The start of this year’s legislative session is about a month away and I am continuing to prepare to take your ideas and your needs to the General Assembly. My focus will continue to be on job creation, education, respecting people’s rights and providing help to those who are vulnerable.
A number of bills introduced by members of the Democratic caucus last session tried to address these issues. One of these bills would have given tax credits to small businesses that create jobs. Others would have helped keep more teacher assistants in our classrooms, given local school systems more control over their school calendars and helped minimum wage workers pay for college. We proposed giving tax breaks to seniors and volunteer rescue workers. And we filed bills to broaden anti-discrimination laws, strengthen domestic violence laws and add legal protections for our children. All of these bills are dead for now because of the majority’s inaction. Part of my job in the session ahead will be to try to have some of these ideas put into other pieces of legislation or into the budget.
This week, I want to share some of the ideas that I supported, sponsored or co-sponsored last session to help give you a better idea of my work on behalf of our community. This list of House bills is not comprehensive, but should give you an idea of some of the good ideas that have gone ignored. I welcome any thoughts or ideas you may have, and as always, I appreciate your interest in state government and the House of Representatives.
*Note: I would like to clarify to the reader, that if my name does not appear as a sponsor or co-sponsor, that does not necessarily mean that I would oppose the legislation. At the end of the day, every House member gets a vote on every bill.
- Save jobs, create jobs and enhance North Carolina’s status as one of the best places to do business
H479 Small Business New Job Creation Incentive
Creates tax credits for small business job creation. Firms with no more than 50 employees that meet the requirements would be entitled to tax credits based on whether they were in a Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 county.
H628 Development Ready Jobs Study
Directs the Revenue Laws Study Committee to study policies and incentives that can help stimulate the creation of development ready sites to aid in job recruitment and retention
H872 Smart Grid Job Creation and Retention Act
Tax credits for research regarding technologies for modern electric grid
H708 Study Water & Sewer Service Providers
Directs the Environmental Review Commission to study the reduction and consolidation of the statutory models for establishing, operating and financing certain organizations that provide water and sewer services, a needed part of the state’s business infrastructure.
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- Protect our education system from cuts that would devastate public education and our children’s future
H891 Restore Teacher Assistant Funds
Restore $200 million to the education budget solely for teacher assistants.
H702 Establish Minimum Wage Worker Scholarship Fund
Provide college scholarships of up to $12,500 a year for students who have worked long term in minimum wage jobs
H94 Local Flexibility Re: School Calendar
Give local school systems flexibility to establish their school calendars
H770 Reduce & Prevent School Discipline Problems
Amend the school discipline law to reduce, prevent disruptive behaviors, suspensions and expulsions
H247 Enhance Charter School Accountability
Bill to eliminate cap on charter schools and to provide enhanced accountability for charter school academic performance
- Help our most vulnerable citizens. We will fight to preserve the critical services needed as our economy recovers. We will not turn our back on those in our community who are struggling
H246 Modify Homestead Property Tax Exclusion
Raise homestead exemption for seniors from $25,000 to $35,000
H668 Increase Deduction: Volunteer Rescue Workers
Increase income tax deduction for volunteer rescue workers from $250 to $400
H356 Psychological Counseling for Jurors
Counseling for jurors exposed to graphic or disturbing evidence
H676 UI/Implement EB Three-Year Look Back
Extend federal unemployment benefits to 40,000 residents at no cost to the state
- Respect and protect the rights of all North Carolinians
H746 Citizen Participation Act
Act to protect the Constitutional right of citizens to participate in government proceedings
H682 Require Domestic Violence Training/Certain Persons
Require domestic violence training for prosecutors; magistrates, mediators, custody evaluators; parenting coordinators; guardians ad litem; public school educators
H729 Reckless Assault of a Child
Create the felony offense of reckless assault when someone over the age of 18 causes serious bodily injury to the brain of a child less than 5 years old by shaking the child
H478 Nondiscrimination in State/Employment
Amends State Personnel Act to add sexual orientation and gender identity to list of reasons employers cannot discriminate
Other
H189 Require ABC Permittees to Be Tax Compliant
Provides that compliance with the state’s tax laws is a condition of holding an ABC permit and that an ABC permit may be revoked for failure to timely file a tax return or pay an overdue tax debt.
Extend the time period during which legislators and certain other public servants are prohibited from registering as a lobbyist after leaving office or employment. Prohibit public servants from accepting economic benefit from certain persons after leaving office or employment
H725 Ignition Interlock Required/All DWIs
Ignition locks required on vehicles before those convicted of DWI can qualify for a limited driving privilege
Thank you for your interest in state government. In the meantime, please contact me if I can be of help.
Keep in touch,
Michael H. Wray
NC House District 27