Today @NCCapitol (May 15): Tax bill gets rolling, legislative building rules to be revised
The House Finance Committee will take up a package of tax law changes that include an excise tax on electronic cigarettes. Meanwhile, the Legislative Services Commission is due to establish new rules for the General Assembly building in response to some of the Moral Monday court rulings. Here's what's on the agenda for the General Assembly and elsewhere in state government today.
Posted — UpdatedThe state House is scheduled to meet at 8 a.m. today. The state Senate is scheduled to meet at 10:30 a.m. There are no bills scheduled for debate on the floor in either chamber. Rather, the action at the legislature will tax place in three committee meetings, including one that will establish new rules for decorum in the legislative complex.
It contains an item clarifying when local governments may impose an occupancy tax on those renting their homes or cottages.
"Apparently, the Department of Revenue has given different interpretations about private residences and cottages rented for fewer than 15 days," said Rep. Allen McNeill, R-Randolph, who represents a slice of Moore County.
Somewhere along the way, the rules have gotten muddled at the state level, but local governments have kept collecting the tax on houses rented for fewer than 15 days if they were leased through a broker of some kind.
The provision in the omnibus tax measure, McNeill said, simply clarifies the legislature's intent and codifies what most counties have been doing anyway.
So why did this come up? McNeill said officials in Moore County were endeavoring to understand the rules in advance of the U.S. Open Golf Tournament, which is set to take place this summer in Pinehurst. They got conflicting information.
Although the bill as currently drafted applies to all 100 counties, it is moving quickly, at least in part, to ensure that the occupancy tax rules are clear by the time visitors start arriving for the tournament.
Lawmakers could get more details on some of the key policy items in the budget, including how the administration plans to reshape a tax credit used to lure film productions to North Carolina and how it would start going about the Medicaid reform process that legislative leaders have said the General Assembly does not have time to take up this year.
Virtually nobody has noticed the rules for decades until the "Moral Monday" protests from last year led to arrests. Many of the nearly 1,000 people arrested in connection with civil disobedience at the legislature were charged with breaking the building rules, which currently include a prohibition on carrying signs and visiting the second floor, where legislative leaders have their office and the entrances to the House and Senate chambers are located.
When they have gone to court, some protesters have been convicted, and others have been acquitted depending on the evidence in their particular case and the judge hearing it.
"There's been a lot of water under the bridge since they were revised," said Rep. Tim Moore, the House Rules Committee chairman and a member of the commission. He said the changes were meant to clarify what is and isn't allowed, update the rules to comport with practice and make it easier for police to obtain convictions when they do make arrests.
However, the NAACP, which has led the protests, and the ACLU have expressed skepticism that the rules will pass constitutional muster and concern that they could "invite selective enforcement."
No word on whether the fist dog, Moe, will be riding to the event. However, McCrory did say that Moe will be launching his own website as part of an effort to push for the bill.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — U.S. and state flags across North Carolina are to be lowered in recognition of Peace Officer Memorial Day.
The flags are to be lowered from sunrise through sunset on Thursday.
In recognition of President Barack Obama's designation of May 15 as national Peace Officers Memorial Day, Gov. Pat McCrory is encouraging all citizens to display flags at half-staff at their homes and businesses.
McCrory says law enforcement officials in North Carolina prove time and time again that the safety of the citizens is their first priority, and that the citizens are grateful for the bravery they show.
Related Topics
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.