Unnamed Expert on Bridge Safety

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.

In another, Brody asked the home builders, guys, is this how we want it to look? I asked Representative Budd, why is the legislature doing this?

In another, Brody asked the home builders, guys, is this how we want it to look? I asked Representative Budd, why is the legislature doing this?

In another, Brody asked the home builders, guys, is this how we want it to look? I asked Representative Budd, why is the legislature doing this?

The homebuilders were Brody's top donor in the last campaign cycle, according to state finance records. The group spread half a million more dollars around to other state and local officials. Brody did not respond to NPR's request for comment, but the homebuilders did give us an interview.

The homebuilders were Brody's top donor in the last campaign cycle, according to state finance records. The group spread half a million more dollars around to other state and local officials. Brody did not respond to NPR's request for comment, but the homebuilders did give us an interview.

The homebuilders were Brody's top donor in the last campaign cycle, according to state finance records. The group spread half a million more dollars around to other state and local officials. Brody did not respond to NPR's request for comment, but the homebuilders did give us an interview.

Chris Millis is a top lobbyist for the North Carolina Home Builders Association.

Chris Millis is a top lobbyist for the North Carolina Home Builders Association.

Chris Millis is a top lobbyist for the North Carolina Home Builders Association.

I met up with him at the organization's Raleigh headquarters.

I met up with him at the organization's Raleigh headquarters.

I met up with him at the organization's Raleigh headquarters.

Millis told me the association has never opposed mapping in the mountains, and it believes statewide steep slope legislation is unnecessary and counterproductive. because they say many local communities already have such rules and that they can best establish regulations that reflect their community's needs.

Millis told me the association has never opposed mapping in the mountains, and it believes statewide steep slope legislation is unnecessary and counterproductive. because they say many local communities already have such rules and that they can best establish regulations that reflect their community's needs.

Millis told me the association has never opposed mapping in the mountains, and it believes statewide steep slope legislation is unnecessary and counterproductive. because they say many local communities already have such rules and that they can best establish regulations that reflect their community's needs.

He said the Bill 488, which is now law, will enhance safety while preserving efficiency and that building code enforcement remains robust and fully intact in the state. He said the bill did not eliminate or diminish any existing inspection authority.

He said the Bill 488, which is now law, will enhance safety while preserving efficiency and that building code enforcement remains robust and fully intact in the state. He said the bill did not eliminate or diminish any existing inspection authority.

He said the Bill 488, which is now law, will enhance safety while preserving efficiency and that building code enforcement remains robust and fully intact in the state. He said the bill did not eliminate or diminish any existing inspection authority.

In this email that is sent to you, the lawmaker lists the nine things that they're putting in the code, and he's asking you, let me know if I missed something. I mean, why is the lawmaker, who's the chairman of this committee, asking you what he's missing when he's changing the codes?