The majority of the activity at the General Assembly this week involved joint House and Senate Appropriations committee hearings to review Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget proposal that was released last week. The House and Senate will continue their joint review of key budget items over the next several days. The House is expected to release their budget proposal in early May.
Legislators will reconvene Monday, March 18th.
Issue Insights
State and Legislative Issues
Voter ID Delay
Gov. Cooper signed his third bill into law for the 2019 session, which will delay the implementation of the state’s new Voter ID requirement. This means the special elections for open Congressional Districts 9 and 3 will not require voters to present an ID.
Gov. Cooper Signs Law To Delay Voter ID (WFAE)
School Construction
By a vote of 109-6, the House approved a $1.9 billion bond proposal for the 2020 ballot. The Senate and Gov. Cooper also have announced school construction bond proposals. Expect negotiations on a final proposal among both chambers and the Governor to take place throughout the next several weeks.
Statewide school construction bond clears House (WRAL)
Local Issues – Charlotte
Carolina Panthers Meeting
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper met with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and legislative leaders in Columbia. The Carolina Panthers are considering sites to build a new practice facility and re-locate business operations.
South Carolina tries to get new Panthers practice facility (Associated Press)
News Roundup
- Craft beer deal would allow North Carolina’s biggest breweries to expand (Charlotte Observer)
- Nearly $78M sent to NC schools struggling with hurricane damage; see where the money went (WRAL)
- Raleigh Mayor McFarlane won’t seek re-election, calls social media a ‘social disease’ (Raleigh News & Observer)
- NC legislature considers tough-on-crime solutions to opioid crisis (Raleigh News & Observer)
- Automatically license teachers from out-of-state? Not so fast, NC school board says. (Raleigh News & Observer)
- Mental health providers, others ask for delay to electronic health record requirement (NC Health News)
- Small business health-care bill clears Senate; House path may be cloudier (Winston-Salem Journal)