North Carolina Legislative Report - April 29, 2016
April 29, 2016
Lawmakers returned to Raleigh for the Regular Session April 25, 2016.
The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed
weekly during session to keep you up to date on the latest legislative issues
facing the state.
Committee Meetings
Senate Finance Committee
The Committee met on Tuesday, April 26, and approved three bills. S 725, Unemployment Insurance Technical Changes, would make technical, clarifying, and administrative changes to the laws governing unemployment insurance.
S 726, Update IRC, would update the reference date to the Internal Revenue Code used in defining and determining numerous State tax provisions. The bill would conform to most federal law changes, but would not conform to changes with respect to a) enhanced Section 179 expensing, b) tax-free distribution from IRAs to public charities, c) a deduction for higher education tuition expenses, d) exclusion from income for forgiveness of debt on principal residence, or e) a deduction for mortgage insurance premiums. S 729, Various Changes to the Revenue Laws, would make numerous changes to the State's tax laws. Many of the provisions are technical, clarifying, or administrative in nature and most of the provisions were approved by both chambers last year in S 605.
Senate Select Committee on Nominations
The Committee met on Tuesday, April 26, to review several resolutions regarding confirmations of individuals to various State positions. The Committee approved the following resolutions: HJR 942, Confirm State Controller; SR 746, Board of Agriculture Confirmation; SJR 749, Confirm Lyons Gray/Utilities Commission; and SJR 750, Confirm Chris Loutit/Industrial Commission.
House and Senate Joint Appropriations Committees
The House and Senate held a joint appropriations meeting on Wednesday, April 27. State Budget Director Drew Heath briefed members on the Governor's proposed budget for FY 2016-17. The Governor's proposed spending plan totals $22.3 billion, a slight increase over last year's budget. This is accounted for by a roughly quarter of a billion dollar revenue surplus and savings from agency spending that came in under budget. Highlights of his proposal include an average 5 percent raise for public school teachers and a 3 percent bonus for state employees.
The next step in the budget process is for the House to put together its own spending proposal. House budget subcommittees began meeting Thursday morning to dive deeper into the Governor's proposal. They will continue their work over the next couple of weeks. Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) has indicated he would like to send the Senate a budget by late May. Once the Senate passes its budget, the two chambers will work on a compromise to send to the Governor for approval.
House Rules Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, April 27, to review several resolutions regarding confirmations of individuals to various State positions. The Committee approved the following resolutions: HJR 978, Bill Daughtridge/Industrial Commission; HJR 980 Linda Cheatham/Industrial Commission; and HJR 982, Confirm Robert Schurmeier/SBI Director.
House Judiciary I Committee
The Committee met on Wednesday, April 27, to review several resolutions regarding confirmations of individuals to various judicial positions. The Committee approved the following resolutions: HJR 977, Confirm Gregory McGuire/Special Superior Court Judge; HJR 979, Confirm Charles Viser/Special Superior Court Judge; and HJR 981 Confirm Mike Robinson/Special Superior Court Judge.
In The News
- Associated Press: McCrory seeks extra lottery profits for new initiatives
- Raleigh News & Observer: NC election law case to get quick review
- Raleigh News & Observer: FEC resets campaign donation limits for NC congressional races
- Raleigh News & Observer: NC lawmakers focus on teacher, employee raises in McCrory's budget plan
- Raleigh News & Observer: House Bill 2 repeal legislation sent to Senate committee that never meets
-
WRAL: Tax, unemployment tweaks the first Senate bills to move in 2016
Calendar
| Mon, May 02, 2016 | ||
| 3:00 PM | Session Convenes (House) | House |
| 7:00 PM | Session Convenes (Senate) | Senate |
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| 8:30 AM | Appropriations, Transportation (House) | 1228/1327 LB |
| 8:30 AM | Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources (House) | 421 LOB |
| 8:30 AM | Appropriations, Education (House) | 423 LOB |
| 8:30 AM | 425 LOB | |
| 8:30 AM | 643 LOB | |
| 9:00 AM | Finance -- CORRECTED (House) | 544 LOB |
| 11:00 AM | Health Care (Senate) Statewide Standing Order/Opioid Antagonist. (S734) | 544 LOB |
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| 8:30 AM | Appropriations, Education (House) | 423 LOB |
| 8:30 AM | 643 LOB | |
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| 8:30 AM | Appropriations, Education (House) | 423 LOB |
| 8:30 AM | 643 LOB | |
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| 1:00 PM | 544 LOB | |
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| 11:00 AM | Senator Smith Ingram Press Conference | Press Room LB |