North Carolina Legislative Report - May 27, 2016
May 27, 2016
Lawmakers returned to Raleigh for the Regular Session April 25, 2016.
The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed
weekly during session to keep you up to date on the latest legislative issues
facing the state.
On The Floor
For legislative action lookup by day, click below:
Committee Meetings
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House Rules Committee
The Committee met on Tuesday, May 24, and approved two bills. HB 1141, Observance of Memorial Day, is a joint resolution honoring our service members during the observance of Memorial Day. SB 71, Commission Appointment Modifications, would require coal combustion residuals impoundment owners to provide permanent alternative water supplies for residents in areas surrounding coal combustion residuals surface impoundments; extend the period for public comment and review of proposed risk classifications for coal combustion residuals surface impoundments; and modify appointments to the Coal Ash Management Commission, the Mining Commission and the Oil and Gas Commission, in accord with the holding of McCrory v. Berger.
House Finance Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, May 25, and approved one bill. SB 363, Wage & Hour/Local Gov't Assessments/Parks, would a) provide that employees of a seasonal amusement or recreational establishment are not subject to minimum wage, overtime, or record keeping requirements, b) authorize counties and cities to fund a critical infrastructure project with funds from private parties that may be reimbursed through the imposition of assessments, and c) remove several small tracts from the State Nature and Historic Preserve and from the State Parks System to resolve deed overlaps, to allow for minor road relocations and utility easements, and to improve park management.
House Education Committee - K-12
The Committee met on Wednesday, May 25, and approved one bill. HB 1080, Achievement School District, seeks to establish the Achievement School District, as recommended by the House Select Committee on Achievement School Districts.
House Appropriations Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, May 25, and approved two bills - SB 71, Commission Appointment Modifications, and HB 1050, DOT/No Discrimination Against Motorcyclists. HB 1050 seeks to prohibit the DOT from discriminating against motorcyclists when taking certain actions.
House Health Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, May 25, and approved two bills. SB 838, Medicaid Transformation Modifications, would require additional reporting on the status of Medicaid transformation planning and implementation and would make modifications proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to the 2015 Medicaid Transformation session law. SB 734, Statewide Standing Order/Opioid Antagonist, would amend the law on drug-related overdose treatment to authorize the State Health Director to issue a statewide standing order for an opioid antagonist allowing the overdose treatment drug to be more readily accessible.
SENATE
Senate Finance Committee
The Committee met twice this week - on Tuesday, May 24, and Wednesday, May 25. On Tuesday, the Committee approved four bills. SB 575, NC/SC Original Border Confirmation, would address several legal and tax issues related to the reestablishment of the original boundary line existing between North Carolina and South Carolina. The bill would not change the boundary line. SB 739, Town of Rolesville/Annexation, would add certain property, including the right-of-way of the Rolesville Bypass, to the Town of Rolesville. SB 774, Village of Marvin/Deannexation, would deannex certain property from the Village of Marvin. HB 1023, Municipal Service Districts/Statutory Changes, would require additional accounting of certain contractors of cities with respect to municipal service districts, require that an ordinance to establish a municipal service district be adopted at two separate meetings of the city council, and establish a process by which property owners may petition for creation or reduction of a municipal service district.
On Wednesday, the Committee held discussions on SB 869, Market-Based Sourcing, but did not take a vote on the bill. The bill would change the manner in which receipts are sourced in determining the apportionment factor for multistate corporations for income and franchise tax purposes.
Senate Education/Higher Education Committee
The Committee met on Tuesday, May 24, and approved two bills. HB 632, Student Online Protection Act, seeks to protect student online privacy. SB 867, Protect Students in Schools, would require criminal background checks for teacher licensure and school personnel employment.
Senate Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, May 25, and approved one bill. SB 770, NC Farm Act of 2016, seeks to provide further regulatory relief to the agricultural community.
Senate Education/Higher Education Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, May 25, and approved one bill. SB 873, Access to Affordable College Education Act, seeks to implement various policy changes designed to make public higher education more affordable in accordance with the state constitutional mandate that the benefits of public higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the state free of expense.
Senate Information Technology Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, May 25, and approved two bills. SB 814, Designate State CIO as Secretary of Department, would allow the State Chief Information Office to also be referred to as Secretary of the Department of IT. SB 792, State IT Contracts/Contractor Liability, sets the limits of contractor liability under state information technology procurement contracts.
Senate Appropriations Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, May 25, and approved one bill. SB 873, Access to Affordable College Ed. Act. The bill would provide for fixed tuition and fee options at each University of North Carolina (UNC) constituent institution; reduction of student fees at each UNC constitution institution; and reduced tuition at certain UNC constituent institutions. In addition, it would add a provision authorizing the Director of the Budget to increase the base budget of UNC by up to $70,000,000 to cover the cost of lost tuition revenue from the reduced tuition at certain UNC constituent institutions. It would also direct the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina (BOG) to evaluate the admissions cap on out-of-state students at certain UNC institutions. Finally, it would establish the Cheatham-White Scholarships at North Carolina A&T University and North Carolina Central University.
Senate Commerce Committee
The Committee met on Thursday, May 26, and approved one bill. HB 169, Regulatory Reduction Act of 2016, would amend a number of State laws related to business regulation; State and local government regulation; and agricultural, energy, environmental, and natural resources regulation.
In The News
- Raleigh News & Observer: Senate Republicans propose big teacher pay hike
- WRAL: Coal ash bill on North Carolina legislative fast track slows
- Charlotte Observer: High-profile group forming to find a fix for HB2 impasse
- Raleigh News & Observer: N.C. rated toss-up in electoral college count
- Charlotte Business Journal: Charlotte Chamber addresses its approach for HB 2 action
- Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina-South Carolina border could shift after years of debate
Legislative Calendar
| Mon, May 30, 2016 | ||
| 5:00 PM | Session Convenes (House) | House |
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| 9:00 AM | Session Convenes (Senate) | Senate |
| 10:00 AM | Pensions and Retirement (House) Admin. Changes Retirement System/Treasurer. (H1134) | 415 LOB |
| 10:00 AM | Finance (Senate) Moore County Local Sales Tax Use Restriction. (S727) | 643 LOB |
| 11:00 AM | Commerce (Senate) Property Insurance Rate-Making Reform. (H151) | 1027/1128 LB |
| 11:30 AM | Rep. Larry Hall - Press Conference (Date Change) | Press Room LB |
| 4:00 PM | Select Committee on Nominations (Senate) Agenda: to be determined | 1027/1128 LB |
| 4:00 PM | Senator McInnis Press Conference | Press Room LB |
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| 9:00 AM | Health (House) | 643 LOB |
| 11:00 AM | Rep. Larry Hall - Press Conference | Press Room LB |
| 12:00 PM | Rep. Harrison - Press Conference | Press Room LB |
| 1:00 PM | Rep. Larry Hall - Press Conference | Press Room LB |
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| 10:30 AM | Rep. Harrison - Press Conference | Press Room LB |
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| 12:00 PM | State and Local Government -- CORRECTED (Senate) Lincolnton Airport Authority/Contract Length. (H1037) | 1027/1128 LB |
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| 11:00 AM | Rep. Stevens - Press Conference | Press Room LB |
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| 9:00 AM | Senator Smith-Ingram Press Conference | Press Room LB |