The great acronym arms race

Lawmakers are turning bill names into branding, and some are getting really good at it.

There’s a new legislative arms race in Raleigh — and it’s not over policy. It’s over who can come up with the cleverest bill acronym.

Some are brilliant. Some are a little cringe. But when done right, a good acronym can be more than just a little fun wordplay. It can shape coverage, drive the message, and give a bill real staying power.

What used to be a D.C. branding gimmick (remember the USA PATRIOT Act?) has fully arrived in North Carolina. And it's changing how legislation gets sold to voters.

In just a few weeks, we’ve seen North Carolina lawmakers file at least a half-dozen bills with titles like the DAVE Act, the RIC FLAIR Act, and the COOPER Accountability Act. The names crafted to go viral, land a punch, or simply make reporters write about them.

Here’s a tiered ranking of this year’s standout acronym bills — plus some advice for legislators trying to get in on the game.

🥇 Top tier: Clean, catchy, and on-message

The DAVE Act

Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency
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