Legislative Update from Rep. Frank Iler -July 5, 2016
Last week in the North Carolina House of Representatives we passed the 2016 – 2017 state budget, we had a flurry of state and local bills that passed and some that didn’t, and we adjourned the session for 2016.
After just two weeks of negotiations, the House and Senate budget writers agreed on the state budget, House Bill 1030 – 2016 Appropriations Act. It is a $22.3 billion spending plan that greatly increases investments in Education and Justice and Public Safety, stabilizes other areas such as Health and Human Services, and increases the rainy day fund to the statutory level that has never before been achieved. It also continues reduces taxes on middle income families and holds spending to inflation plus population levels.
In the Transportation budget, we increased and consolidated funds for primary and secondary road maintenance and stabilized funds for ferry replacement and refurbishment. We did not increase tolls to accomplish this.
Near the end of a session there are bills that are being negotiated between the House and Senate that come to a quick agreement and some that seem to be impossible. Whatever we pass in the end must be identical. Our regulatory reform bill had many provisions, and the joint conference committee could not resolve them all. On the other hand, House Bill 770 – NC Farm Act of 2016 was successfully negotiated and passed. It provides some regulatory relief to the agricultural industry.
Two local bills of interest to Brunswick County came up for votes in the House. Senate Bill 215 – Abolish Brunswick County Coroner passed on a voice vote on the House floor Tuesday. Brunswick joins the other 95 counties that now utilize the medical examiner system instead of the coroner system.
Senate Bill 875 – Town of Sunset Beach/Deannexation came to the House Finance Committee and had a Proposed Committee Substitute or PCS that removed one of the three properties that had been originally proposed for de – annexation. The sense of the committee was that the town needed more time to work with the other two property owners, so the bill was not given a favorable report from the committee. Since we have adjourned the session, it is dead for 2016, but a new bill can be introduced in 2017, if necessary.
The 2016 session of the 2015 General Assembly officially adjourned near midnight Friday. It is always emotional to see the retiring members leaving and ending our business together for the year. It is also a relief that the issues have been resolved or at least cannot be acted upon for another six or seven months. Aside for some interim committee meetings I will be attending, I can now get around the county and visit with town councils and other groups more often. Our office will still operate in Raleigh on a Monday through Thursday schedule, and I will be in daily contact with my Legislative Assistant, Carla Langdon, who has been working on Brunswick County issues for at least twelve years.
This is my last column during the session, but I am sure that as issues come up, I will be in touch with the media. Thank you for your readership and comments on this effort.