KTS Strategies brings years of experience providing clients in a diverse range of industries with comprehensive policy and advocacy advice before federal, state, and local agencies. In North Carolina, we advise local municipalities, corporate transportation entities, nonprofit organizations, statewide associations, government vendors, and Fortune 500 companies before the North Carolina General Assembly and executive branch.
Below is an update on the activity at the NC General Assembly this week.
Bill Filing Deadlines
The House bill filing deadline for any bill without a finance or appropriations provision was this Tuesday, April 18. To date, 840 bills have been filed. Finance- and appropriations-related bills must be filed in the House by next Tuesday, April 25. The Senate bill filing deadline was April 4. The Senate has filed 745 bills. Exceptions to bill filing deadlines include Constitutional amendments, redistricting, election laws, nominations and appointments, and adjournment resolutions.
Over the next two weeks, we will see a large volume of bills passing through the House and Senate to meet this session’s May 4 crossover deadline. Crossover is the date by which a bill must pass its chamber of origin to remain eligible for consideration for the remainder of the biennial session. Exemptions to the crossover deadline are the same as the exceptions for the bill filing deadline. Bills with a finance or appropriations provision are also not subject to the crossover deadline.
Women’s Sports Bills
This week, the North Carolina House and Senate considered companion bills H574/S631, Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. Both bills would prohibit biological males from competing on female sports teams. The Senate version of the bill would apply only to middle and high schools. The House version also includes colleges.
The House bill was approved by the Judiciary and Rules Committees before being heard on the House floor Wednesday. H574 passed on the floor with a vote of 73-39, with three Democrats voting in favor. The Senate bill was approved by the Education and Rules Committees and heard on the Senate floor Thursday. After two tabled amendments, the bill passed along party lines (29-18).
NC Farm Act
S582, North Carolina Farm Act of 2023, was heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee this week. This is the legislature’s annual bill that generally makes various changes to laws pertaining to agriculture, forestry, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This year’s bill includes provisions that would allow income from the sale of honey to be considered gross income, create a Class 3 misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an animal waste spill, prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft near a forest fire, and clarify the definition of wetlands. The bill passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
