A bill put forward in the Senate Finance Committee Monday would give North Carolina voters the opportunity to approve a $2 billion bond package to support critical infrastructure needs in the state’s public universities, community colleges, National Guard installations and local water and sewer systems. North Carolina has long faced challenges with its aging infrastructure, a problem intensified by the … Read More

The General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division released official state revenue numbers this week showing North Carolina has a $445 million budget surplus – $45 million more than earlier projections. When the Republican legislature passed the largest tax cut in state history two years ago, some skeptics made exaggerated predictions that it would starve state government. But tax reform has actually … Read More

Cumberland County  – According to figures released by the Visit NC this week, domestic travel to Cumberland County generated over $490 million in expenditures in 2014 – a 3.85% increase from 2013. Tourism expenditures in Cumberland County generated state and local tax revenues of $35.7 million, which represents a $108.39 tax saving to each county resident. Additionally Cumberland County’s tourism … Read More

The Senate Finance Committee has passed a bill that would give North Carolina voters the opportunity to add strong protections against over-taxation and wasteful government spending to our state constitution. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights would allow voters to consider three proposed constitutional amendments on the presidential primary ballot in March 2016 – including an amendment reducing the maximum income tax … Read More

The Senate has passed compromise bills on economic development and Medicaid reform with bipartisan support, fulfilling two of the biggest goals of the session while adopting a number of provisions supported by members of the North Carolina House and Gov. Pat McCrory. To encourage progress toward a final budget agreement, we removed these two issues from budget negotiations last week and … Read More

Senate Bill 43, signed in to law June 24th, 2015, improves job opportunities for veterans by extending the time period allowed between a retired or discharged veteran applicant being regularly employed in a qualified position and the date of application for the CDL from 90 days to one year. The original CDL skills test waiver was put into NC law … Read More

The North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 676 which expands state-regulated health plan coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. This bill will allow recipients of behavioral therapy to be covered up to $40,000 per year. In the past, insurance companies typically covered only the diagnosis of autism, not the treatments that follow. This bill helps families of … Read More

The North Carolina General Assembly has overridden Governor McCrory’s veto of Senate Bill 2, which states that magistrates and registers of deeds may recuse themselves from performing marriage ceremonies on the grounds of religious objections. After the Senate rejected the veto with a 32-16 vote, Senate leader Phil Berger made a statement saying, “Religious freedom is a fundamental right guaranteed … Read More

Senate Bill 326, which adds five million dollars to North Carolina’s JDIG fund, has passed the Senate and is now moving through the House of Representatives. JDIG is a program that provides grants to new and expanding businesses in North Carolina to help recruit new commerce and jobs. Companies applying for this grant must meet a rigorous set of criteria. From JDIG’s … Read More