North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed Senate Bill 695. He described the law as encouraging partnerships between local governments and developers to increase housing availability and affordability as housing costs rise. The debate is how much the state should lean on public-private partnerships to address housing costs. Supporters say local governments often need private builders, land, financing, and faster coordination to add homes. Critics worry that partnership can become a subsidy for developers unless affordability requirements, infrastructure, design, and community benefits are clear. Partnerships can work, but only if everybody knows the bargain. Builders need predictable rules, and communities need homes that normal workers can afford.