NC Legislative Update

By Cady Thomas

Activity Updates

Meeting with Representative Arp

Several members, Caroline and I met with Representative Dean Arp last week to discuss potential changes to the lien law. We are working with him on draft language and hope to find a solution to ensure lower tier subs get paid.

Bills and Legislation

2021 Session Ends

March 11, the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) passed SJR 748, their adjourning resolution.  The resolution states that the NCGA will reconvene April 4-6 and May 4-6 to address a limited scope of work that includes veto overrides, confirmation of appointments, election matters and conference report adoptions.

Following the primaries on May 17,  the NCGA will reconvene for the regular short session on May 18.

Additionally this week, the NCGA passed the Budget Technical Corrections Bill which modifies the 2021 appropriations act with clarifying language. The NC Senate attempted to override the Governor’s veto of the Free the Smiles Act. The Free the Smiles Act allows North Carolina parents to opt their K-12 students out of mask-wearing mandates set by local education boards. Although two Senate Democrats had supported the Act previously they voted to uphold the veto this week. Ninety-six percent of NC’s school districts have moved to make masks optional to date.

With adjournment on the horizon, non-standing and select committee meetings are in full force.  The Joint Legislative Oversight Committees on Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, Access to Healthcare and Medicaid Expansion, and Justice and Public Safety and Emergency Management are all scheduled to meet next week and throughout the interim.

COVID

Numbers as of March 14, 2022:

• 2,611,733 total cases

• 22,961 deaths

• 854 currently hospitalized

• 2.6% percentage of positive tests each day

• 71% of adult population fully vaccinated, 61% of total population fully vaccinated

Election News

2022 Maps Finalized and Candidate Filing

On February 23, the North Carolina Supreme Court denied all appeals by lawyers for Republican legislative leaders and advocacy groups, putting in motion a primary date and candidate filing for a Superior Court drawn Congressional Map and NCGA approved North Carolina House and Senate maps.  While the NCGA maps are approved through 2030, the NC Congressional district maps will likely be redrawn by the NCGA in 2023.

On Monday, March 7 the US Supreme Court allowed NC’s congressional maps to stand. The ruling does not preempt action by state courts on future election cycles, but the maps will stand as-is for the 2022 primary and general election.

Early analysis of partisan make-up and incumbency makes the following likely Republican Districts (incumbent noted in parentheses): NC-3 (Murphy), NC -5 (Foxx), NC-7 (Rouzer)’ NC-8 (Bishop), NC-9 (Hudson), NC-10 (McHenry), and NC-11 (Cawthorn).  Democratic Leaning congressional districts include: NC-1; NC-2 (Ross), NC-4, NC-6 (Manning), NC-12 (Adams) and NC-14. The 13th District is a toss up and depending on the election, NC may have a 7-7 partisan split next year.

The NC House and Senate have published their primary data. There are 24 uncontested NC House seats and 10 uncontested Senate seats. Twelve incumbent Senators are opposed in primary, they include:

District 1 Senator Norman Sanderson (R) / Senator Bob Steinburg (R)

District 3 Senator Ernestine Bazemore (D)

District 4 Senator Milton F. (Toby) Fitch (D)

District 12 Senator Jim Burgin  (R)

District 19 Senator Kirk deViere (D); Governor Cooper has endorsed one of his opponents in the primary.

District 30 Senator Steve Jarvis  (R)

District 37 Senator Vickie Sawyer  (R)

District 46 Senator Warren Daniel  (R)

District 47 Senator Deanna Ballard  (R)  / Senator Ralph Hise (R)

District 49 Senator Julie Mayfield (D)

Incumbent House members that have a primary include:

District 26 Rep. Donna White  (R)

District 27 Rep. Michael Wray (D)

District 28 Rep. Larry Strickland  (R)

District 33 Rep. Rosa Gill (D)

District 40 Rep. Joe John (D)

District 43 Rep. Diana Wheatley (R)

District 52 Rep. James Boles  (R)  / Rep. Ben Moss (R)

District 53 Rep. Howard Penny  (R)

District 55 Rep. Mark Brody  (R)

District 65 Rep. Reece Pyrtle (R)

District 70 Rep. Pat Hurley  (R)

District 79 Rep. Keith Kidwell (R)

District 89 Rep. Mitchell Setzer (R)

District 90 Rep. Sarah Stevens (R)

District 91 Rep. Kyle Hall  (R)

District 107 Rep. Kelly Alexander, Jr. (D)

District 109 Rep. Donnie Loftis (R)

District 113 Rep. Jake Johnson  (R) / Rep. David Rogers (R)