Today @NCCapitol (April 16): Puppy mills, partisan judicial elections on agenda

Proponents of puppy mill regulation will hold a news conference. The state Senate is poised to confirm Gov. McCrory's pick for SBI director, and the state House will take up a bill to require partisan elections for all statewide judicial races.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Apr 16, 2015 — Updated 9:00 a.m. Apr 16, 2015

Mark Binker

RALEIGH, N.C. — Good morning and welcome to Today @NCCapitol for Thursday, April 16. Here's what's going on at the General Assembly and around state government.

THE GOVERNOR: Gov. Pat McCrory is scheduled to speak to the annual meetings of North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives and Tarheel Electric Membership Association at 9:30 a.m. He is also due to sign a measure declaring April 18 Lineman Appreciation Day.

MAP ACT: The House Finance Committee meets at 8:30 a.m. to take up House Bill 183, which would repeal the state's Map Act, which allows the Department of Transportation to hold development at bay in areas designated for road building.

BARKING: Supporters of House Bill 159 hold a news conference promoting regulations for puppy breeders. WRAL.com plans to carry this event live online at 10 a.m.

HOUSE SESSION: The state House will take up measures requiring partisan elections for statewide judicial elections and paving the way for a statue of Billy Graham to be placed in Congress. WRAL.com plans to carry this event live online at noon.

SENATE SESSION: The state Senate will vote to confirm B.W. Collier, McCrory's pick to be SBI director.

THE COMMITTEE WE'RE WATCHING: The House Local Government Committee meets at 10 a.m. It will take up bills allowing drone use by the state in certain situations, relaxing building inspection requirements and requiring voter approval for certain kinds of debt.

REMINDER: After legislative work finishes this week, lawmakers have two weeks until the April 30 crossover deadline, by which legislation not related to raising or spending money must pass at least one chamber.

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