Three North Carolina legislators have officially introduced a bill for Mecklenburg County to put a 1-cent sales tax increase on the 2025 election ballot. Why it matters: This is the furthest Charlotte has gotten in making its transit dreams a reality in five years and marks a significant milestone.

Senate Bill 145, filed Monday, must be approved by lawmakers before voters cast ballots. The sales tax increase would fund years of transit expansion.

North Carolina's new House Speaker Destin Hall said Monday there's a path forward for Mecklenburg County's transportation bill to pass in the General Assembly — but it won't be easy. Why it matters: Hall's remarks at the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance came the same day a bill was filed in the General Assembly that would put the long-desired sales tax referendum on this year's election ballot.

Legislators filed Senate Bill 145 Monday, which could allow Mecklenburg County to put a 1-cent sales tax on the ballot this year.

Three state senators today filed a bill seeking approval for a sales tax referendum in Mecklenburg County that would generate $19.4 billion for transit and roads projects. The bill’s sponsors, all Republicans,