With Gov. Roy Cooper now in his second term and the legislature convening Wednesday, budget and pandemic response agreements remain on the to-do list from last year.
North Carolina General Assembly
Trust Funds Shortchanged in Budget Impasse
The deadlock over the state budget between the Democratic governor and Republicans in the General Assembly leaves $15 million out of reach for parks and recreation, clean water trust funds.
Senate, House Disaster Bills: An Analysis
With the House and Senate deadlocked on competing bills for hurricane relief funding until legislators return Nov. 13, we break down the differences.
House Set to Vote on Disaster Recovery Bill
Money for storm recovery, water quality monitoring, a resiliency study and other coastal needs is included in a disaster funding bill making its way through the General Assembly this week.
Senate Lowers Bottom Line on PFAS Funding
A big difference in the Senate’s version of the state budget and the House’s and governor’s proposals is how it addresses emerging contaminants such as polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Senate Budget Puts Tighter Hold on DEQ
The Senate released Tuesday its $24 billion, two-year spending plan, with big differences from the House and Cooper budgets that include environmental programs and DEQ funding.
House Budget Funds Recovery, Resilience
The House’s version of the state budget includes new spending on disaster relief and recovery and resiliency plans, but DEQ funding to address emerging contaminants comes up short.
Bill Directs $400 Million to Florence Recovery
State legislators approved Senate Bill 3 in a unanimous vote, but environmental advocates and some lawmakers say the measure falls far short of what’s needed.
Senate Adjourns With No Vote On GenX Bill
Republicans and Democrats in the state House of Representatives want to give state regulators more money to address the GenX issue, but Senate leaders refuse to support the measure.
Extra Session Called After Disaster Relief Vote
Leaders in the General Assembly decided to keep going Wednesday after approving a disaster recovery bill, calling another session for measures aimed at diminishing the incoming governor’s powers and loosening environmental rules.
New State Budget and the Environment
The state Senate gave final approval yesterday to a $21.7 billion state budget that includes dozens of provisions affecting coastal policy and spending, including a weakening of sandbag rules and raising the cap on terminal groins.
House Weakens Environmental Review
In a late-night session, the N.C. House approved a bill that critics and some legislators say will ultimately gut a 40-year-old law that requires environmental review of state projects.
Coastal Parks, Aquaria Could Get $5 Million
Cultural and historic sites on the coast will see more than $5 million in much-needed repairs under a plan released this month by the McCrory administration.
State Senate Takes Ax to Ocracoke Center
North Carolina spent $7 million to renovate an old Coast Guard Station on Ocracoke for the east campus of the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Now the Senate wants to shutter the place.
