@NCCapitol

Toll road bill survives second vote

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:01:31 -0400

The Department of Transportation would be able to add toll lanes to existing highways as long as some lanes stayed free under a bill that cleared the House Tuesday.

Tuesday wrap: Senate budget moves forward

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:48:13 -0400

In meetings Tuesday of the Senate appropriations and finance committees, legislators sketched the outlines of the budget debate that will begin in the chamber Wednesday.

McCrory says he does not want SBI switch

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:41:09 -0400

Senate sponsors say moving supervision of the SBI from the Attorney General to the Governor will save money in the long run.

Bill would allow charter schools to have permanent tags

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:47:04 -0400

Charter schools would have the same rights to permanent tags for their vehicles as other public schools have under a bill that cleared the House Transportation Committee Tuesday.

Passions high around school voucher bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:58:37 -0400

The House Education Committee did not vote Tuesday on a bill that would use taxpayer money to send children to private schools. Instead, they let the public -- those in favor and against -- have their say.

McCrory doesn't expect to roll out his own tax reform plan

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:57:00 -0400

McCrory says he has had "influence" over Senate and House tax reform plans and is aiming to help the legislature craft a consensus plan.

Today @NCCapitol (May 21): Senators make budget changes; House committee considers vouchers

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:34:18 -0400

The state Senate will spend today making amendments to its $20.6 billion budget that was unveiled Sunday night. Meanwhile, the House education committee will hear a bill that would provide publicly-funded vouchers for some students to attend private schools.

Voucher bill provides public money for private schools

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:41:59 -0400

Proponents of the measure say it will give parents a choice of where and how to educate their children. Opponents say it will drain resources from public schools.

Senate leaders: 'Medicaid is driving' state budget

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:43:07 -0400

The single largest increase in the Senate budget plan - by far - is an additional half a billion dollars spent on Medicaid in the upcoming year. Senate leaders say that has to change.

Monday wrap: Senate budget breakdown

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:03:15 -0400

Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie and investigative reporter Mark Binker break down the North Carolina Senate's budget proposal.

Controversial policy items reappear in Senate budget

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:04:42 -0400

It's longstanding tradition for legislative leaders to tuck controversial policy items into the budget. The state Senate's latest plan is no exception.

Senate leaders explain budget plan

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:44:42 -0400

Senate budget leaders say their $20.58 billion proposal meets the "core functions" of government without raising taxes. It also would make major changes in how existing revenues are directed.

Law enforcement authorities pan proposed SBI shift

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:36:29 -0400

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper and a number of local law enforcement officials from across the state on Monday criticized a Senate proposal to restructure the State Bureau of Investigation.

Today @NCCapitol (May 20): Senate budget week begins

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:12:12 -0400

Senate budget writers rolled out their version of the state's annual spending plan on Sunday night. Meanwhile, House lawmakers are expected to take up a school voucher bill this week.

Senate unveils proposed spending plan

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:55:49 -0400

The Senate's $20.6 billion budget pursues many of the education policy changes lawmakers have pursued throughout the spring. It would also trim services for those who receive Medicaid, the joint federal-state health insurance program for the poor and disabled.

Pre-K funding, eligibility will be a key budget issue

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:41:27 -0400

Gov. Pat McCrory's budget expands funding for pre-kindergarten programs while House lawmakers passed a bill to restrict eligibility. Parents and researchers say the state's investment in getting children ready for school has already paid off.

McCrory signs five bills, including wind energy permitting measure

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:24:03 -0400

The governor signed measures dealing with wind energy, missing children and three other topics Friday.

Today @NCCapitol (May 17): Budget and tax plans begin to move

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:34:22 -0400

Now that the crossover deadline has winnowed the number of bills eligible for consideration, lawmakers are turning their attention to budget and tax matters. House leaders rolled out a tax bill Thursday as Senators said they would unveil their budget plan on Sunday evening.

Crossover casualties

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:50:54 -0400

House and Senate lawmakers passed nearly 200 bills this crossover week. But hundreds more didn't make the deadline.

House releases tax plan

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:53:34 -0400

The state House has released its own version of a tax reform bill that lower income and sales tax rates, but makes fewer sweeping changes than a similar Senate-drafted plan.

Crossover caveat: 'Not dead yet'

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:18:13 -0400

Bills that are subject to crossover and don't make the deadline are considered "dead" for the rest of the two-year session. But state lawmakers have come up with plenty of ways to resurrect them.

Thursday wrap: Crossover deadline

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:45:17 -0400

The crossover deadline passed Thursday with little last-minute panic, with the Senate leaving town before noon and the House adjourning before 3 p.m.

Toll-free driving, Medicaid, privacy get House boost

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:43:00 -0400

The state House passed a bill that would restrict tolling on existing highways. It also passed a bill fixing a gap in the state's Medicaid program and several other bills in the closing hours of the crossover period.

Abortion bill sent to the Senate

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:48:49 -0400

The House has approved a measure that would prohibit health plans on North Carolina's insurance exchanges from offering abortion coverage. The measure now goes to the Senate.

Sharia law ban heads to Senate

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:47:12 -0400

A proposal to ban the recognition of Islamic Sharia law in North Carolina is headed for the Senate after winning final House approval Thursday.

Norquist offers endorsement of tax reform efforts

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:56:14 -0400

The anti-tax campaigner is in North Carolina this week to herald efforts by lawmakers to reduce corporate and personal income tax rates.

Outdoor smoking bans likely to stay on the books

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:27:07 -0400

The legislative attempt to overturn outdoor smoking bans in cities, on beaches and on community college campuses has stalled in the Senate and appears unlikely to make the cut as lawmakers scramble to meet their "crossover" deadline.

Senate targets Sunday for budget proposal

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:37:49 -0400

The state Senate plans to unveil its budget plan for the coming fiscal year late Sunday, Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Pete Brunstetter said Thursday.

Today @NCCapitol (May 16): Contraception measure killed, new tax plan in the offing

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:25:57 -0400

House lawmakers met until 11:30 p.m., killing a controversial contraception insurance coverage measure. Meanwhile, legislators prepare to roll out a new tax plan today as anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist prepares to speak at the legislative building today.

Sharia Law ban in House Thursday

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:43:36 -0400

A bill banning the recognition of Islamic Sharia law is up for a final state House vote Thursday after winning tentative approval late Wednesday night.

House rejects whistle-blower protections for cops, deputies

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:02:32 -0400

Local police departments and sheriff's departments would not be able to fire officers who report malfeasance under a bill the House rejected Wednesday night. Opponents said it would open the door to union activities.

'Big Gulp' bill passes House

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:56:38 -0400

House lawmakers voted 73-36 to prohibit cities from banning large sodas and to ban "frivolous lawsuits" against food manufacturers for obesity or health problems.

Social media privacy bill passes House

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:52:27 -0400

Employers and universities would be barred from asking for access to private email and social media accounts under a bill that received tentative House approval Wednesday.

House passes abortion bill without contraception provisions

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:48:57 -0400

House lawmakers passed a bill that limits the ability of city and county governments to offer abortion coverage in their health plans. Lawmakers removed a section of the measure dealing with contraception coverage.

Senate repeals Jordan Lake Rules, jetty cap

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:44:26 -0400

Proposals to repeal water-quality rules for Jordan Lake and to allow more terminal groins at the coast passed the state Senate Wednesday.

Autism coverage bill clears House

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:39:22 -0400

Insurance plans would have to provide limited coverage for children with autism.

House votes down benefit corporations

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:18:04 -0400

State House lawmakers Wednesday night defeated a proposal to create benefit corporations in North Carolina.

Wednesday wrap: Crossover eve

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:40:47 -0400

As the crossover deadline looms, the House worked late in the night to pass bills, while the Senate wrapped up work early.

Bill limits food makers liability

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:47:52 -0400

Cities would not be able to pass local laws that restrict the sale of large sodas under the bill, which also bars lawsuits against food manufacturers based on claims a product lead to obesity.

Get those state tax returns in early

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:38:10 -0400

A proposal tentatively approved Wednesday by the Senate would charge people a $100 penalty for filing their personal income tax returns late, even if the people are due a refund.