Pardon Our Dust
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The General Assembly gaveled in for the third time since adjourning thelong session in June to take up additional business this week. A two-day“special session” was held to consider several issues, including two vetooverrides, judicial redistricting and technical corrections to the 2017budget. Per theadjournment resolution, legislators will reconvene on January 10 for another special session.
Special Session Report
Agency & Budget Technical Corrections
A conference report toSB 582: Budget & Agency Technical Correctionswas introduced on Wednesday in the House Committee on Appropriations. Thebill makes clarifying changes to the state’s budget and other agencyrequested technical changes and modifications, including:
- Narrows the scope of school construction projects that can be funded with lottery proceeds to only new building construction.
- Eliminates the sunset for the Film and Entertainment Grant Fund, which was set to expire in July 2020.
- Requires the average weekly wage of inmates employed under the Prison Industry Enhancement Program to be calculated in accordance with the Worker’s Compensation Act.
- Removes a requirement for a randomized control group for a medication-assisted opioid use disorder treatment program.
- Requires the Attorney General to handle all criminal appeals and prohibits delegation to any district attorney’s office.
SB 582 was approved with veto-proof majorities in both the House and Senateon Thursday, and has been sent to the Governor.
Appointments Approved
Sen. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) introducedSB 694: Further Modifications to Appointmentson Wednesday. The bill includes a number of appointments, including formerRep. Mike Stone to the Oil and Gas Commission and Sen. Tom McInnis(R-Richmond) to the High Speed Rail Compact Commission, at therecommendations of House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and SenatePresident Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), as well as corrections toexisting appointments. SB 694 was passed by the Senate on Wednesday and theHouse on Thursday evening, it is not subject to approval by the Governor.
Electoral Freedom
When the legislature adjourned in June,SB 656: Electoral Freedom Act of 2017had just been sent to conference. Both chambers reviewed and gave approvalto the conference report with veto-proof majorities this week. The bill:
- Reduces the number of signatures required for unaffiliated candidates to be included on a general election ballot for offices other than the General Assembly and municipal offices from 4% to 1.5%.
- Amends the qualifications for a group of voters to be recognized by a political party. Under the proposed legislation, parties that are included on the general election ballot in 35 other states will be recognized parties in NC.
- Eliminates primaries for judicial offices in 2018. Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell), the bill’s sponsor, stated that this is needed since the legislature plans to consider different options for selecting judges, and the Senate plans to look at the House’s judicial redistricting plan, in the coming months.
The bill has been sent to the Governor.
Judicial Redistricting
A proposal to redraw the state’s court districts from Rep. Justin Burr(R-Stanly) moved forward in the House.HB 717: Judicial Redistricting & Investment Act, which has been discussed by a House select committee and the state’sCourt Commission in recent weeks, passed the House on Thursday night with aveto-proof majority. The Senate did not take up HB 717 this week, but Sen.Berger indicated that judicial redistricting may be taken up in the comingmonths or in the short session.
Newspaper Notices
SB 181: Electronic Notice – Guilford Countywas introduced as a proposed committee substitute in the House Committee onFinance on Wednesday. The bill, which contains a nearly identical provisionfrom abillvetoed by the Governor in July, allows local governments in Guilford Countyto post public and legal notices on their websites in addition to or inlieu of in local newspapers. SB 181 was approved by the House and Senate onThursday. Because the legislation is a local bill, it was not subject tothe Governor’s signature and became law upon approval from both chambers.
Veto Overrides
The legislature overrode two of Gov. Cooper’s vetoes during the specialsession.
HB 56: Amend Environmental Lawswhich makes a number of changes to state environmental laws, including:
- Establishes a study of excluding certain riparian buffers from taxation.
- Repeals the plastic bag ban in effect for portions of the Outer Banks.
- Appropriates $435,000 in funds to respond to the discharge of GenX into the Cape Fear River
In hisobjection message, Gov. Cooper criticized the legislature for failing to provide resourcesto any state agencies to respond to GenX, and objected to provisions in thelegislation that he said weaken environmental protections.
SB 16: Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2017, which makes changes to state law including:
- Allows bed and breakfasts to provide additional, optional meals to guests.
- Directs the Building Code Council to study electrical safety requirements for swimming pools.
- Requires backup lights to be operational to pass a state automobile inspection.
- Authorizes private condemnation of land for pipelines originating outside of NC.
- Clarifies a number of stormwater laws including providing that when a preexisting development is redeveloped, increased stormwater controls may only be required for the amount of water-resistant surface being created that exceeds the amount that existed prior to the redevelopment
Gov. Cooperstatedthat he believes the legislation makes dangerous rollbacks to regulationsprotecting water quality.