One of the best attributes of our system of government is the sharing of authority.
This enables us to better respond to citizens’ needs on all levels. While state government must address statewide issues, local governments are better equipped to deal with many issues that North Carolinians face daily. By working together, state and local governments make North Carolina a stronger state. This past session, we made several changes that will allow local governments to better address local issues. Together, we will do our best to represent your interests and concerns.
Thank you for your support. Please contact me if I can be of assistance.
Budget
With too many counties across our state struggling with rising expenses related to Medicaid, the state agreed to a plan this year to permanently relieve them of this burden — an estimated $500 million this fiscal year — over the next three years. Our plan will free up money in the counties for school construction and other costs of local government while helping to keep property taxes down in your communities. This approach represents a major shift in how the state of North Carolina does business and it protects small counties and those with an inordinate number of Medicaid recipients from the escalating costs of health care. Every county will end up with at least $500,000 more than they would have had otherwise.
Pensions and Personnel
The General Assembly passed a law to establish the Local Government Post-Employment Benefits Fund. Local governments may contribute to the fund and then use money from the fund to pay post-employment benefits later. The bill (SB 580) also establishes a similar Local Government Law Enforcement Special Separation Allowance Fund and authorizes local governments to create irrevocable trusts for these purposes. The funds will be managed by the state treasurer.
Legislators passed a bill (HB 671) that grants leaves of absence for elected or appointed state officials who are called to active military duty and permits cities and counties to select temporary officials to be appointed during their absences.
Safety
Local governments can adopt ordinances regulating demonstrations on state roads and highways. The ordinances can regulate the time, place, and manner of gatherings, picket lines, and protests.
We passed a bill (HB 189) that allows counties to authorize cities to issue pyrotechnics permits. Pyrotechnics is the science behind chemical reactions that operate numerous items like fireworks, safety matches, and airbags.
Building Codes and Regulations
Municipalities can now adopt and enforce ordinances to establish a nonresidential building or structure code. Legislators passed a bill (SB 556) allowing counties and cities to pass such ordinances if a structure does not meet minimum standards of maintenance, sanitation and safety established by the governing body. These standards involve conditions that are dangerous and jeopardize the occupants or public health, safety and welfare.
We passed a bill (SB 581) to allow counties and cities to lower building permit fees or offer partial rebates to encourage the design and construction of energy efficient buildings. These lower fees and rebates can also be applied to existing buildings that are renovated to improve energy efficiency. They are available to buildings that meet or exceed LEED standards, One Globe or higher under the Green Globes program standards, or a certification that meets or exceeds these standards.
Another bill (HB 1595) authorizes counties and cities to acquire, construct, convey or lease a building suitable for industrial or commercial use.
Transportation
A new law (SB 1513) now allows counties to help build roads. Under our previous law, the state and cities alone had responsibility for roads. Now, counties can buy land or right of ways for roads or build and maintain them if they choose to. Under the new law, cities can accept money from the Highway Fund or Highway Trust Fund or have some or all of their allocation reprogrammed to fund a project from the Department of Transportation’s Transportation Improvement List.
First Responders
The General Assembly passed a bill (HB 767) that will allow fire, rescue, and EMS personnel to drive all-terrain vehicles on certain public highways.
Legislators passed a bill (HB 1321) that grants weight and size limit exemptions to state and local firefighting agencies transporting overweight and oversized vehicles (up to 90,000 pounds, 12 feet wide and 75 feet long) being used to respond to forest fires, wildfires, or other emergencies or disasters.
Health
We passed a bill (HB 24) to protect the public from health risks associated with second hand smoke as recommended by the Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force. Cities and counties can regulate and restrict smoking in buildings and vehicles owned, leased or operated by local government.
Notes
A new law (HB 514) allows local governments to use single-vehicle passenger buses with an overall length of 45 feet or less on public streets or highways unless it poses a risk to the passengers or the public.
My colleagues and I passed a bill (HB 1060) that authorizes counties and cities to donate unused, obsolete or surplus property to another governmental unit in the United States, a sister city or nonprofit organizations incorporated by the United States.
Local governments can now purchase from federal contractors. A new law (SB 492) allows local governments to purchase from federal contractors if the contractor is willing to provide goods or services at the same or more favorable prices, terms, and conditions as those in the federal contract.
Please remember that you can visit the General Assembly’s website to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.
I plan to attend the following meetings/events:
I wish for you and your family a time of giving thanks and feasting as we celebrate Thanksgiving next week.
Please invite me to attend your county, city, community or civic, etc. meetings or events.
As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.
By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.