Bill would let wedding venues, amusement parks reopen despite pandemic orders

Entertainment venues, and the people who depend on them, worry they'll lose their businesses if restrictions don't lift.

Posted 4:41 p.m. Jun 18, 2020 — Updated 9:51 p.m. Jun 18, 2020

Travis Fain

, WRAL statehouse reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — State lawmakers advanced another bill Thursday to chip away at state orders keeping swaths of the state's economy closed during the coronavirus pandemic, voting a bill through committee that would let reception venues, arcades and amusement parks reopen at lower capacities.

The Senate Commerce and Insurance committee also advanced House Bill 686, which would prohibit state and local governments from banning July 4 parades and fireworks shows this year.

Both bills have several more stops before they pass the full General Assembly, and they face the threat of veto from Gov. Roy Cooper, who has criticized the Republican-controlled legislature for advancing measures meant to undo his administration's closure orders. The bills would also limit his ability to close things down again if the state sees a spike in COVID-19 cases, which have been increasing steadily in recent weeks.

Among other things, the state has hit new highs five days in the past week for COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Venue owners, along with the caterers, photographers, DJs and others who depend on wedding receptions and other parties for their livelihoods, begged state senators Thursday for help.

Byron Sackett, who owns Homestead Events, said his ability to put his children through college is on the line. His business has been shut down since mid-March. He may be able to open in some capacity by month's end – depending on what Cooper announces on closure orders in the coming days – but that is not guaranteed, and the governor and his health advisers have repeatedly said they're worried by North Carolina's rising case counts.

"I have spent my whole life savings," Sackett told the committee. "If we're not open by the end of the year, I not only lose my business, but I probably lose my home."

Those who spoke promised to do what it takes to keep party-goers safe. Planned events keep records on attendees that could be used for contact tracing if there's an outbreak, they said.

"I will have sanitation stations," said Natasha Ford, who has a venue in Cary. "I will wear a mask. I will do whatever I need to do. ... We need to get back to work."

The measure, House Bill 258, includes a number of requirements. They would generally require employees to wear face masks, but not guests.

Amusement parks and arcades would have to:

Open at or under 50 percent of their capacity, as determined by state fire code
Take employee temperatures and require them to wear face masks
Offer no-contact check-in
Make hand sanitizer readily available
Clean frequently
Put up signs reminding people to stay 6 feet apart

Reception venues would have to:

Open at 50 percent capacity, 12 people per 1,000 square feet or 300 people, whichever is less
Give employees temperature checks and turn away anyone with a fever of 100.4 or higher
Require employees to wear face masks and gloves and encourage guests to do so
Make hand sanitizer readily available
Post signs on social distancing
Not offer self-service or buffet meals.

Under the bill, the governor could close all of these venues again, but only with concurrence from a majority of the Council of State, which is state government's council of statewide elected officials. Republicans hold a majority of those seats, and Cooper is a Democrat.

The next stop for both measures is the Senate Rules committee. The legislature is moving quickly and may wrap its business up late next week, so these measures may pass the General Assembly soon.

Cooper expressed disdain for such "legislative mandates" during a Thursday afternoon news conference.

"It's pretty easy to vote for a bill that lifts restrictions when you don't have to live with the consequences," he said.

If Cooper vetoes the bills, as he has a bill reopening bars despite his closure orders, the legislature's Republican majority would need some Democrats to join them to override a veto. So far, General Assembly Democrats have stuck with the governor.

Sen. Chuck Edwards, R-Henderson, encouraged people who spoke Thursday to the committee to reach out to the governor and to legislative Democrats about the bill.

The governor re-iterated Thursday afternoon, during a regular state briefing on the coronavirus, that he continues to have concerns about legislation that limits his executive authority on closures. He said it's easy to vote for these bills "when you don't have to deal with the consequences."

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