Legislators considered dozens of policy bills this week in advance of the May 4 crossover deadline (the date by which policy bills must pass one chamber to remain eligible).
Farm Bill
The Senate this week by a 34-9 vote passed the Farm Bill (S 582), which includes a number of provisions dealing with agriculture. The bill covers numerous topics including honey production, timber larceny, hog waste regulations and wetlands. Based on consideration of similar bills in past legislative sessions, specifics in the bill will likely change as it moves forward.
Reorganization & Economic Development Bill
The House this week by an 86-26 vote passed a bill (H 346) that would allow the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance company to restructure its corporate model. Under the bill, Blue Cross could create a nonprofit holding company that would become what state law calls its “ultimate controlling person.”
Proponents of the bill argue that the holding company will allow Blue Cross to compete more effectively. State Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey opposes the bill as possibly leading to higher insurance rates and concerns about transparency and accountability for the new holding company.
NIL Bill
The Senate this week unanimously passed a bill (S 574) governing student-athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) contracts.
The bill amends current state law to allow student-athletes to use registered agents for the purpose of representation in NIL contracts. The contracts must contain a warning to student-athletes to consult with their institution of higher education to ensure that students would not lose eligibility if the contract conflicted with State law or the institution's policies. The NIL agency contract could be cancelled by the student within 14 days. The bill creates a new public records exception for constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina and North Carolina community colleges that would exempt any records related to a student-athlete's NIL contract with a third party that was possessed by the institution of higher education for the purpose of review for compliance with law and policy.
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