Legislative Update from Rep. Frank Iler – Feb. 7, 2011

The second week of the 2011 session in the General Assembly became busy very quickly.  While the Monday and Tuesday sessions were very short, there were meetings of all kinds with interest groups, constituents from Brunswick County, and lobbyists on all sides of the issues coming by to meet with us.

On Wednesday, House Bill 2 – Protect Health Care Freedom came to the floor after vigorous debate in the Judiciary Committee.  It took almost the entire session of over three hours to debate and pass this controversial bill.  When all the talking was done, the legislation passed with a vote of 66 to 50.  All Republicans present and two Democrats voted for it.  This bill is intended to protect North Carolina citizens from the federal mandate of  being forced to purchase health insurance they don’t want.  It also contains a section concerning the NC Attorney General’s obligation to defend North Carolina law.  The bill now goes to the Senate, and, if passed, on to the Governor for signing.

So far about 50 bills have been filed in the House.  I have co-sponsored quite a few of them.  They will be introduced, sent to a committee, and passed to the floor.  Some of them in the works are House Bill 8 – Eminent Domain, House Bill 9 – Involuntary Annexation Moratorium, and House Bill 41 – Tax Fairness in Education.  HB 8 and HB 9 have been introduced, sent to the Judiciary Committee, and may be back on the floor for passage this week.  HB 41 will be introduced this week.

Another bill that should be introduced this week is House Bill 39 – Honor Boy Scouts.  This is a resolution honoring the 101st anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, which is this month.  I was asked as an Eagle Scout to be a primary sponsor of the bill, which I was glad to do.  It seems as if many of the bills introduced so far have been or will be controversial, but this one should be very NON-controversial.