Brooks Pierce Capital Dispatch: North Carolina Government Officials Begin Work in Raleigh and Washington
Government officials in Raleigh and Washington have started work in 2023.
North Carolina General Assembly
State legislators began their session on January 11. The odd-year session, which is often referred to as the “long session,” is expected to last through the summer as members enact a two-year budget and consider hundreds of bills.
Republicans continue to hold majorities in both houses (30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House). Senate Republicans have the required majority (60% of those present and voting) to override a gubernatorial veto if members vote by party. Republicans are one vote short of that number in the House.
A number of important issues may be considered during this year’s session. These include development of a two-year State budget, education funding, transportation funding, Medicaid expansion, sports wagering and privacy. In addition, legislators may also redraw congressional and legislative district lines.
Members will return to Raleigh on January 25 to begin substantive work.
Senate
The chief business in both chambers on opening day was election of leadership. The Senate re-elected Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) as President Pro Tem and Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) as Deputy President Pro Tem.
Other Senate leaders include:
- Sen. Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus), the new Majority Leader. Newton is a former Duke Energy executive and was first elected to the Senate in 2016.
- Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Moore) and Jim Perry (R-Lenoir), Majority Whips
- Sen. Dan Blue (D-Wake), Minority Leader
- Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake), Minority Whip
Senate Committee assignments were announced this week. Chairs of the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget committee will be Sens. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell), Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) and Michael Lee (R-New Hanover). Chairs of the Senate Finance Committee will be Sens. Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus), Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) and Jim Perry (R-Lenoir). Sen. Rabon will also chair the Senate Rules and Operations Committee.
House
Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) was re-elected to a fifth two-year term as House Speaker. He now holds the record for longevity in that post. Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Surry) was re-elected as Speaker Pro Tem.
Other House leaders include:
- John Bell (R-Wayne), who was re-elected as Majority Leader
- Brenden Jones (R-Columbus), Deputy Majority Leader
- Jon Hardister (R-Guilford), Majority Whip
- Robert Reives (D-Chatham), Minority Leader
- Ashton Wheeler Clemmons (D-Guilford), Deputy Minority Leader
House committee appointments have not yet been announced.
U.S. Congress
U.S. Senate
Republicans Thom Tillis and newly elected former Congressman Ted Budd now represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. They will serve in a chamber with 48 Democrats plus three Independents who caucus with the Democrats and 49 Republicans.
U.S. House
Due in part to new election districts, North Carolina’s U.S. House delegation now has seven members of each party. Nine of the state’s incumbent U.S. House members were re-elected and five new members won their contests. Republicans hold a 222 to 212 majority in the U.S. House with one vacancy.
The North Carolina incumbents that were re-elected are Deborah Ross (D-2nd), Greg Murphy (R-3rd), Virginia Foxx (R-5th), Kathy Manning (D-6th), David Rouzer (R-7th), Dan Bishop (R-8th), Richard Hudson (R-9th), Patrick McHenry (R-10th) and Alma Adams (D-12th).
The new members from North Carolina (all of whom formerly served in the North Carolina State Senate) are Don Davis (D-1st), Valerie Foushee (D-4th), Chuck Edwards (R-11th), Wiley Nickel (D-13th) and Jeff Jackson (D-14th).
For more information, contact a member of the Brooks Pierce Government Affairs Team.
Ed Turlington, Partner
Drew Moretz, Government Relations Advisor
Katelyn Kingsbury, Government Relations Advisor