Today@NCCapitol (April 5): Taxes, elections return to forefront

With the House Bill 2 repeal in the rearview mirror, the General Assembly has moved to other issues this week, including tax reform and elections.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Apr 5, 2017 — Updated 9:00 a.m. Apr 5, 2017

RALEIGH, N.C. — With the House Bill 2 repeal in the rearview mirror, the General Assembly has moved to other issues this week, including tax reform and elections.

The Senate is expected to give final approval Wednesday afternoon to its so-called "Billion Dollar Middle-Class Tax Cut" bill, which would lower the personal and corporate income tax rates, increase the standard deduction and make a few other changes.

Meanwhile, the full House will get its first look at bill designed to revive the legislative effort to combine the State Board of Elections and the State Ethics Commission. The state law passed in December to that effect was ruled unconstitutional by a three-judge panel last month. Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, made some changes to address the judges' concerns, stuck the language into a Senate bill late Monday and rammed the new legislation through two House committees on Tuesday.

Other things on tap Wednesday include a 10 a.m. Senate confirmation hearing for Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland; Sen. Tamara Barringer, R-Wake, rolls out a bill to overhaul the state's child welfare system; a House committee debates equal pay for equal work; and a Senate committee takes up proposals to reduce the size of the state Court of Appeals and to crack down on local governments and college campuses that don't support immigration enforcement.

Looking for something else? Check out the daily legislative calendar published by the General Assembly.

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