Legislative Update from Rep. Iler — April 25, 2023

Last week at the North Carolina General Assembly became extremely busy, as we returned from the spring break, which was the week after Easter. Bills that had been filed were filling up committee agendas, and several hundred new bills were filed as a deadline came and went. Some significant votes were held on the House floor, as well as in the Senate.

             House Bill 574 – Fairness in Women’s Sports Act prevents biological males from competing against women in public school sports events. It passed the House by a vote of 73 – 39 with all Republicans and three Democrats voting for it and was sent to the Senate.

            Over two hundred new bills were filed last week in the House. Several important education bills were filed, and I co-sponsored three of them.  House Bill 823 – Choose Your School, Choose Your Future is about school choice; House Bill 824 – Teacher License Reciprocity from Every State will help new residents who have qualified to teach in another state to teach here.  This should increase the pool of available teachers and is especially helpful for military spouses who are transferred frequently.  House Bill 825 – Teaching Fellows Expansion will increase this scholarship program that encourages students to enter the teaching profession. This is a program for which I have advocated ever since going to Raleigh.

             One of my bills was in the House Committee on State Government. House Bill 536 – Loggerhead Turtle/State Saltwater Reptile recognizes the sea turtle that is common to our shores and is the focus of turtle groups in our beach communities. It passed the committee unanimously and should make it to the House floor this week. The same bill passed House 115 – 0 last session and stalled in the Senate.

            This week we expect to be very busy and move some significant bills.  The Senate will continue to work on the state budget, which we sent over to them early in April. These next two months will be very active.  Citizens can follow our activities at www.ncleg.gov.  There is a link on the website where one can watch and listen to many of our committee meetings and floor sessions.