The NC General Assembly convened this week, with the state House taking votes on Tuesday and the Senate on Wednesday. 

Front and center was SB 382 which contained more recovery assistance for the victims of Hurricane Helené in western NC, including: 

• $227M more for the Helené Fund, to be held in reserve for needs as they arise;
• $25M for debris removal;
• $2M to aid soil and water conservation districts in impacted areas;
• $100M loan program for recovery needs of local governments;
• $100M more for loan program repairs of local water and wastewater systems;
• $34M more to cover loss of COVID relief funds by childcare centers;
• $50M to cover cost overruns in the ReBuildNC program assisting victims of Hurricanes Matthew and Florence (see related item below under Also This Week). 

This legislation also contained several provisions reorganizing various boards and commissions within state government that Democratic legislative leaders described as a ‘power grab’ by Republicans done while they still have the ability to override a gubernatorial veto.  

Also accomplished this week was override of a bill vetoed previously by Democratic Governor Cooper, HB 10. 

The bill provides funding necessary to cover private school tuition assistance to the 55,000 NC families on the Opportunity Scholarship waiting list, and allocates $64M for enrollment growth in the Community College System, $95M for K-12 public school enrollment increases, and $377M needed by the state’s Medicaid program. The legislation also requires sheriffs to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers. 

Four other legislative proposals were also passed this week:

• HB 1078 making various appointments to state boards and commissions; 
• HJR 1079 confirming Chip Hawley as Director of the State Bureau of Investigation;
• HJR 1080 confirming Jay Ludlam as Director of the Division of Health Benefits in the NC Department of Health and Human Services;
• HJR 1081 amending the adjournment resolution for the 2024 Legislative Session, setting December 2nd for the General Assembly to return again before the end of the year to address any additional funding issues or gubernatorial vetoes on the legislation enacted this week.

Also this week:

• The Senate Republican Caucus elected leaders for the 2025 Legislative Session, and IIANC member Senator Todd Johnson was chosen as a Whip for the state Senate Republican Caucus (Whips are responsible for working with their Republican Senate colleagues on securing passage of legislation, both on the Caucus to-do list as well as items important to them individually). 

Following his selection, Senator Johnson said, ‘I am very excited to be a part of the GOP Senate Caucus leadership team, helping shape legislative priorities and goals for each Session of the General Assembly. Just like my fellow IIANC members know, the experience of running an independent insurance agency and working with policy holders - both businesses and families in your community - gives you an understanding of what matters most to keeping NC a great place to live and work, and I’ll bring that insight to the role of Caucus Whip.’ 

• The House Republican Caucus also elected it’s leadership for the 2025 Session, tapping Representative Destin Hall to be Speaker. Hall is an attorney and graduate of the Brantley Risk Management and Insurance Program at Appalachian State University. 
  
  
• The director of the governor’s disaster recovery program, RebuildNC, was let go following a contentious legislative oversight committee meeting on Monday. Laura Hogshead, who’d led efforts to distribute more than $800M in federal funds for victims of Hurricanes Matthew and Florence had been previously criticized by legislators for the slow pace at which funds were distributed, and for significant cost overruns in the program.
  
  
• A recounting of votes cast in several state races will take place at the request of losing candidates. Most notably, in the contest for the sole state Supreme Court justice spot on the ballot, Republican Jefferson Griffin called for a recount with the official tally showing Democrat Allison Riggs winning by just 625 votes out of nearly 5.5M votes cast.  

In the state House race in District 32 that covers Granville and Vance Counties, incumbent Republican Rep. Frank Sossamon requested a recount, with his opponent Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn winning by just 233 votes out of 43,333 votes cast.

While recounts rarely result in changed outcomes, should that occur in this state House race the Republicans would retain their super majority when the 2025 Legislative Session starts in January. 

And finally …  

Last Sunday, the NC Alliance for Safe Transportation (IIANC lobbyist Joe Stewart is Chair of the NCAST Board) held an event at the NC State Highway Patrol Troop C Headquarters in Raleigh to commemorate the World Day of Remembrance, recognizing the lives lost on NC roads and highways in 2023. 

IIANC member Senator Jim Burgin was on hand and spoke about the need for a hands-free driving law in North Carolina. He was joined by state Representative Sarah Crawford (D-Wake) who is also a strong traffic safety advocate in the NC General Assembly. 

Displayed were 165 pairs of shoes, one pair for each person 19 years old or younger killed in a car crash in our state last year. NCAST, in partnership with the NC High School Athletic Association, recently launched the Teen Safe Driving Ambassador program, and two representatives of that were on hand and spoke about their commitment to reinforce good driving behaviors among their friends and classmates. 

And, last week IIANC lobbyist Joe Stewart moderated a conversation with Representative Crawford and Representative Erin Paré (R-Wake) at an event organized by students at a Raleigh high school. More than 60 students attended the session that covered a first-hand account of what it’s like running for and serving in elected office.