, permitting and markets. Its literal reference to agencies described in Section 1.5 conflicts with that provision’s “strongly urged” treatment of non-Governor-appointed agency heads; this review preserves that tension rather than silently substituting Section 1.4 or asserting all such agencies are compelled. DOT explores housing-connectivity and economic-impact measures and local transit-oriented development, applying Complete Streets to the maximum extent feasible. Administration evaluates underused state property for housing suitability and considers government leases near residences, sidewalks and transit where feasible. These duties do not establish land transfers or completed homes. DEQ supplies flood, landslide and wildfire hazard information, water/wastewater capacity, stormwater and water-allocation coordination and mitigation technology for builders and owners. DHHS and NCHFA explore policy, processes and dashboards for supportive housing for people with mental-health, substance-use, intellectual/developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury and complex needs, including justice-involved people. Tenant-selection work addresses people repeatedly excluded, including justice-involved, disability and voucher users; it does not itself abolish landlord screening law. Section 3 directs Commerce-led coordination of existing grant and pass-through resources, including infrastructure, with construction-workforce training, graduation and certifications for skilled trades, inspectors, appraisers and mappers. It also addresses material supply chains, innovation and production to reduce building costs and timelines. Housing creation and support receive significant weight in nominating eligible census tracts to the U.S. Treasury for Opportunity Zones. This nomination criterion does not itself approve a federal designation, change tax rates or verify any taxpayer’s benefits. Section 4 is effective immediately until June 30, 2029 unless rescinded. Background housing, income, migration, investment and jobs figures were not independently audited. Actual appointments, 45/90-day deliverables, homes, grants, designations and observed affordability changes remain unverified. Workforce training, graduation and certifications are explicit agency priorities. They are not a change to K–12 curriculum or a verified enrollment count.
Signed 2026-05-19; published 2026-05-19. Housing strategy and agency work directed; implementation unverified. Historical issuance is verified; current operation and outcomes require separate review.
Why this record is included
Workforce training, graduation and certifications are explicit agency priorities. They are not a change to K–12 curriculum or a verified enrollment count.
Retained North Carolina evidence context: cpi · reviewed policy context · housing-borrowing · reviewed policy context · deficit-debt-interest · reviewed policy context · education · reviewed policy context · health · reviewed policy context · real-gdp · reviewed policy context · unemployment-rate · reviewed policy context · income-taxes · reviewed policy context · crime · reviewed policy context. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.
Governor Josh Stein signed Executive Order 36 on May 19, 2026. Section 1 establishes a Senior Advisor for Housing Policy in the Governor’s Office to develop goals, metrics and an implementation strategy with private, faith, tribal, local and academic partners. An initial proposal is due within 90 days, followed by semiannual progress reporting. Principal departments designate housing leads except the Highway Patrol and State Bureau of Investigation; the Advisor confers with leads within 45 days and at least annually thereafter. Governor-appointed agency heads are directed to participate, while other agency heads are strongly urged.
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