The General Assembly convened for the 2015 legislative session on January 14. Lawmakers returned to Raleigh on January 28 to begin the session in earnest. The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed on a weekly basis 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:
Committees
House Appropriations Subcommittees
The subcommittees on Transportation and Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources held meetings on Monday and Tuesday. The Transportation Subcommittee reviewed differences in transportation spending between the House and Senate proposals and heard remarks from DOT and DMV on the budget. The Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources Subcommittee heard from the Departments of Labor, Agriculture and Wildlife Resources on the House and Senate budget proposals.
House Finance Committee
The Committee met on Thursday, July 16, and approved four bills. H 169, Limit Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspections, would eliminate 28 counties from the list of counties with required motor vehicle emissions inspections. Currently 48 counties are subject to this requirement. H 531, Wayne County Occupancy Tax, would authorize Wayne County to levy a one percent (1%) room occupancy tax, the proceeds of which would be remitted to a county Tourism Development Authority. One hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds would be used for tourism promotion. H 912, Taxation of Tribal Land and Tobacco Products, would a) exempt from property tax real and personal property located on lands held in trust by the United States for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, regardless of ownership, and b) allow the Department of Revenue to enter into an agreement with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians regarding the excise tax on tobacco products. S 50, Wilson County Occupancy Tax Modification, would authorize Wilson County to levy an additional three percent (3%) room occupancy and tourism development tax.
Senate Commerce Committee
The Committee met on Tuesday, July 14, and Thursday, July 16. On Tuesday the Committee approved two bills. H 254, Protect National Guard Reemployment Rights, would expand reemployment protections granted to members of the North Carolina National Guard to include members of the National Guards of other states. H 289, NC Money Transmitters Act – AB, would modernize the Money Transmitters Act (MTA) as requested by the Office of the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks. Among the main provisions of H 289 are provisions that the act applies to virtual currencies, like Bitcoin.
On Thursday, the Committee approved H 126, Mortgage Origination Support Registration. That bill would amend the Secure and Fair Enforcement Mortgage Licensing Act to authorize the Commissioner of Banks to implement a registration system for persons engaged exclusively in the processing or underwriting of mortgage loans and not engaged in the mortgage business.
Senate Agriculture Committee
The Committee met Wednesday, July 15, and approved the only bill on the agenda. H 186, Cape Fear Water Resources Availability Study, would provide for the study of aggregate uses of ground water and surface water in or affecting the Cape Fear River Basin by all users.
Senate Education Committee
The Committee met Wednesday, July 15, and approved both bills on the agenda. H 390, Beaufort Co. CC/Washington Co., places Beaufort County as the only community college provider in Washington County. Currently, Beaufort and Martin counties share the responsibility of services in Washington County. H 561, School System Auth. Re: Legal Proceedings, detailed statutes as to the legal authority of school boards in regards to legal investigations, subpoenas, and confidential information that is not currently covered by the law. The bill only affects the powers of the school board.
Charlotte Election Filings
Filing closed today for Charlotte’s elected offices. Primaries for city elections are September 15, and the general election is November 3.
Mayor
Democrats: Michael D. Barnes, Daniel (Dan) Clodfelter, Roderick Davis, David L. Howard, DeJawon Joseph, Jennifer Roberts
Republicans: Edwin B. Peacock III, Scott Stone
City Council At-Large
Democrats: Laurence E. Bibbs, Darrell Bonapart, Bruce Clark, Julie Eiselt, Claire Green Fallon, Sean Gautam, Shawn Greeson, Mo Idlibby, Vi Lyles, Billy D. Maddalon, James (Smuggie) Mitchell, Aaron Sanders
Republicans: Pablo Carvajal, John K. Powell Jr., David Michael Rice
Charlotte City Council District 1
Democrats: Patsy Kinsey
Charlotte City Council District 2
Democrats: Al Austin, Steven Jones
Republicans: Justin Dunn
Charlotte City Council District 3
Democrats: Rosa Hodge-Mustafa, LaWana Mayfield, Warren F. Turner
Republicans: Eric Wayne Netter
Charlotte City Council District 4
Democrats: Greg Phipps
Republicans: Michael P. O’Hara
Charlotte City Council District 5
Democrats: John Autry, Scott Derek Jenkins
Charlotte City Council District 6
Republicans: Kenny Smith
Charlotte City Council District 7
Democrats: Chris Turner
Republicans: Ed Driggs
Too read more about school board and surrounding municipal filings, see The Charlotte Observer’s full report here.
In The News
Raleigh News and Observer: McCrory meets with GOP caucuses to talk budget, push bond proposal
Raleigh News and Observer: NC House appoints 82 budget negotiators
Asheville Citizen-Times/Associated Press: Advocates call for Medicaid expansion
Release: Tillis Announces New North Carolina Offices
Raleigh News and Observer: Bill to end protest petitions heads to McCrory’s desk
Wall Street Journal: Employees vs. Independent Contractors: U.S. Weighs In on Debate Over How to Classify Workers
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