North Carolina Legislative Report - July 31, 2015
July 31, 2015
The General Assembly convened for the 2015 legislative session on January 14. Lawmakers returned to Raleigh on January 28 to begin the session in earnest. The MVA Public Affairs Legislative Report on North Carolina will be distributed on a weekly basis to keep you up to date on the latest legislative issues facing the state.
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On The Floor
For legislative action lookup by day, click below:
Committees
House Appropriations Committee
The House Appropriations Committee met on Wednesday, July 29, and quickly approved one bill. H 904, Study Drainage Needs/Low-Lying Areas, as the title suggests, creates a study committee on this issue.
The Committee also heard from members of the public who raised concerns over aspects of the Senate budget. At the meeting, representatives of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce urged quick action on the Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program and expressed concerns that North Carolina could be losing large opportunities due to poor perceptions about North Carolina’s economic development efforts. The Committee also heard from representatives of school districts who were concerned about reduction of class sizes and the impact this would have on already over-crowded schools with not enough classroom space.
House Finance Committee
The House Finance Committee met on Thursday, July 30, and approved eight bills.
- H 267, Amend Respiratory Care Practice Act.-AB, would update Article 38 of Chapter 90, which regulates the practice of respiratory care and creates the North Carolina Respiratory Care Board.
- H 287, Amend Insurance Laws.-AB, would make conforming and clarifying changes to the laws governing professional employer organizations, insurance company deposits, continuing care retirement communities, health insurance external review, health insurance fiduciaries, and insurance company names; would provide for a study of the health insurance premium rate review process and moneys from the insurance regulatory fund to implement that study; would allow an itemized individual income tax deduction for investors who incur losses from criminally fraudulent investment arrangements; and would allow health care providers to select the lab of their choice.
- H 394, Increase Options for Local Option Sales Tax, would authorize Robeson County to conduct a referendum on the question of whether to levy a local sales and use tax at the rate of one-quarter percent (1/4%) to be used only for school construction or renovation, for the purchase of land or facilities for schools, and to pay indebtedness incurred by the county for these purposes. Currently the County could levy the tax, subject to approval in a referendum, but the proceeds could be used only for public transportation purposes.
- H 490, Sanford Occupancy Tax Authorization, would authorize the City of Sanford to levy a room occupancy tax of up to 3%, the proceeds of which would be remitted to a Tourism Development Authority.
- S 199, Funds Deposited with Clerk of Court, would increase the threshold from $2,000 to $5,000 for the amount of money in a single account held by a Clerk of Superior Court that must be invested in a security authorized in G.S. 7A-112.
- S 273, Motor Vehicle Tax: Waive Penalties/Interest, would authorize counties to reduce or waive interest or penalties on delinquent motor vehicle taxes for tax years prior to July 1, 2013.
- S 313, Special Registration Plates, would a) authorize four new special registration plates that have met new plate development requirements, as reported by the Division of Motor Vehicles, b) provide a specific authorization for a Carolina Panthers plate (currently being produced under the broad authorization for Professional Sports Fan plates) with an additional fee and a full-color background, c) reauthorize the Military Veteran special registration plate without a requirement for a minimum number of applications, and d) clarify who is eligible for a Retired Register of Deeds special registration plate.
S 386, Registers of Deeds/UCC Recording Fees, would specify fees for filing instruments governed by the Uniform Commercial Code with registers of deeds.
In The News
Raleigh News & Observer: As deadline looms, NC House, Senate budget writers haven’t met
Associated Press: Road funding plans fuel debate between McCrory, legislators
Raleigh News & Observer: Jockeying begins to replace Tata
WRAL: Tata resigns as DOT secretary
Charlotte Observer: City Council wants more answers for U.S. 74, I-485 toll lanes
Charlotte Observer: Charlotte City Council pushes back city manager decision to 2016
Calendar
| Mon, August 03, 2015 | ||
| 1:30 PM | Session Convenes (Senate) | |
| 7:00 PM | Session Convenes (House) | |
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| 11:00 AM | Education - Universities (House) Waive Tuition/Fallen Officer Was Guardian. (S37) | |
| 12:00 PM | Transportation (House) Regulate Transportation Network Companies. (S541) | |
| 1:00 PM | Judiciary II (House) Employee Misclassification Reform. (H482) | 421 LOB |
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| 8:30 AM | House Committee on Appropriations | |
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| 12:00 PM | Rep. Rodney Moore - Press Conference - 50th Anniversary of Voting Rights Acts. | |