This week at the Legislature, HB2 was repealed and replaced, Senate confirmation of Cabinet secretaries continued, and Legislators filed dozens of bills ahead of filing deadlines.
HB2 “Reset” (HB142)
Thursday, the General Assembly passed, and the Governor signed, a bill that repeals HB2. The new legislation establishes that the General Assembly regulates access to multiple occupancy restrooms, showers or changing facilities, and prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances regulating private employment practices or public accommodations until December 1, 2020. The bill was the result of a compromise developed between Governor Roy Cooper and Legislative leaders.
The vote on the bill did not follow party lines. The Senate passed the bill 32 to 16 (23 Republicans and 9 Democrats voted yes; 10 Republicans and 6 Democrats voted no). In the House, the bill passed 70 to 48 (40 Republicans and 30 Democrats voted yes; 33 Republicans and 15 Democrats voted no). Governor Cooper signed the bill into law Thursday afternoon.
Confirmations
Senate committees are continuing the process of confirming Governor Cooper's Cabinet members. Dr. Mandy Cohen was unanimously recommended for approval as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services by the Senate Health Care Committee and will now be considered by the Senate Nominations Committee. Michael Regan of the Department of Environmental Quality was scheduled to go before the Senate Agriculture, Natural, and Economic Resources Committee Thursday; due to the HB2 debate, that meeting was postponed.
Tax Cuts (SB325)
A bill entitled "Billion Dollar Middle Class Tax Cut" passed both the Senate Finance and Senate Rules Committees this week. The proposal would reduce the personal income tax rate from 5.499 % to 5.35 %, reduce the corporate rate from 3% to 2.5% over a two-year period, and increase the standard deduction from $17,500 to $20,000 for a married couple filing jointly, among other provisions. The House has a different bill (HB 356) containing a number of tax changes. We can expect more debate on the issue of further tax changes as the session continues.
UNC Board of Governors
The Senate this week voted to approve six men to serve on the UNC Board of Governors. Former Senator Bob Rucho, former Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer, and NC State University Trustee Randall Ramsey will be serving their first terms on the Board, while William Kotis, Steven Long, and Harry Smith, Jr. were reelected to another term. Earlier in the month, the Senate elected Darrell Allison to fill a vacancy on the Board. The House is expected to elect their six members next week.
Bills Filed
| House Bills | |
| H482 | County Comm. Role in School Bldg Acquisition. |
| H483 | Vet. Posttraumatic Stress/Mitigating Factor. |
| H484 | Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. |
| H485 | UNC & CC Credit/National Gd on SAD. |
| H486 | National Guard Tuition Assistance Program. |
| H487 | Nat. Guard Reemployment Rights/Definitions. |
| H488 | Early Rental Termination by Military Members. |
| H489 | Child Abuse & Neglect/Military Affiliation. |
| H490 | Caldwell CC/Bd. of Trustees Appointments. |
| H491 | Henderson County Fire Tax Districts. |
| H492 | Increase Penalties for Certain Assaults. |
| H493 | Combine Barber & Cosmetology Licensure Boards. |
| H494 | Sales Tax Exemption - Agricultural Fairs. |
| H495 | Increase Textbook Funds & Spending Flex. |
| H496 | Fair and Nonpartisan Ballot Placement. |
| H497 | Retirement Systems 2% COLAs/Funds. |
| H498 | Jonesville/Boonville/East Bend/Even-Yr Elec'n. |
| H499 | Funds for Down Syndrome Programs. |
| H500 | ABC Omnibus Legislation. |
| H501 | DOT/Surveying Information in Plans. |
| H502 | Define "Consumer" - Auto Renewal Contracts. |
| H503 | Local Budgets/Public Enterprise Funds. |
| H504 | City of Lincolnton/Even-Yr Elect'n/Mayor Term. |
| H505 | Expand Grandparent Visitation Rights. |
| H506 | Chemical Endangerment of a Child. |
| H507 | Land-Use Regulatory Changes. |
| H508 | Appointments/Bd of Elections/Certain Counties. |
| H509 | Davidson County Zoning Procedure Changes. |
| H510 | Wilson/Provision of Communication Services. |
| H511 | Game Nights/Nonprofit Fund-Raiser. |
| H512 | Monitor Implementation of TBI Waiver. |
| H513 | Set State-County Special Assistance Rates. |
| H514 | Permit Municipal Charter School/Certain Towns. |
| H515 | Adaptive Equipment Tax Benefit. |
| H516 | Results First Framework. |
| H517 | Mandate Wheelchairs at Outpatient Facilities. |
| H518 | SAFE Act Changes. |
| H519 | Tri-County CC/Neighbor State In-State Tuition. |
| H520 | Union Co. Bd. of Ed/Partisan Election. |
| H521 | School Calendar Flex./Union County. |
| H522 | Change the LOST Adjustment Factor. |
| H523 | School Calendar Flex./Lincoln County. |
| H524 | Marine Aquaculture Development Act. |
| H525 | Amending Body-Worn Camera Procedures. |
| H526 | DOT/Roadside Memorials. |
| H527 | Restore/Preserve Campus Free Speech. |
| H528 | Traffic Impact Analysis Time Frame. |
| H529 | Amend Funeral Laws. |
| H530 | Counties/Condemnation of Unsafe Bldgs/Liens. |
| H531 | Dare County Local Tax Clarification. |
| H532 | Modify UNC Laboratory Schools. |
| H533 | Modernize Symbol of Access. |
| H534 | Computer Coding Course Elective. |
| H535 | Operating Funds for Linville Nursery. |
| H536 | Increase Funding for Behavioral Health Svcs. |
| H537 | 2017 Governor's Budget. |
| H538 | Tarheel Challenge Academy Funds. |
| H539 | Access to Elderly Adults. |
| H540 | Teachers & State Employees Pay Raise. |
| H541 | Funds/Broadband in Franklin and Nash Counties. |
| H542 | Elections/Cities in More Than One Co. |
| H543 | Caregiver Relief Act. |
| H544 | Healthy Families & Workplaces/Paid Sick Days. |
| H545 | Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Reforms. |
| H546 | Rabies Quarantine Amendments. |
| H547 | Cumberland 12C Superior Court Districts. |
| Senate Bills | |
| S390 | Pilot/Sports for Students With Disabilities. |
| S391 | Ferry Transportation Authority. |
| S392 | Confirmation/Secretary of DHHS. |
| S393 | Confirmation/Secretary DEQ. |
| S394 | Legislative Cybersecurity Committee. |
| S395 | Hospitality Law Revisions & Game Night. |
| S396 | Special Separation Allowance for Firefighters. |
| S397 | Utilization Review Laws Clarification. |
| S398 | Direct Sellers Not Employees for UI. |
| S399 | UNC & CC Credit/National Gd on SAD. |
| S400 | National Guard Tuition Assistance Program. |
| S401 | Early Rental Termination by Military Members. |
| S402 | Vet. Posttraumatic Stress/Mitigating Factor. |
| S403 | Child Abuse & Neglect/Military Affiliation. |
| S404 | Nat. Guard Reemployment Rights/Definitions. |
| S405 | Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. |
| S406 | Sweepstakes Control Act. |
| S407 | Employee Misclassification Reform. |
| S408 | NC Truth in Education. |
| S409 | Increase Penalties/Organized Retail Theft. |
| S410 | Marine Aquaculture Development Act. |
| S411 | Various Motor Vehicle Law Revisions. |
| S412 | Improve Process/Sale of Unclaimed Vehicles. |
| S413 | Clarify Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws. |
| S414 | Use of Funding Pool Grant Funds/Macon County. |
| S415 | Clarify Def'n. of Collection Agency. |
| S416 | Use of Tourism Funds/Watauga County. |
| S417 | Private Parking/Immobilization Device. |
| S418 | Dyslexia Kindergarten Screening. |
| S419 | Planning/Development Changes. |
| S420 | CC Bd. of Trustees/Governance. |
| S421 | Use of Career & Technical Funds/Onslow County. |
| S422 | Eligibility Reform/Medicaid/SNAP. |
| S423 | Life Changing Experiences School Pilot. |
| S424 | Increase Funding for Behavioral Health Svcs. |
| S425 | Unborn Child Protection Fr. Dismemberment Act. |
| S426 | Barber Apprentice Changes. |
| S427 | Jordyn's Law/Notify Noncustodial Parent/Abuse. |
| S428 | Chiropractor Parity & Preceptorships. |
| S429 | Home Visits/Preg. Women & Children/Medicaid. |
| S430 | 2017 Governor's Budget. |
| S431 | Correction Enterprise and Workers' Comp. |
| S432 | Delay Marine Fisheries Rule Making. |
| S433 | Limit Who May Advertise/Adoption Laws. |
| S434 | Amend Environmental Laws 2. |
| S435 | Internet Publication of Legal Notices. |
| S436 | UI & WC/Newsprint Employees. |
| S437 | Clarify Hospital Patient Discharge Rights. |
| S438 | Allow Senior Citizens to Audit UNC/CC Courses. |
| S439 | Funds/Eliminate NC Pre-K Waitlist Statewide. |
| S440 | National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. |
| S441 | No Budget, No Pay Act. |
| S442 | Study/Expand Computer Science to All Students. |
| S443 | TA Tuition/Teachers Pilot/Funds for Books. |
| S444 | Permanency Innovation Initiative Funds. |
| S445 | Expungement Process Modifications. |
| S446 | LEO Next of Kin Notification. |
| S447 | Turning TAs Into Teachers. |
| S448 | Professors in the Classroom. |
| S449 | Early Ed Articulation Agreement. |
| S450 | Uniform Trust Decanting Act. |
| S451 | Joint Survivorship Clarifications. |
| S452 | Expand Allowable Medical Uses of CBD Oil. |
| S453 | Driver Instruction/Law Enforcement Stops. |
| S454 | LEO Personal Info and Public Records. |
| S455 | Amend Certificate of Relief. |
| S456 | Increase De-Escalation Training for LEOs. |
| S457 | Amend Deferred Prosecution Statute. |
| S458 | Increase Inmate Health Care. |
| S459 | Senate Resolution Pertaining to Senate Rules. |
| S460 | Agriculture and Forestry Nuisance Remedies. |
| S461 | Modify UNC Laboratory Schools. |
| S462 | UNC/UTEACH Program. |
| S463 | Caregiver Relief Act. |
| S464 | Increase Oversight of OLBs. |
| S465 | Courthouse Concealed Carry/Elected Officials. |
| S466 | CIHS Funds. |
| S467 | North Carolina Retirement Reform. |
| S468 | QZAB Use Modification. |
| S469 | Preserve Municipal Solid Waste Capacity. |
| S470 | Personal Injury Bankruptcy Trust Claims. |
| S471 | LRC/Transition to Sptd Empl./IDD Population. |
| S472 | Streamline CAP/CDSA Services Pilot. |
| S473 | Class Size Reporting/Principal. |
| S474 | A Common Sense Repeal of HB2. |
| S475 | Low-Income Building Project-HFA. |
| S476 | Tuition Grants for NCSSM Graduates. |
| S477 | Free Handicap Placard/Certain Organizations. |
| S478 | Strengthen Youth Tobacco Use Prevention/Funds. |
| S479 | Amend Funeral Laws. |
| S480 | Protection From Government Overreach Act. |
| S481 | Waiver/Prohibit Certain Foods/SNAP. |
| S482 | Charter Schools in the Workplace. |
| S483 | NC Comprehensive School Accountability. |
| S484 | PARTF Funding Conditions and Match. |
| S485 | Livestock and Wildlife Protection Act. |
| S486 | Uniform Voting Hours Act. |
| S487 | Increase Energy Efficiency. |
| S488 | Motorcycle Financing Changes. |
| S489 | Clarify Workers' Comp. Policy Cancellation. |
| S490 | Portability of Leave/Charter Schools. |
| S491 | HOA/Condo Crime & Fidelity Insurance Policies. |
| S492 | T & U Visa/Fees. |
| S493 | C-PACE Program. |
| S494 | Ready Mix Concrete Mill Sales Tax Exemption. |
| S495 | Zoo State Construction Exemptions. |
| S496 | Banking Law Amendments. |
| S497 | Nonprofit Sales Tax Exemption. |
| S498 | Healthy Food Small Retailer Program. |
| S499 | Capital Funds for Residential TBI Services. |
| S500 | Strengthen Human Trafficking Law. |
| S501 | 2017 DOL Technical Changes. |
| S502 | DOL/Carolina Star Program. |
| S503 | Online Paperless Pistol Permit Modernization. |
| S504 | Educational Property Definition/Firearms. |
| S505 | Add Member to NC Training Standards. |
| S506 | Study NC Criminal Justice Size and Efficiency. |
| S507 | Restore/Preserve Campus Free Speech. |
| S508 | Impaired Driving Punishment/Use of CAM. |
| S509 | Insurer Investment/Transaction Changes. |
| S510 | Surplus Equipment Auctions. |
| S511 | School Construction Flexibility. |
| S512 | Stop the Revolving Door. |
| S513 | Same Firearm Protections for 50C as 50B Order. |
| S514 | State Budget/Require 5-Year Forecast. |
| S515 | NC Skills Gap Study. |
| S516 | State Employees/Paid Parental Leave. |
| S517 | North Carolina New Teacher Support Act. |
| S518 | Budget Resp./Account./Transparency in Schools. |
| S519 | NCGRADE. |
| S520 | Emergency Worker Protection Act. |
| S521 | UNC/Equal Opportunity Officer. |
| S522 | Manufactured Home Purchase Agreement Changes. |
| S523 | EMS Use of UAS. |
| S524 | Department of Revenue Registration Act. |
| S525 | Study Legislative Term Limits. |
| S526 | Nat. Guard/Adjutant General's Staff. |
| S527 | Require Physical Education. |
| S528 | Promote Ideological Diversity - UNC Faculty. |
| S529 | EMS - Recommendations. |
| S530 | Protect Government Whistleblowers. |
| S531 | School Boards Can't Sue Counties. |
| S532 | Landowner Encroachment and Timber Theft Act. |
| S533 | Mitigation Services/DOT. |
| S534 | Legal Services Rendered for Nonprofits. |
| S535 | Service Worker Tax Reduction Action. |
| S536 | Elections/Cities in More Than One Co. |
| S537 | North Carolina Equal Pay Act. |
| S538 | Sudden Cardiac Arrest Task Force. |
| S539 | Environmental Regulatory Reform Act of 2017. |
| S540 | Computer Coding Course Elective. |
| S541 | Teacher Compensation/Exceed Max. Class Size. |
| S542 | Public School Building Bond Act of 2017. |
| S543 | Health Insurance Claims Transparency Act. |
| S544 | Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2017. |
| S545 | State Nature and Historic Preserve Adds/Dels. |
| S546 | Accuracy/Medicaid Eligibility Determinations. |
| S547 | Restitution Remission/Notice and Hearing Req. |
| S548 | Strengthen Human Trafficking Laws/Studies. |
| S549 | Juvenile Reinvestment Act. |
| S550 | Modernization of Drug Court Program. |
| S551 | Promote NC-Thinks. |
| S552 | Modify Sales Tax Remittance: Boat/Jet Repairs. |
| S553 | Revoke Consent for Intercourse. |
| S554 | Fair Redistrictring/Postmark&Absentee Ballots. |
| S555 | Sanitary Districts/Impact Fees. |
| S556 | Healthy Families & Workplaces/Paid Sick Days. |
| S557 | Annexation of Enclaves. |
| S558 | School Road Improvement Grant Program. |
| S559 | Fingerprinting Upon Arrest. |
| S560 | Citizen's Warrants. |
| S561 | Expunction - Charges Dismissed/Not Guilty. |
| S562 | Local Funds for Charter Schools. |
| S563 | Business Court Changes. |
| S564 | Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act. |
| S565 | People First 2017. |
| S566 | Postpone Assumed Name Revisions. |
| S567 | Reform/Correct/Wills and Trusts. |
| S568 | Nonademption of Specific Devises. |
| S569 | Uniform Power of Attorney Act. |
| S570 | Changes to the Juvenile Code.-AB |
| S571 | Customary and Reasonable Fees for Appraisers. |
| S572 | Consumer Credit/Revolving Credit Charges. |
| S573 | Appraisal Assignment Modifications. |
| S574 | Consumer Credit/Revolving Credit Charges. |
| S575 | Land-Use Regulatory Changes. |
| S576 | Real Estate Appraisal Clarifications. |
| S577 | Consumer Credit/Default Charge. |
| S578 | Veteran-Owned Small Business/Annual Report. |
| S579 | The Catherine A. Zanga Medical Marijuana Bill. |
For more information, contact the Brooks Pierce Government Affairs Team, linked below.
