News
Who’s pro-business? New report ranks lawmakers’ voting record
Republicans as a whole outranked Democrats in the legislature, but two NC Democrats outranks some Republican members.
News
Committee appointments released ahead of legislative session on Wednesday
Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, today announced his intended committee appointments for the 2023-24 legislative biennium. Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir, was appointed to be a chair of the highly sought-after Senate Finance Committee. In a post charged with writing the state budget, Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, is stepping in as chair of the Appropriations/Base Budget Committee.
News
Democrats’ ‘no’ votes on Free the Smiles veto override follow common pattern
Neither state Senate Democrat who initially voted for the Free the Smiles legislation last month was willing to stick with that “yes” vote this week. Both of their “yes” votes turned into “no” when they had a chance to help override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the school masking measure. The flip from “yes” to...
News
Senate passes sweeping tax cut package with 8 Democrats on board
The North Carolina Senate passed a Republican-led tax reform package Wednesday evening in a quick, 36-14 vote that drew eight Democrats to cross the aisle and vote in favor of the bill. House Bill 334 would raise the standard deduction from $21,500 to $25,500 for joint filers, which would take about a quarter of a...
News
N.C. Senate passes school choice expansion
The N.C. Senate has passed its own version of a school-choice expansion bill that would open the state’s three choice programs to even more low- and middle-income households and families of students with special needs. Senate Bill 671 passed largely along party lines in a 29-20 vote on Tuesday, May 4. Sen. Kirk deViere from...
News
School-choice bills spark debate in the Senate, which eventually sends them to House
The N.C. Senate on Wednesday, May 8, sparred over a pair of school choice bills that would expand eligibility for private school vouchers and lift the enrollment cap on virtual charter schools. Democratic lawmakers argued the two bills devalue public education and harm students. Republican lawmakers said the bills expand educational opportunities for more families...
News
Senate passes bill letting state superintendent OK charter school private bonds
The Senate, in a 33-11 vote, approved a bill giving charter school operators the option to bypass local county commissioners in winning approval of charter facility bonds. Senate Bill 392 would allow the Superintendent of Public Instruction to approve the issuance of private activity bonds for charter school facilities after a public hearing. Private activity...
News
Senate set to vote Wednesday on charter bond bill
Despite objections from Democrats, the Senate Rules Committee passed a bill giving charter schools another avenue for approval of private bonds to pay for or refinance their facilities. Committee members were divided over Senate Bill 392 during debate Tuesday, April 16. Democrats raised concerns about empowering the state superintendent of public instruction to approve private...
News
Treasurer’s pension stability proposals divide state employees’, teachers’ groups
Senate Republicans are again pushing State Treasurer Dale Folwell’s request to limit risk in the underfunded state pension plan by narrowing the number of retirement options. The Repeal Risky Retirement Payments Act, as Senate Bill 374 is titled, divides Republicans against Democrats, and pits the N.C. Association of Educators against the State Employees Association of...
News
ABC Omnibus Regulatory Reform takes big step in revamping way N.C. controls liquor
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2. A bill filed Tuesday, April 2, in the N.C. House would dramatically revamp how the state governs liquor sales and distribution, including a provision allowing for Sunday sales. Distillers, brewers, and consumers would be among the beneficiaries of the expansive measure, modernizing...
News
Latest bills to reform N.C. liquor laws would benefit state’s craft distilleries
The stack of bills from N.C. lawmakers looking to reform and modernize the state’s 80-year-old liquor laws is growing. In the Senate, lawmakers filed Senate Bill 290 on Monday, March 18. A companion bill, House Bill 378, came Tuesday morning. The measures would allow N.C. distilleries to sell malt beverages and unfortified and fortified wine,...
News
Bills aim to revamp school performance grades
Democratic lawmakers are looking to change school performance grades by providing separate marks for achievement and growth. Mecklenburg Democrats Sens. Joyce Waddell, Natasha Marcus, and Mujtaba Mohammed introduced Senate Bill 176 on Monday, March 4. A similar bill was filed in the House on Feb. 28. Mecklenburg Democratic Reps. Kelly Alexander, Nasif Majeed, and John...
