Legislative Update for the week of July 1-5

Lawmakers continued the legislative session during Fourth of July week, but activity was limited due to the holiday. 

Senate:

SB681: Rural Health Care Stabilization Act – The Senate voted on this piece of legislation that would create a new Rural Healthcare Stabilization Program administered by the UNC Health Care System. The purpose of the program is to provide loans below market rates to rural hospitals in financial crisis. Applicants would be required to submit a plan for how the loan would be used to make the hospital financially viable. The bill passed the Senate on a 42-1 vote, with Sens. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir), Don Davis (D-Greene) and Harry Brown (R-Onslow) voting in favor. It now goes to the House for consideration. Read the text of the bill here. 

HB629: Law Enforcement Mutual Aid – This House bill, originally co-sponsored by Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir), came up for a vote in the Senate. The bill, which passed the House on a unanimous vote in April, also passed the Senate on a unanimous vote, 45-0, with Perry, Davis and Brown voting in favor. The bill authorizes NC law enforcement agencies to enter into mutual aid agreements with out-of-state law enforcement agencies. Read the text of the bill here.

SB225/SL 2019-68: Repeal Tuition Surcharge – This bill sponsored by Sen. Perry, which was inspired by a constituent concern, was signed into law by Gov. Cooper on July 1. The new law repeals a tuition surcharge that was previously charged to students who required more than 140 hours to complete a 4 year degree.

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