NC Policy Update | neighborsoncall

Neighbors on Call’s NC Policy Update for 9/18/23

Governance

House, Senate making 'major progress' toward state budget deal, key lawmakers say – Travis Fain, Will Doran and Brian Murphy, WRAL News

Voting Rights

Elections changes giving NC legislators more power move back to the forefront – Lynn Bonner, NC Newsline

Education Policy

Gov. Roy Cooper releases federal dollars to aid NC Pre-K as GOP budget stalemate drags on – Greg Childress, NC Newsline

Economic Policy

NC Republicans attempt to resolve casino dispute holding up state budget – Michael Hyland, CBS 17

Criminal Justice

Gov. Cooper selects Judge Allison Riggs to fill NC Supreme Court vacancy – Clayton Henkel, NC Newsline
Child abuse law falters at NC legislature – Travis Fain, WRAL

Voting Rights

Republican leaders of the NCGA postponed a vote on a significant Republican-sponsored elections bill from last week to this week, amid protests over the bill. SB 749 would change the balance of power on county elections boards and the State Board of Elections, splitting them evenly along partisan lines instead of a 3-2 split in favor of the Governor’s party. Democrats and protestors of the bill have raised the alarm about the potential for this change to cause deadlock, thereby significantly limiting the availability of early voting sites across the state since county boards of elections are in charge of choosing early voting sites.

Economic Policy

Republicans may not have enough votes to pass a budget that includes proposed gambling measures, according to a recent email from NC House Speaker Moore to fellow Republicans. Negotiations over the budget have continued, with much discussion over a plan to authorize four new casinos in the state and legalize video gambling terminals. Republicans have indicated that the gambling measures will only pass as part of a budget rather than in one or more separate bills, but if there are not 61 Republican votes for a budget that includes the measures, there may be consideration of a budget without the measures. Voting on the budget is expected to take place this week.

On Tuesday the House Alcoholic Beverage Control committee unanimously approved a bill that would change multiple alcohol regulations in the state. SB 527 would allow ABC stores to open on Sundays, lift the ban on happy hours, and allow restaurants to sell mixed drinks for take-out and delivery, among other changes. The bill must be approved by two more committees before receiving a full vote in the NC House.

Governance