Legislative Update for the Week of June 17-21

Here is a look at some of the votes in the General Assembly last week.

House:

HB483: Let Them Spawn – The House of Representatives passed this bill that would impose minimum size limits for spot, Atlantic croaker, kingfishes, striped mullet, southern flounder and bluefish to ensure that 75% of juvenile fish at the size limit will reach maturity and spawn at least once. The bill tasks the state Marine Fisheries Commission with creating rules to implement the statute. The vote was 58-54 in favor, with both the Democrat and Republican caucuses being almost evenly split on the issue. Local representatives Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir) and John Bell (R-Wayne) voted Aye. Jones county representative Pat McElraft was absent for the vote. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. Read the text of the bill here.

SB529: Fees/Returned Checks – Sen. Don Davis (D-Greene) was a primary sponsor for this Senate bill that passed the House of Representatives on an 84-24 vote last week. The bill increases the maximum processing fee for a returned check from $25 to $35. Reps. Bell and Humphrey both voted Aye. Rep. McElraft was not present for the vote. The bill will go to Gov. Cooper for his signature on Monday. Read the text of the bill here.

SB366: 10th Grade/College Transfer Pathways – This bill to allow well-qualified tenth graders to enroll in college courses passed the House on a unanimous 108-0 vote, with local representatives voting in favor. While high school juniors and seniors could already enter the college pathways transfer program, the new bill would allow sophomores to take part if they meet criteria for academic readiness and maturity, participate in academic advising, and have parental consent. The bill also addresses criteria for hiring adjunct instructors for career and technical education. Since the version of the bill passed in the House was changed from the version that passed the Senate, it will now go back to the Senate to reconcile the changes. Read the text of the bill here.

Senate:

HB658: Allow Donations of Unexpired Drugs – Rep. Humphrey was a primary sponsor for this legislation that allows the donation of drugs that have not reached their expiration date to the drugs, supplies and medical device repository program to increase access for the underinsured and uninsured. Currently, to be accepted, drugs must have an expiration at least six months from the time of donation. The Senate approved the bill on a unanimous vote, so it went to Gov. Cooper for his signature on Friday. Read the text of the bill here.

HB389: ABC/University Athletic Facility – Rep. Bell was a primary sponsor of this bill to allow alcohol sales at athletic events at state universities approved by the Senate last Monday. (Read Neuse News’ original analysis here.) The vote was 33-12 in favor. Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) voted Aye, while Sens. Harry Brown (R-Onslow) and Davis voted against the legislation. After passing the Senate, the bill went back to the House for approval of changes made in the Senate, which it received. The bill was presented to the governor for his signature on Friday. Read the text of the final version of the bill here.

SB315: North Carolina Farm Act of 2019 – The Senate passed this bill making various changes to agriculture laws in the state last week on a 31-14 vote. (Read Neuse News’ previous analysis of the bill here.) Sen. Davis joined four other Democratic senators and all of the chamber’s Republicans in voting for the bill. Sen. Perry was a co-sponsor of the bill. It now goes to the House for consideration. Read the text of the bill here.

Check back with Neuse News later this week for more updates on the General Assembly.