Senator Harry Brown and Representative Tom Murry have introduced the long-awaited modifications to the state's economic development plan and partnerships.  The bill moves many of the formerly Department of Commerce and Regional Partnerships functions to a contracted private nonprofit.  It also repeals NC's Economic Development Board and allows the Secretary to delegate her strategic economic development planning.  This is a sea-change for how the state has managed economic development over the past decade or more and we expect a lot of discussion and debate.  HB 1031 can be viewed here: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2013/Bills/House/PDF/H1031v1.pdf