News

N.C. Senate passes Medicaid expansion 44-2

Expanding Medicaid in North Carolina passed a hurdle Wednesday afternoon as the N.C. Senate voted 44 to 2 to pass H.B. 149 Expanding Access to Healthcare. “What we are going to do is monumental,” said Sen. Mike Woodard, D-Durham. In addition to Medicaid expansion, the bill contains the partial repeal of some Certificate of Need or CON laws and the SAVE Act.

Theresa Opeka
Opinion

GOP exploring options as Democrats take redistricting victory lap

Republican legislative leaders will redraw legislative and congressional maps while still examining other options, after Democrats on the state Supreme Court found for the first time that partisan consideration in map-drawing can violate the state constitution. “We will redraw the maps,” Republican House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said Monday. “What we’re doing right now is really...

Dallas Woodhouse
News

N.C. redistricting leaders defend map-drawing process

Two leaders of North Carolina’s legislative redistricting committees defended their election map-drawing process during the third day of a trial focusing on the future of those maps. Closing arguments in the trial are scheduled Thursday morning. Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, and Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, both testified before a three-judge panel in Wake County. Hall,...

CJ Staff

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News

Democratic expert finds 1.3% chance of drawing 50-50 congressional map

A Democratic redistricting expert reports a 1.3% chance that “fair, nonpartisan” election maps would produce an even split between Republicans and Democrats in North Carolina’s U.S. House delegation. A Republican state Senate redistricting leader draws attention to the finding in a news release Thursday. “The Democratic Party has been complaining about ‘gerrymandered’ congressional maps for...

CJ Staff
News

N.C. Senate follows House, passes new district maps

As the N.C. House passed its new election maps Tuesday, Nov. 2, the Senate followed suit Wednesday, Nov. 3, passing new maps with a vote along party lines, 26-19. Sen. Ralph Hise, R-McDowell, one of three co-chairs of the Senate Redistricting Committee, said lawmakers didn’t use racial or election data as part of the criteria...

Theresa Opeka
News

Legislative roundup, week of June 15-19, 2020

Each week of the General Assembly’s short session, Carolina Journal staff will look back at several important bills lawmakers considered. Teacher bonuses: Teachers and school support staff could get a $350 bonus if Gov. Roy Cooper signs Senate Bill 818 into law. Under the bill, teachers and school support staff would get a bonus plus...

Lindsay Marchello
News

Senate committee looks to extend health care flexibility after COVID-19 emergency ends

A Senate committee passed protection for direct primary care providers and discussed regulatory reforms to prepare hospitals and other health care workers for the second wave of the coronavirus. The Senate Health Care Committee on Thursday, May 28, unanimously passed House Bill 471 to help direct primary care doctors — doctors who take monthly cash...

Julie Havlak
News

State elections board loses request to ease rules for 2020 election

The N.C. Rules Review Commission unanimously voted to reject a State Board of Elections’ request for emergency powers on Thursday, May 21. Commissioners said the requested temporary rule changes were ambiguous, unnecessary, and outside of the board’s statutory authority.  The board said it needed more flexibility to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes would...

Julie Havlak
News

Senate passes congressional districts as new legal fight looms

North Carolina is all set for its 2020 congressional and legislative elections. For now. The state Senate adopted the House’s version of the new congressional map Friday, Nov. 15, without approving any additional amendments. In addition, the N.C. Supreme Court has decided not to hear an appeal of redrawn legislative districts plaintiffs challenged as partisan...

Brooke Conrad