Brent Jackson: Senate District 9 updates

Vibrant display of homegrown peppers...

About Brent Contact Committees Recent Votes Introduced Bills From the Desk of Senator Brent Jackson March 5, 2025 Dear Friend of Senate District 9, Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter and staying connected with the latest news from District Nine and our efforts in the General Assembly. My team and I are committed to serving our community and our state, working hard each day to bring about positive change. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue addressing the important issues impacting our district! Your voices and concerns continue to guide our efforts in the General Assembly, and we remain focused on bringing your priorities to the forefront. Stay tuned for more updates on the important work we’re doing, and thank you for your continued support! Sincerely, This week Senate passed several bills, including a bill I co-sponsored— The North Carolina Border Protection Act. Here's more information about what the bill does: Require state law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, Department of Adult Correction, the State Highway Patrol, and the State Bureau of Investigation, to enter into memorandums of agreement (MOAs) with the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fully cooperate with immigration laws. Those law enforcement agencies would also be required to determine the immigration status of any person in its custody or under its supervision. The Office of State Budget and Management would be required to determine whether, and to what extent, certain state-funded public benefit programs are being provided to unauthorized immigrants and post its findings publicly. The OSBM would then be required to take steps to ensure that state-funded public benefits are only being provided to those who qualify for it. While Sanctuary City policies are already prohibited in the state, municipalities across the state continue to defy the state law. To hold them accountable, any county or municipality that creates Sanctuary Cities will have its local immunity waived, thereby allowing citizens harmed by illegal immigrants to sue them. Finally, it prohibits UNC System campuses from adopting any policy that does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and/or adopting sanctuary school policies. Senate Bill 59 was heard in the Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee this week. I am one of the primary sponsors of this bill. This bill makes changes to the county voluntary agriculture district advisory boards. It would make a few changes, including: • Requiring an ordinance establishing a VAD to limit the ability of a State or local public agency or government entity to condemn qualifying farmland in a VAD. • Extending the period within which an agricultural advisory board (Board) must hold a public hearing on a proposed State or local agency condemnation from 30 days to 45 days. • Prohibiting an agency from formally initiating a condemnation action until 120 days after the date on which the Board submits its findings and recommendations to the agency. If you would like to read the bill, click here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S59v1.pdf To find out more about the NC General Assembly Committees you can visit the website by clicking here Invite your Friends/Family! If you'd like to invite others to receive our weekly district newsletter, you can invite them using the button below! Invite a friend Opportunity Scholarship Program In 2013 the North Carolina General Assembly created the NC Opportunity Scholarship program. It recognized a simple yet important principle - choice. Every child has unique educational needs. North Carolina recognizes that uniqueness and offers support for the academic programs that best meet the needs of that child - be they traditional public schools, charter schools, home schools or private schools.  Last year the North Carolina General Assembly expanded the NC Opportunity Scholarship program for families choosing a private school option. You can find details on the program and how to apply here. "Scholarships are awarded based on a family’s household income and can be used to pay the required tuition and fees to attend an eligible private school. Who Can Apply? Parents of any North Carolina student entering kindergarten through 12th grade. What are the eligibility requirements? Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship: At least 5 years old by August 31 or at least 4 years old by April 16 and approved for Kindergarten according to state guidelines. Lives in North Carolina Has not graduated from high school Has not enrolled in a post-secondary institution full-time Note: Scholarship amount is determined by household income How much is the Scholarship? Scholarships range from approximately $3,000 to $7,000 and are based on a family’s household income. Scholarships can be used to pay the required tuition and fees to attend an eligible private school." GO Grant GO Grants are a great way to get our students outdoors! Apply for a GO Grant today! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and there is no deadline to apply! Apply for a GO Grant Hailey Hudson Heading to Miss North Carolina Pageant Hailey Hudson, a Bladen County native and the reigning Miss Chapel Hill 2025, has been named to the 78th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival Queen’s Court.  Hudson was selected from a pool of women vying for the Miss North Carolina crown in June. The Queen’s Court is composed of eight local titleholders from across the state. The titleholders will spend the week in Wilmington alongside escorts made up of cadets from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Read More Wallace Added to 2025 Cycle North Carolina Mountains to Coast Route Cycle North Carolina will begin its full-service, cross-state ride on Oct. 5 in Lake Lure (Oct. 4 is a travel and check-in day), and will arrive at Fort Fisher on Oct. 11, with 950 bicyclists from more than 40 states expected to participate. Over the course of the week, riders will bike an average of 60 miles per day. Additional overnight stays are planned for the towns of Lincolnton, Kannapolis, Asheboro, Fuquay-Varina, Goldsboro, and Wallace. Read More Jones County Students Compete in Trades Day More than 120 students from Onslow and Jones counties competed in 14 different categories during Trades Day at Coastal Carolina Community College. It's the most participation the annual event has ever seen. Read More Pender County Sheriff’s Office Hosts K-9, Drone Training Exercise The Pender County Sheriff’s Office held a special training for drone operators and K-9 units last Tuesday. The training is meant to simulate a missing person situation.  “This is our second time doing this. We’re trying to make it an annual event,” Sgt. Josiah Dorton with the sheriff’s office said. The training started two years ago as a way to prepare K-9 handlers and drone operators for collaboration in the field. Read More Piney Grove VFD Earns Achievement Piney Grove Volunteer Fire Department received high praise and recognition for its ongoing dedication to exceeding state standards — an effort that’s earned them an increase in this year’s overall fire rating. Piney Grove received a 5/9E for its rating, an improvement from the score they received from the last fire rating in 2019 of a six, according to Piney Grove Fire Chief Grimes, which goes into effect May 5. The new fire rating isn’t just an arbitrary number, as Grimes explained how it is earned and what it means for the Piney Grove community. Read More Vibrant Display of Homegrown Peppers has Become a State Farmers Market Hit The Moore’s Produce stall at the N.C. State Farmers Market has become known for its vibrant array of many different peppers – from sweet and mild to super hot. Those peppers weren’t part of the original plan though. It’s been a colorful and distinctive addition that seems to amaze many of the farmers market customers. The origin of Moore’s Produce at the farmers market goes back many years before peppers were part of the offerings. Ronnie and his brother sold only cantaloupes and watermelons seasonally at the former State Farmers Market location. When the market moved to its current location, they continued to sell cantaloupes and watermelons along with other summer-season produce. About 15 years ago they became a year-round vendor after expanding into spring and fall crops. Read More March 1825: Lafayette Visits Fayetteville Early 19th-century North Carolina was not a place that international celebrities were likely to visit. Lacking large and cosmopolitan cities and with a primarily agricultural economy, North Carolina was well on its way to earning the nickname, “the Rip Van Winkle state.” So it was no small thing when North Carolinians learned, in November 1824, about the impending visit of an aging Frenchman with the impressive name of Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Read More

Sen. Brent Jackson, District 9 | 16 West Jones Street 2022 Legislative Building | Raleigh, NC 27601 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice