PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Gillespie Legislative Newsletter Volume XXV

PRESS RELEASE (07-11-2022)
REPRESENTATIVE KARL GILLESPIE

Rep. Gillespie Legislative Newsletter Volume XXV

The House returned to Raleigh on Monday, June 27th for a non-voting session. Following session, I attended a caucus meeting Monday afternoon.

Various committees met Tuesday, including: House Finance and House Education, K-12. Tuesday morning, I attended a caucus meeting with my freshman colleagues. Session convened Tuesday afternoon and we considered numerous bills, including:

SB762, North Carolina Farm Act of 2022, would make various changes, including:

• Provide that a building used primarily for storage of agricultural commodities or products or storage and use of materials for agricultural purposes is considered a farm building for purposes of the building code, regardless of whether the building is located on the same property where the agricultural commodities or products were produced. The building must be surrounded by at least 60 feet of open space and be placarded as "Ag Exempt."

• Clarify that for purposes of county zoning, a building or structure that is used solely for the storage of cotton, peanuts, or sweet potatoes, or any of the byproducts of those commodities, is a bona fide farm purpose.

• Direct the Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission to study whether to establish a "right to repair" for electronic farm equipment.

I voted in favor and the bill passed, 99-13.

SB265, Bond Info. Transparency/LGC Toolkit II, would strengthen the local government bond process and make changes to local government finance provisions. I voted in favor and the bill passed, 111-1.

SB408, Rural Healthcare Access & Savings Plan Act, would create a Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Rate Modernization and Savings that would hear a Medicaid Modernization Plan to be developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) by December 15, 2022. I voted in favor and the bill passed, 102-6.

Tuesday evening, the House and Senate unveiled a compromise budget. This budget is an adjustment to the previously passed budget from November of 2021. The revised budget includes additional raises for state employees and teachers, water and sewer funding, and much more. The budget document and the money report may be viewed here and here.

Highlights of the revised budget bill include:

· Budget appropriates $27.9 billion for FY 2022-23 (7.2% increase from FY 2021-22).

· Increases Rainy Day Fund balance to $4.75 billion by the end of the biennium.

· Transfers $1 billion into a newly created “State Inflationary Reserve” in anticipation of a recession.

· 3.5% pay raise for state employees (6% increase over the biennium).

· 4.2% average pay raise for teachers (9.1% increase over the biennium).

· Increases the starting salary for entry level teachers.

· $80 million for state agencies to provide targeted salary increases to attract and retain employees.

· Noncertified public-school employees, like bus drivers, receive either 4% pay raise or an increase to $15/hour, whichever is greater.

· Additional 1% one-time retiree supplement (4% total over the biennium).

· Total $16.5 billion for education in FY 2022-23 (6.7% increase above FY 2021-22).

· Provides funds to cover copays for students qualifying for reduced-price lunches.

· Funds additional 124 literacy coaches and early learning specialists to aid in early literacy efforts.

· Adds $32 million in School Safety Grants to support students in crisis, safety training, and equipment in schools ($41.7 million total).

· Expands funding for school resource officers by at least $41 million.

· Additional $15 million for the School Resource Officer Grant program for elementary and middle schools.

· Increases state match for the School Resource Officer Grant program to $4 per every $1 for low-wealth counties.

I attended a Joint Appropriations Committee Wednesday morning. A presentation was provided on the newly unveiled state budget. The Committee provided a favorable report to the budget bill. My colleagues and I attended a caucus meeting Wednesday afternoon. Session convened at 4:00PM and we voted on several bills, including:

SB496, DOI Omnibus Bill, would make various changes to North Carolina's insurance laws, as recommended by the Department of Insurance. The bill passed unanimously, 109-0.

SB911, Leland Annexation, would modify the requirements and procedure for the Town of Leland to conduct satellite annexations. I voted in favor and the bill passed, 103-6.

I met with constituents from Macon County Thursday morning. At 1:00PM, my colleagues and I held a caucus just prior to the start of session. Session convened at 2:00PM and we voted on several bills, including:

HB103, 2022 Appropriations Act, would modify the current operations Appropriations Act of 2021 and make other changes in the budget operations of the state. I voted in favor and the bill passed, 85-27.

SB101, Require Cooperation with ICE 2.0, would do the following:

• Require that Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the United States Department of Homeland Security (ICE) is queried when an individual charged with certain offenses is in custody and that person's legal residency or United States citizenship status is undetermined.

• Require a judicial official to order that a prisoner subject to a detainer and administrative warrant be held in custody for 48 hours or until ICE resolves the request.

• Create reporting requirements related to ICE queries.

I voted in support and the bill passed, 65-47.

The House reconvened Friday morning at 10:00AM and we voted on many bills, including:

HB674, Require DNA for Various Convictions, would do the following:

• Add additional offenses to the list of offenses requiring submission of a DNA sample after a conviction or a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity.

• Clarify that medical facilities and medical professionals cannot bill sexual assault victims for forensic medical examinations and update certain definitions.

I voted in favor and the bill passed, 107-1.

HB776, Remote Electronic Notarization, would allow remote electronic notarization. The bill passed 104-2 and I voted in favor.

HB911, Regulatory Reform Act of 2022, would amend various State laws related to State and local government, utilities, education, occupational licenses, and other regulations, as well as make budget technical corrections. I voted in support and the bill passed, 83-24.

The House concluded its business for the legislative short session and adjourned.