Lawmakers have thrust it into overdrive to push as much legislation through the pipe as possible before Thursday's crossover deadline.
After the deadline, most policy bills that haven't passed either the House or the Senate are dead for the session (although there are always ways to get around that). The House also wants to clear its decks by Tuesday so Speaker Tim Moore and others can attend the convention of a national GOP group in Asheville.
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On Monday, the House passed its own version of the "death by distribution" felony for drug dealers whose product leads to an overdose death, as well as regulations for zip-line courses. Lawmakers put it into reverse on license plate readers along state highways, however, initially passing it before bringing it back for reconsideration and soundly defeating it because of privacy concerns.
Meanwhile, State Treasurer Dale Folwell is pushing ahead with his plan to cut State Health Plan costs by setting prices for specific procedures instead of allowing Blue Cross to negotiate privately with providers. The Department of Insurance approved his plan to set up a provider network under Folwell's plan. A bill still pending in the General Assembly would block those changes so they could be studied over the next year.
Elsewhere, Gov. Roy Cooper is recovering from back surgery, and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis may have picked up a Republican primary challenger next year.