Unnamed Expert on Bridge Safety

So I headed to the statehouse in Raleigh, and in a hallway overlooking the grand staircase, I met up with Representative Laura Budd. She's opposed bills pushed by the homebuilders' lobby. Do people talk about the homebuilders around here?

So I headed to the statehouse in Raleigh, and in a hallway overlooking the grand staircase, I met up with Representative Laura Budd. She's opposed bills pushed by the homebuilders' lobby. Do people talk about the homebuilders around here?

So I headed to the statehouse in Raleigh, and in a hallway overlooking the grand staircase, I met up with Representative Laura Budd. She's opposed bills pushed by the homebuilders' lobby. Do people talk about the homebuilders around here?

Bud said a lot of individual homebuilders want to make strong, safe homes. She even represents some of them in her law practice. But at the statehouse, as an industry, she says the lobby pushes for less regulation.

Bud said a lot of individual homebuilders want to make strong, safe homes. She even represents some of them in her law practice. But at the statehouse, as an industry, she says the lobby pushes for less regulation.

Bud said a lot of individual homebuilders want to make strong, safe homes. She even represents some of them in her law practice. But at the statehouse, as an industry, she says the lobby pushes for less regulation.

Do you think they've had too much power in this state? Way too much power.

Do you think they've had too much power in this state? Way too much power.

Do you think they've had too much power in this state? Way too much power.

So you're saying when the home builders want a piece of legislation passed, they know who to call here. They know exactly who to call. In the spring of 2023, more than a year before Helene hit, the state's main building group, the North Carolina Home Builders Association, pushed for legislation called House Bill 488.

So you're saying when the home builders want a piece of legislation passed, they know who to call here. They know exactly who to call. In the spring of 2023, more than a year before Helene hit, the state's main building group, the North Carolina Home Builders Association, pushed for legislation called House Bill 488.

So you're saying when the home builders want a piece of legislation passed, they know who to call here. They know exactly who to call. In the spring of 2023, more than a year before Helene hit, the state's main building group, the North Carolina Home Builders Association, pushed for legislation called House Bill 488.

The bill made changes to the state's building code that the homebuilders supported, as the group explained on their YouTube channel.

The bill made changes to the state's building code that the homebuilders supported, as the group explained on their YouTube channel.

The bill made changes to the state's building code that the homebuilders supported, as the group explained on their YouTube channel.

More than 40 organizations publicly opposed the bill, saying it would leave the state more vulnerable to storms. Still, some lawmakers took the lead to get it passed.

More than 40 organizations publicly opposed the bill, saying it would leave the state more vulnerable to storms. Still, some lawmakers took the lead to get it passed.

More than 40 organizations publicly opposed the bill, saying it would leave the state more vulnerable to storms. Still, some lawmakers took the lead to get it passed.

At the time, Mark Brody was a state representative and chair of a committee that oversaw land use. We read through hundreds of pages obtained through open records laws, including emails between Brody and the Home Builders Association in the run-up to the bill's passage. In one, Brody goes over the draft language of the bill.

At the time, Mark Brody was a state representative and chair of a committee that oversaw land use. We read through hundreds of pages obtained through open records laws, including emails between Brody and the Home Builders Association in the run-up to the bill's passage. In one, Brody goes over the draft language of the bill.