Bill Rabon Coverage

Last-ditch push on medical marijuana legislation ensnares unrelated bill

Sen. Bill Rabon, a cancer survivor who says smoking illegal marijuana helped save his life, amended a House bill so that it can only become law if his medical marijuana bill becomes law.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Veterans, others plead with NC lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana

Veterans and friends of people who died of cancer testified to the Senate Judiciary committee about the benefits of medical marijuana to relieve the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and the pain associated with cancer treatment.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor, & Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Medical marijuana to get hearing in NC Senate

State senators will discuss a bill Wednesday that would legalize marijuana in North Carolina to treat a number of ailments.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC bill cracks down on fake invoices

It's already illegal, but this bill means to make sure the fine print's not an escape hatch for fraudsters.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC bill to legalize medical marijuana now has key supporter

The state Senate's powerful rules chairman filed legislation Wednesday to allow medical marijuana for "debilitating conditions."

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Bill to revise definition for consent, close sex assault loophole, stalled in Senate

House Bill 393 changes a definition in state law for "mentally incapacitated" in an effort to make it clear: Someone who is completely intoxicated cannot consent to sex. It passed the House unanimously and has been sitting in the Senate nearly 3 months. Now leadership promises a closer look.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Big employers push back on Duke Energy rate bill

Google, Walmart and big industrial energy users unite against a proposal written by Duke Energy.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

General Assembly leaders hint at subpoena over pipeline fund

"The public deserves answers, and their elected representatives will exercise every tool at our disposal to get to the bottom of this," GOP leaders say.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Senators roll out judicial appointments proposal

A proposal to appoint judges in North Carolina, with voters deciding later on full terms, emerged at the statehouse Wednesday, but a lack of consensus left unclear whether the General Assembly can approve any judicial branch changes during a special session slated to begin next week.

Travis Fain

'Megaproject' bill dead after Senate vote

One day after a questionable vote advanced a House bid to create a new fund for large transportation projects, Senate leaders voted it down resoundingly on the floor.

Laura Leslie

House member makes another run at 'puppy mill' regulations

For the past two sessions, Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, has led a bipartisan group of House members to pass legislation seeking basic regulation of large commercial dog-breeding operations, but the proposals have stopped cold in the Senate.

Laura Leslie

Most bills to face additional checkpoint in Senate

Most bills will make a stop in the Senate Rules Committee before heading to the floor under a new process Republicans leaders are rolling out this session.

Mark Binker

Despite court order, NC senators meet for confirmation hearing, but nominee doesn't show

A three-judge panel ordered state lawmakers to stop proceedings related to cabinet confirmations. Lawmakers used the scheduled committee hearing to speak out against the order anyway.

Mark Binker

Cooper administration may not cooperate with Senate confirmation process

Senate leaders have laid out a two-month timeline for confirm Gov. Roy Cooper's nominees to head state agencies.

Mark Binker and Laura Leslie

Senate debate

Senate committee tells DOT to obey law

Lawmakers say the state Department of Transportation has not cut positions as specified by last year's budget.

Mark Binker

Senators float tax cut idea

Three key senators are floating what they say is a $1 billion tax cut plan, but it's unclear how this measure would fit with finance bills already making their way through the General Assembly.

Mark Binker

'Puppy mill' bill likely dead for this year

A proposal to regulate large commercial dog breeders appears to be doomed once again by state Senate opposition.

Laura Leslie

NC lawmaker apologizes for insults in leaked recording

State Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, apologized Tuesday to leaders he insulted in a profanity-laced meeting with constituents earlier this month.

Profanity-laced recording of NC senator's meeting cited in death of puppy mill bill

State Senate leaders said Monday they plan to kill legislation that would regulate so-called puppy mills in North Carolina after an audiotape leaked of a top Republican senator criticizing the bill and the House lawmakers who passed it last year.

Senate provides more tax reform details, but no bill

Senate leaders say their bill would expand sales taxes to many services as well as prescription drugs. Income taxes rates would drop, but some families would end up paying more in taxes.

Mark Binker

Energy bill shows voice vote unreliable

Interviews with members show that had Senate Finance Committee Co-chairman Bill Rabon counted the votes, a measure to end a key renewable energy requirement would have failed.

Mark Binker and Laura Leslie

'Red route' rewrite, teacher tech bills return to House

The Senate has given final approval to a measure that would allow the N.C. Highway 540 project to move forward but would leave three other turnpike projects in limbo. The final vote Thursday was 33-17.

Laura Leslie

'Red route' repeal hostage to politics?

A fix that would allow N.C. Highway 540 to move forward is on shaky ground - and it's looking like the next victim of the political tension between House and Senate Republican leaders.

Laura Leslie and Bruce Mildwurf

'Red route' fix gets a major rewrite

The bill to repeal a ban on considering a controversial highway route through Garner will be moving to the Senate floor as a much bigger proposal than just a fix for the next leg of N.C. Highway 540.

Laura Leslie