Brooks Pierce Capital Dispatch: Legislators Pass Budget Adjustment Bill and Override Vetoes
Legislators returned to Raleigh this week and passed a bill that among other things, adjusts the budget law enacted in October 2023. They also voted to override four vetoes by Gov. Roy Cooper.
Budget Adjustment Bill
Both houses this week passed a conference report for H 10, which adjusts the 2023 budget law (H 259). The Senate vote was 27 to 17 and the House vote was 67 to 43.
The bill includes these appropriations:
- $ 463.5 million ($248 million nonrecurring and $215.5 million recurring) for Opportunity Scholarships. These funds are for students attending nonpublic schools and the additional appropriation addresses a student wait list for the 2024-25 school year due to adjustments in parental income limits. This brings the total appropriation for Opportunity Scholarships for this fiscal year to $570 million.
- $24.7 million recurring to clear the North Carolina's Education Student Accounts (ESA+) program waitlist for children with disabilities
- $64 million recurring for Community College enrollment growth
- $95 million recurring for K-12 school enrollment increases
- $277 million recurring and $100 million nonrecurring for Medicaid
- $55.1 million for infrastructure improvements to support economic development in Chatham County
- $150 million for major transportation improvements at the Randolph County Toyota battery plant megasite
In addition, the bill facilitates the state receiving additional federal funds for high-speed internet in rural communities and includes a requirement for sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by honoring immigration detainers from ICE.
Veto Overrides
After votes to override the Governor’s veto in both chambers this week, these bills are now law:
- Titles for Off-Road Vehicles/Low-Speed Vehicles Inspection ((H 155)
Allows DMV to issue title certificates for all-terrain and utility vehicles and allows off-site safety inspections of low-speed vehicles
- Tenancy in Common/E-Notary/Small Claims Changes (H 556)
Among other things, prohibits local governments from passing any ordinance that would forbid landlords from refusing to rent to tenants whose income includes funding from a federal housing assistance program
- No Central Bank Digital Currency (H 690)
Prohibits any state agency from accepting payment using central bank digital currency and forbids state agencies from participating in any potential tests of such currency by a branch of the Federal Reserve
- Building Code Regulatory Reform (S 166)
Among other things, makes various changes in the State Building Code, revises the membership of the State Building Code Council, and amends the law creating a Residential Code Council, which will be formed on January 1, 2025
Additional Sessions in 2024
Under the adjournment resolution (S 916) passed by both houses earlier this year, members can return to Raleigh for certain purposes later in 2024. This includes a session beginning October 9 to consider conference reports and veto overrides and a session beginning November 19 during which additional topics such as budget adjustments and bills that passed one house in 2023 could be considered.
Information about bills and work of the General Assembly can be found at its website: www.ncleg.gov.
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