COVID-19 | NC Legislative Update
Updated April 28, 2020
The General Assembly reconvened today, April 28, for what was supposed to be the 2020 Regular Session. It is anticipated that the General Assembly will address only critical issues related to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will then adjourn until sometime later this summer.
Access to the legislative building is currently restricted to legislators, legislative staff, and credentialed members of the media. All committee meetings are currently occurring via WebEx. The House has announced that there will be modified procedures for voting. The public will be able to view or listen to committee meetings and sessions via the legislature’s website.
House Action
Several House committees met April 28 to approve bills. Several more House committees will meet April 29 and then all of the House bills to be acted upon will be combined into one piece of legislation. That bill will then have floor votes in the House on Thursday, April 30.
Senate committees will begin meeting April 29.
Committee Reports
Note: Click the bill numbers below to be redirected to the NCGA website to view current status of the bill as well as any available supporting documents such as bill summaries or fiscal notes.
Finance Committee. The Finance Committee met and unanimously approved two bills. HB 1039 would a) extend due dates for various tax returns and payments, b) waive interest charges on certain delayed tax payments, and c) make various changes to unemployment insurance laws to increase access to unemployment benefits as allowed by federal law. HB 1034 would appropriate $75 million to provide emergency loans for small businesses. These two bills were recommended by the House Select Committee on Covid-19, Economic Support Working Group
Health Committee. The Health Committee met and unanimously approved one bill after first adopting nine amendments to the bill. HB 1037 makes a wide variety of changes with respect to health regulations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The original bill was recommended by the House Select Committee on Covid-19, Health Care Working Group.
Education – K-12 Committee. The Education – K-12 Committee met and unanimously approved one bill. HB 1035 would make numerous changes to the statutes to provide greater flexibility to schools, colleges, and universities to address extraordinary circumstances with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic. Key areas addressed in the bill include waivers of or modifications to testing and graduation requirements and waivers of or modifications to certain professional requirements for teachers and other school personnel, The original bill was recommended by the House Select Committee on Covid-19, Education Working Group.
Wednesday Preview
Currently, the following meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, April 29.
- 9:00 AM Senate: Session Convenes (currently there are no items on the calendar)
- 9:00 AM House: Pensions and Retirement Committee
- 10:00 AM Senate: Appropriations/Base Budget Committee
- 10:00 AM House: Appropriations Committee
- 1:00 PM House: Session Convenes (currently there are no items on the calendar)
- 3:00 PM House: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Committee