North Carolina Legislative Report - January 16, 2015
January 16, 2015
The General Assembly convened for the 2015 legislative session on January 14. Both the House and Senate formally elected leaders in each body as well as swore in members. There several links below that will take you so a list of the House and Senate leadership posts, Senate standing committee assignments and rules. House committee assignments have not been released to date. Lawmakers will return to Raleigh on January 28th. The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed weekly basis once the General Assembly is back in session to keep you up to date on the latest legislative issues facing the state.
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Committee Reports
Revenue Laws Study Committee
The Committee met Tuesday, January 13. The Committee approved three legislative recommendations and its final report to the 2015 Regular Session. The first legislative proposal includes technical corrections that have been tentatively approved by the Committee in earlier meetings. Many of these provisions were included in legislation that failed to pass in the final days of the 2014 Regular Session. The second legislative proposal would update the statutory reference to the Internal Revenue Code used in determining and defining many State tax provisions. The Committee recommended that the State not conform to changes with respect to expensing, a deduction for certain education expenses, a deduction for mortgage insurance premiums, and an exclusion from income for cancellation of debt on a principal residence. The final recommendation would impose the State income tax on benefits received from non-qualifying amounts rolled over into a Bailey-vested retirement accounts. Bailey-vested retirement accounts are certain government retirement accounts, the proceeds of which are not subject to State income tax based on a series of court cases from the 1990s.
Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee, Subcommittee on Medicaid and Health Administration
The Subcommittee met Thursday, January 15. The Subcommittee recommended a draft bill which would take away oversight of the state Medicaid program from DHHS and give oversight authority to an independent, eight-member board. Specifically, the legislation creates a Health Benefits Authority to manage Medicaid. It would be housed in DHHS, but the board would have full oversight over the program. The legislation will be heard in the full Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee next week.
In the News
Lenoir News-Topic: Candidates emerging for N.C. House seat
WRAL: State environmental agency taps new water quality chief
Raleigh News & Observer: Legislators propose to move state Medicaid control to independent board
Associated Press: Berger re-elected, Moore elected to top NC legislature posts
WRAL: Pomp fills first day of legislative session
Raleigh News & Observer: Longtime NC Rep. Edgar Starnes resigning to join state treasurer’s office
Raleigh News& Observer: NC lawmakers to end policy letting utilities overcharge customers
Charlotte Observer: Business group pushes for N.C. jet fuel tax break
NC Department of Commerce Release: Expanded Gas Products Service to Agriculture Fund
Calendar
Tue, January 20, 2015 | ||
10:00 AM | ||
1:00 PM | North Carolina General Statutes Commission, Trust Drafting Committee | Room 5003, UNC School of Law, 160 Ridge Road |
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12:00 PM | 425 LOB | |
1:00 PM | ||
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12:00 PM | Session Convenes (House) | |
12:00 PM | Session Convenes (Senate) | |
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12:00 PM | Rep. Glazier - Press Conference | Press Room LB |