Legislative Update from Rep. Iler — February 13, 2023

Last week at the North Carolina General Assembly saw many more bills filed, and some important bills pass the N.C. House and Senate.  The House passed the anti-rioting bill and a bill to improve educational opportunities and accountability.  I chaired the first Environment Committee of this session, and will be chairing our first transportation budget committee this week.

     House Bill 40 – Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder increases the penalties for property destruction and assault during a riot.  It specifically protects the rights of citizens wishing to peacefully protest.  Rep. Charlie Miller made a first hand and first-class speech on the House floor.  He recounted his experience during the 2020 riots in Wilmington when the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office assisted in separating and protecting the peaceful protesters from the rioters and arrested six of the criminals that were causing destruction.  Rep. Miller was a primary sponsor of HB 40, and I was a cosponsor.  The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 75 – 43 with 6 Democrats joining all Republicans for a convincing vote.  It was sent to the Senate, where it is in their Rules Committee.

     House Bill 26 – Education Omnibus expands teacher professional development opportunities, addresses Covid 19 learning loss, and modernizes school performance grades.  I was a cosponsor of this bill and had heard it in the Education K-12 Committee earlier.  It passed the House 75 -42 with a bipartisan vote with 10 Democrats joining 65 Republicans to pass it.  It went to the Senate, where it is also in the Rules Committee.

     The Senate passed the controversial Senate Bill 49 – Parents’ Bill of Rights, which gives parents proper notification of their child’s situation in public schools.   It passed on a party line vote in the Senate last week and is now in the House Rules Committee.

     This week our budget meetings begin with presentations to joint committees from various state government departments.  This Tuesday, I will be chairing the first of many early morning meetings as a chair of the House Appropriations Committee on Transportation.