North Carolina Legislative Report - January 8, 2016
January 8, 2016
The General Assembly convened for the 2015 legislative long session on January 14 and adjourned September 30. Lawmakers will return to Raleigh for the short session April 25, 2016. The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed on a bi-weekly basis during the interim to keep you up to date on the latest legislative issues facing the state.
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Committees
Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee
The Committee held its first meeting of the interim on Friday, January 8. The Department of Transportation provided updates on DMV reform and modernization, the impact of additional revenue on the State Transportation Improvement Program, and ways to accelerate highway projects. In addition, Committee members received a briefing on the NC Ports Authority Capital Improvement Program from Executive Director Paul Cozza and a review of the Turnpike Authority Annual Report from Executive Director Beau Memory. The Committee will hold its next meeting on February 5th at 9:00 a.m.
Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy
The Commission met on Tuesday, January 5. The first presentation focused on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project. Bruce McKay, Managing Director of Federal Affairs for Dominion Power, gave the presentation. Jenny Kelvington, Executive Director for Energy at the Department of Environmental Quality, then gave an overview of activities related to energy exploration in the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.
The next presentation was given by Nelson Freeman, Legislative Liaison for the Department of Revenue, which focused on implementation of S 372, Renewable Energy Safe Harbor, which provided a delayed sunset for the credit for investing in renewable energy credit for taxpayers under certain conditions. Thomas Boothby, CPA with Dixon, Hughes and Goodman, also gave some comments regarding the safe harbor legislation.
The Committee then heard a report from Kendal Bowman, VP of Regulatory Affairs and Policy for Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, regarding Duke Energy’s Green Source Rider pilot program, which enables certain nonresidential customers to elect to displace all or a portion of the energy supplied for the customer’s new load with procurement of power from renewable energy resources.
The final report was on Duke Energy Progress' rate increase effective January 1, 2016. Mrs. Bowman and Sam Watson, General Counsel and Director for the NC Utilities Commission, both gave presentations during this portion of the committee meeting.
The next JLCE will take place on February 2 at 1:00 p.m.
House Select Committee on Strategic Transportation Planning and Long Term Funding Solutions
The Committee, and its four subcommittees, met on Monday, January 4. During the main committee meeting, members heard from the Department of Transportation on the Governor’s 25-Year Transportation Vision Plan, an overview of the Strategic Transportation Investments program, and an update on federal funding for transportation. In addition, Committee members received a briefing on logistics issues, including items related to infrastructure needs and North Carolina’s competitiveness, from the executive director of the North Carolina Center for Global Logistics and an overview of operations at the State Ports Authority from the executive director of the Authority.
In The News
Charlotte Business Journal: Charlotte is on clock for major 2017 events
Associated Press: Judge won’t stop toll lanes on I-77 near Charlotte
Triangle Business Journal: Lee Roberts resigns as N.C. budget director; other leadership changes announced
WRAL: NC wealth gaps spurring rebuild of economic development efforts
WRAL: Political, academic leaders give bond push a kick-start
Calendar
| Mon, January 11, 2016 | ||
| 9:00 AM | ||
| 1:00 PM | ||
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| 8:30 AM | Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services | |
| 9:30 AM | ||
| 1:00 PM | Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources -- CORRECTED | |
| 1:00 PM | Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice | |
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| 9:00 AM | ||
| 1:00 PM | Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Capital Improvements | |
| 1:00 PM | Jt Legislative Committee on Capital Improvements | |
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| 1:00 PM | Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety -- CORRECTED | |
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| 10:00 AM | ||
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| 1:00 PM | ||
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| 1:00 PM | Jt Legislative Committee on Capital Improvements | |
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| 1:00 PM | Jt Legislative Committee on Capital Improvements | |
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| 1:00 PM | Jt Legislative Committee on Capital Improvements | |
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| 7:00 PM | Session Convenes (House) | |
| 7:00 PM | Session Convenes (Senate) | |