The N.C. Chapter has had an influential presence at the N.C. General Assembly for over 50 years. Our volunteer lobbyists play a critical role in our work to advance laws and policies that protect our environment and all who live in it.
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Report from Jones Street
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2024 Session:
- July 12: It ain't over till it's over: The NC General Assembly's 2024 "short session" is over - kinda. After a frustrating spring, lawmakers adjourned, scheduling meetings monthly through the end of 2024. Here's where things stand.
- June 21: Budget fight dominates the week: This week on Jones Street started with the promised release of a House budget - and the expected standoff between legislative leaders. Next week, we expect the House to schedule a veto override vote H198, the "billboard bill."
- June 14: PFAS, pipelines, pigs: The state budget fine-tuning that's usually well underway at this time of year has hit a snag. But important environmental bills are making their way through committee vetting.
- June 7: Farm Bill sails through House, no override action: The Honorables were back at work this week, holding meetings and votes after taking a week off due to the passing of the House speaker's father. Still, with spotty attendance, no override vote was scheduled for Governor Cooper's veto of H198, the bill that calls for dramatically increasing tree-cutting zones around billboards.
- May 31: It's quiet … too quiet: The legislature largely cancelled its business for the week to allow members to attend the funeral of the father of Speaker Tim Moore. Next week should be a busy one, so get ready!
- May 24: We - and the trees - win! Governor Cooper wasted no time in vetoing H198, DOT Legislative Changes, which included billboard industry-friendly expansion of tree-cutting rules around outdoor advertising. Thank you to all of you who joined us in demanding this veto!
- May 17: Billboards win a round: The billboard industry won a round as the N.C. Senate, on party lines, approved changes to laws that increase tree-cutting zones around outdoor advertising. We're working on getting House members to vote against concurrence next week.
- May 10: Protect our trees: This week, the Senate Transportation Committee approved H198, DOT Legislative Changes, without amending the bill to change language that expands tree-cutting permissions around billboards, as we sought. So we've sent out an action alert!
- May 3: 'Clean-up' bills dominate: Lawmakers rolled out a clutch of bills to amend the budget, regulations at the Transportation Department - including tree-cutting around billboards - and building codes.
- April 26: NC General Assembly reconvenes, Cooper drops budget: The General Assembly opened its 2024 "short session" on Wednesday, hours after Gov. Roy Cooper released his budget recommendation. Cooper's plan focuses on education priorities, but reliably includes an important environmental agenda that highlights clean transportation, clean-up of "forever chemicals," and land and water conservation.
2023 in Review: Toxic policies to poison our environment & democracy: The 2023 legislative session was damaging to North Carolina’s environment and natural resources, fair elections, and equity and inclusion. Our lobbyist, Laura DeVivo, recaps some of the major issues and outcomes.
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