With autonomous self-driving cars and trucks expected to reach the streets and highways within five years, North Carolina needs to be ready. So I filed a bill to create the state’s first law specifically to address the operation of these vehicles. Under my bill, no occupants of a fully autonomous self-driving vehicle would need a driver license to ride in it. If … Read More

The North Carolina Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a $200 million disaster relief package proposed by Gov. Pat McCrory to help families and communities across North Carolina recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew and wildfires that have ravaged the state since October. House Bill 2 – the Disaster Recovery Act of 2016 is the first step in addressing … Read More

North Carolina’s business tax climate has improved to 11th best in the nation, according to new rankings released this week by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. The 2017 State Business Tax Climate Index ranks the state ahead of nearly all its southeastern neighbors and comes just two years after North Carolina achieved the most dramatic improvement in the Index’s history – … Read More

On August 11th, I was able to be in attendance along with federal, state and local officials as we celebrated the opening of the next phase of the Fayetteville Outer Loop (I-295), which completes a direct interstate connection between I-95 and Fort Bragg and connects Ramsey Street to Bragg Boulevard. “Tremendous teamwork has gone into making this $146 million portion of … Read More

The North Carolina Senate gave approval to a $22.34 billion final state budget that invests in public education and other core priorities, cuts taxes on the middle class and bolsters the state’s savings – all while raising average teacher pay above $50,000 for the first time in state history. The final budget responsibly controls the growth of government spending with … Read More

In the final budget of the 2016 session, I was able to secure $125,000  for the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department. This money, along with $161.392 in federal Transportation Alternatives Program funds, will be used to expand the Cape Fear River Trail to connect with the Cross Creek Linear Park in downtown Fayetteville. The Cape Fear River Trail is a … Read More

Following extensive collaboration with the McCrory administration, the North Carolina Senate passed a compromise plan  to manage the cleanup of the state’s coal ash ponds while ensuring residents in surrounding areas have permanent access to clean water. The new plan: • Requires Duke Energy to provide a permanent source of safe drinking water by fall 2018 to every residence within … Read More

A bipartisan group of lawmakers have pledged to reintroduce the Military Operations Protection Act – a common-sense effort to protect the training and low-level flight routes around the state’s military installations – during next year’s long session. North Carolina has the fourth largest military population in the nation and defense jobs are the state’s second-leading industry – benefitting 80 of 100 … Read More

A bill that has passed unanimously in the North Carolina Senate would help prevent overdose deaths caused by heroin and some prescription narcotics, by making a medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose more easily accessible at pharmacies statewide. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Louis Pate (R-Wayne), Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford) and Tommy Tucker (R-Union) would authorize the state … Read More

On Wednesday, May 25th I attended the 2016 Women Veterans Summit & Expo at the McKimmon Center on the campus of North Carolina State University. The N.C. Department of Military & Veterans Affairs and the NC Veterans Business Association, working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and numerous other partners conducted this special event designed to empower, educate and enrich … Read More