Legislators had a busy week trying to pass a wide range of legislation before the crossover deadline Thursday. Also this week, lawmakers considered election requirements, amendments to the state constitution, and a sales tax redistribution proposal. The legislature overrode two gubernatorial vetoes.
Issue Insights
State and Legislative Issues
Crossover Deadline
- Thursday, April 27 marked the biennial “Crossover Deadline,” the date by which most bills must pass at least one chamber in order to be considered during the remainder of the biennium.
- Between Monday and Thursday, the House approved more than 135 House bills subject to the deadline while the Senate approved more than 75 Senate bills subject to the deadline.
- Lawmakers passed bills on a wide range of issues including:
- access to public records
- distribution of local sales taxes
- economic development incentives
- amendments to the State Constitution
- calling for a convention of the states to propose amendments to the US Constitution
- limiting State employee payroll deductions for employee organization dues
- punishment for homicides when there has been a history of domestic violence
- changes with respect to the appearance of political parties and candidates on ballots
- changes to the dates for certain State and local elections
- compliance with immigration laws
- local government impact fees
- safety in public parks
- instruction on appropriate interaction with law enforcement officers during traffic stops
- various alcoholic beverage law changes
- permitting municipal and company affiliated charter schools
- the process for making appointments for vacancies in various State and federal offices
WRAL: Crossover Monday roundup
Raleigh News & Observer: Legislative road kill: Some bills start to cross, but don’t make it
Sales Tax Proposal
- SB 126 is the latest proposal with respect to a redistribution of local sales taxes.
- It would eliminate a long standing adjustment to the allocation of a portion of local sales taxes that has become obsolete due to other law changes.
- The bill would create a new adjustment based on a county’s economic development tier.
- The combined effect of the two changes would affect similar counties in very different ways. For example, Mecklenburg County would see a slight increase in its share of local sales taxes, but Wake, Durham, and Orange Counties would see significant decreases in their shares.
Constitutional Amendments
- The House passed three proposed amendments to the State’s constitution, including:
- Reinforcing North Carolina as a right-to-work state
- Limiting the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to two terms in a lifetime
- Removing the section of the constitution that calls for a literacy test as a requirement to register to vote
- If approved by the Senate the measures will be placed on the ballot in November of 2018.
WRAL: House OKs trio of proposed constitutional amendments
Veto Override
- Lawmakers used their super-majority power to override two of Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes.
- SB 68 – Combines the State Board of Elections and the State Ethics Commission into an eight person panel split evenly by Republicans and Democrats. County election boards would mirror the change. Traditionally, boards have a one-person majority in the favor of the gubernatorial party.
- HB 239 – Reduces the N.C. Court of Appeals from 15 judges to 12. Gov. Cooper vetoed the bill citing increased workload for judges. Three appeals judges are nearing mandatory retirement age.
WRAL: Lawmakers override Cooper again; combine elections, ethics oversight
Election Changes
- The Senate approved changes to election laws that would make it easier for third party candidates to get on the ballot and would change requirements for keeping polling places open due to voting interruptions or delays.
- The Uniform Voting Hours Act would require that precinct voting hours not be extended due to delays or voting interruptions unless the hours for all precincts statewide are also extended.
- The Electoral Freedom Act of 2017 would lower the threshold of signatures required for a candidate to appear on voting ballots or for groups trying to form a political party.
- Form a new political party – 10,000 signatures, with at least 200 from three different congressional districts
- Third party candidate – 5,000 signatures for statewide office, or 3 percent of registered voters in a district for legislative or county office.
WRAL: Senate OKs elections changes
Local Issues – Charlotte
Charlotte Chamber Transportation Infrastructure Summit
- During a panel moderated by Chamber President and CEO Bob Morgan, NC Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon and other state transportation and legislative officials discussed the challenges of transportation funding.
- As the state’s population continues to grow, especially in urban areas, the need for infrastructure funding is increasing as well.
- NCDOT Board Member Tracy Dodson noted that local governments will have to remain vigilant in funding projects with local money and rely less on traditional allocations from federal and state discretionary funds and gas tax programs.
News Roundup
- NC Senate votes to strip funding from immigration ‘sanctuary cities’ (Raleigh News & Observer)
- GOP lawmaker backtracks on voting plan after suggestions it could help Jennifer Roberts (Charlotte Observer)
- Compromise between craft brewers, distributors still possible? Lawmaker says yes (Charlotte Business Journal)