The Senate passed Senate Bill 622 Thursday, May 16, and Republicans project it will reduce individual and corporate taxes by $800 million over the next five years. Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, sided with Republicans in what was otherwise a 26-19…
A measure brought about by a lawsuit against the state from craft brewers easily cleared another legislative hurdle Wednesday, May 15. House Bill 363 and its companion, Senate Bill 246, would maintain the state alcohol regulation system’s current three-tier system — producers,…
The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution May 14 celebrating the 20th anniversary of National Charter School Week. National Charter School Week runs from May 12 to May 18 and celebrates the more than 7,000 public charter schools across the…
The Senate Finance Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 622, the Tax Reduction Act of 2019, on Tuesday, May 14, and sent it to the Senate Rules Committee. Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, Rules Committee chairman, told Carolina Journal…
Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Hendersonville, won’t seek re-election when his term expires next year. He’s now serving his fifth term in the N.C. House. “Serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives has been one of the greatest honors of my life; my gratitude to…
A bill allowing retired teachers to return to the classroom unanimously passed the Senate on Wednesday, May 8. Teacher vacancies are a pervasive problem in some school districts, particularly rural or lower wealth districts that have trouble attracting new teachers. The 2017-18 State…
The Senate’s Republican leader and top budget writer said Wednesday, May 8, he hopes that chamber’s work on the General Fund budget will be done by the end of May. The House passed a $23.9-billion plan last week. Sen. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, told reporters the budget committees will begin work…
A $470-million surge in April tax collections could push the state budget surplus to more than $700 million. Barry Boardman, chief economist for the General Assembly’s nonpartisan Fiscal Research Division, in a Monday, May 6, email alerted legislative leaders of both parties, House, and Senate…
After more than two hours of debate, the N.C. House Friday afternoon passed a $24.5 billion General Fund budget by a 61-51 party-line vote. House Bill 966 heads to the Senate. Lawmakers considered 50 amendments during the two days of floor debate over the budget package. More than half…
Under the House General Fund budget for the University of North Carolina, the system would get a spending increase of $57 million over last year, bringing the budget up to $3.1 billion for the 17 campus system in 2019-20. A large chunk of money, $35…
