Today@NCCapitol (May 27): Social issues take center stage

RALEIGH, N.C. — Good morning and welcome to Today @NCCapitol for Wednesday, May 27. Here's what's going on at the General Assembly and around state government.

BUDGET: Senate budget subcommittees will receive their "targets" for how much money they can spend and general marching orders on the appropriations process during 8 a.m. meetings. Senate Budget Chairman Harry Brown, R-Onslow, said he expects these to be quick meetings. Brown said he was targeting "the middle of June" to wrap work on a Senate budget plan.

MARRIAGE: The House Judiciary I Committee will take up the bill allowing magistrates to opt out of performing marriages. Although magistrates would have to decline to perform all marriages, the measure is seen as a reaction to the legalization of same-sex marriage in North Carolina. House Speaker Tim Moore said he expects to debate the bill on the floor of the House on Wednesday afternoon. WRAL.com plans to stream the Judiciary I Committee meeting at 12:30 p.m. Check the Video Central site of the homepage.

HOUSE SESSION: The bulk of the House floor calendar is currently made up of relatively noncontroversial bills that need a last vote before going to the governor. However, if the magistrates bill is added to the calendar, as Moore forecast on Tuesday, the session could see intense debate. WRAL.com plans to carry this meeting live at 2 p.m. Check the Video Central box on the homepage.

SENATE SESSION: The state Senate is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Senators are expected to vote on a bill making repeat offenses for graffiti vandalism a felony.

ABORTION: The Senate Judiciary II Committee at 4 p.m. takes up a bill that would extend the waiting period for an abortion in North Carolina from one day to three days, which would be one of the longest waiting periods in the nation.

SUNDAY HUNTING: The Senate's Agriculture and Environment Committee at 10 a.m. takes up a bill that would allow for deer hunting with rifles on Sundays. The bill is controversial because religious groups say it will interfere with time typically set aside for church-going.

ADVOCATES: The "Moral Monday" protestors plan another round of demonstrations at 5 p.m.

HEALTH: The House Health Committee is scheduled to take up bills regulating the sale of e-cigarette liquid, allowing seating for food stand customers and requiring the testing for newborns for immunodeficiency disorder. WRAL.com plans to carry this meeting live at 10 a.m. Check the Video Central box on the homepage.

COURTS: The state Senate Redistricting Committee is scheduled to take up a bill that would allow appellate court and Supreme Court judges to keep their offices by running in retention elections, rather than facing an opponent each time they run for another term in office.