Legislative roundup for week of Feb. 23-28

Here is a look at some of the bills filed or cosponsored by local legislators.

Senate Bill 150: Greene Co. Arts & Historical Society Funds — N.C. Sen. Don Davis (D-Greene) introduced this bill in the Senate to appropriate $100,000 in funding from the General Fund “to assist the organization with its facilities.” The bill has been referred to committee. Read the text of the bill here: https://webservices.ncleg.net/ViewBillDocument/2019/674/0/DRS45061-LGa-10

Senate Bill 134: Economics and Financial Literacy Act — Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) signed on to co-sponsor this bill that would make an economics and personal finance course a requirement for high school graduation in N.C. The proposed course would cover topics including managing credit, credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, student loans and other financial literacy issues. The bill has been referred to committee. Read the text of the bill here: https://webservices.ncleg.net/ViewBillDocument/2019/647/0/DRS45063-MVa-95

House Bill 241: Education Bond Act of 2019 — House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne) cosponsored this bill which offers a different solution to school construction funding than the one passed by the N.C. Senate last week. It would authorize a statewide vote on $1.9 billion in bonds to fund school construction across the state. Under the framework of the bill, Lenoir, Jones and Greene counties would each receive $10 million in funding. Bell said that he believes there are merits to the plan passed by the Senate also and the House and Senate will be able to find common ground to reach a compromise solution. Read the text of the bill here: https://webservices.ncleg.net/ViewBillDocument/2019/839/0/DRH30098-MCxf-29C

House Bill 224: Assault with a Firearm on a Law Enforcement Officer/Increase Punishment — Bell also signed on to co-sponsor this bill that would increase the punishment for assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her duty from a Class E to a Class D felony. Read the text of the bill here: https://webservices.ncleg.net/ViewBillDocument/2019/752/0/DRH10053-ML-20B

Check back with Neuse News next week for more on what is happening in the General Assembly.