Hwy 70 Connector: October Legislative Update

Dear Neighbor,

We've had a busy month in Raleigh. Since our last newsletter, we've passed a fiscally conservative State Budget into law, overrode 5 more of Governor Cooper's vetoes, and enacted a resolution to support the Nation of Israel.

Please take a few minutes to read our below newsletter for more updates on the things we're doing to serve you both in Raleigh and at home. As always, feel free to contact my office if we can ever be of assistance to you.

At your service,
Chris Humphrey
State Representative

We Stand with Israel

My House colleagues & I are proud to stand in support of the Nation of Israel following the unprovoked terrorism by Hamas. Last week, we formalized this support by passing House Resolution 897 by a vote of 104-0.

Five More VETO Overrides

We’re delivering results this month in the NCGA, overriding 5 more of the Governor’s vetoes. These new laws will:

Cut back on unreasonable regulations to create more jobs & economic growth (HB 600)
Ensure election integrity through bipartisan election reforms & security measures (SB 747 & 749)
Increase accountability of state boards & commissions (SB 512)
Enhance our state’s ‘all of the above’ clean energy strategy (SB 678)

UPDATE: 2023 State Budget

Since our last newsletter, the N.C. General Assembly passed a financially responsible budget that invests in workforce development, school choice, education, salaries, infrastructure, tax relief, and numerous other priorities. More details will follow later in this newsletter.

Amendment Introduced to Change Walstonburg & Hookerton Municipal Elections

I recently passed an Amendment to Senate Bill 68 that was requested by our local governments to move municipal elections for the towns Walstonburg and Hookerton (both in Greene County) to take place on even-numbered years, beginning in 2024. We passed similar legislation for the Town of Trenton (Jones County) back in August.

This change will align their municipal elections with regular General Elections for higher offices, creating the opportunity for more voters to participate in the process and have their voice heard at the local level. SB 68 has passed the House as amended, and now goes back to the Senate for concurrence.

New Traffic Pattern for West Greene Elementary

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Greene County School Board Chairman Joey Rackley and Vice Chairman Brandon Johnson, along with Superintendent Dr. Frank Creech to survey the completed driveway at West Greene Elementary.

This project has helped ease the flow of traffic in and out of the school during peak drop-off and pick-up hours, not only benefitting parents and faculty members, but also residents who may be traveling through the area during this time of day. It was an honor to assist in securing the funds for this project.

Bipartisan Election Integrity Legislation

For people to trust election results, we need to have a system that is fair, transparent, and accountable — and that’s not possible when one party has total control over counting the votes. Unfortunately, in an effort to keep his partisan advantage, Governor Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 749. Rest assured, we overrode his veto earlier this month, to ensure equal representation on the state and local boards of election.

Flood Mitigation & Local Infrastructure

In a recent interview with Neuse News, I discussed the legislative challenges and successes of this year in Raleigh. Our conversation ranged from the state budget to flood mitigation efforts and potential changes in election cycles for local municipalities.

WATCH HERE >>>

Legislative Update

The General Assembly has worked together to deliver North Carolinians a fiscally conservative state budget that makes sound investments in education, economic development, and infrastructure. Eastern North Carolina is going to be set up for success on several fronts as we continue our effective policies of low taxes, responsible spending, and reasonable regulations.

In addition to all of that — our state budget includes funding for the following local projects:

Lenoir County:
$2,675,000 for ambulances and facility repairs
5,000,000 went to Lenoir Community College for auto technology and training
$10,000 for the La Grange Arts Council
$100,000 for a directed grant to Mary’s Kitchen in Kinston
$6,395,000 to Kinston for the Adkin Branch Management Project
$250,000 to Kinston for fire/rescue/police support
$2,000,000 to Kinston for veterans home operations
$350,000,000 to the Global TransPark for an aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul facility
$30,000,000 to the GTP for a flight training and corporate office facility

Jones County:
$100,000 to Jones County for a flood study
$1,500,000 to Jones County for the Wellness/Fitness Center
$10,700,000 to Jones County for water treatment and valve additions
$6,000,000 to Maysville for capital improvements
$500,000 to Pollocksville for infrastructure repairs
$300,000 to Pollocksville for a mobile medical unit

Greene County:
$500,000 to Greene County for a new courtroom
$150,000 to Greene County for an economic development study
$50,000 for the Greene County Pregnancy Center
$4,222,500 to Snow Hill for water and wastewater infrastructure projects
$250,000 to Hookerton for water and wastewater infrastructure projects
$450,000 to Hookerton for a USDA (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) loan

READ MORE >>>

Congratulations, Caitlin Waters!

Congratulations to Caitlin Waters who was crowned as the 2024 Distinguished Young Woman of Lenoir County! The entire Distinguished Young Women of Lenoir County Class was also recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in several different areas. This program is part of a nationwide effort to recognize, incentivize, and foster excellence and educational growth among young individuals. Thank you to all the parents, volunteers, and sponsors who made this program a success and helped empower these young women to pursue their dreams.

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Congratulations, Mary's Kitchen!

Congratulations to Mary's Kitchen in Kinston on the recent re-dedication of their facility. Mary’s Kitchen has been a vital part of our community for 39 years, providing hot meals to those in need.

Their commitment to serving our community is truly remarkable, and it’s heartwarming to see their facility undergo a major renovation to better serve our neighbors. I'm proud to have played a small part in helping secure grant funds from the state to support this project. It's a testament to what we can achieve when our community comes together.

READ MORE >>>