By Cassie Gavin
Senior Director of Government Relations
It was a short week at the legislature and the body is taking next week off after the long holiday weekend, so my next legislative update won’t be until mid-July. Until then, a lot is happening that NC Sierrans need to know about.
Farm Act in governor’s hands
The Senate took up the Farm Act (S 605) again this week for a vote of concurrence on the bill after the House passed it last week with changes. The House removed a section that would have limited the rights of workers who bring whistleblower cases against employers. The Senate concurred with the House changes to the bill with a vote of 35-11. Unfortunately, the bill retains the environmentally harmful provision that would require DEQ to issue general permits for biogas systems at factory hog operations.
The legislature sent the Farm Act to Governor Cooper, who has 10 days to either veto the measure, sign it into law, or let it become law without his signature.
NC Sierra Club and many other environmental and community organizations are asking Governor Cooper to veto S 605 to prioritize the health of communities near hog operations over corporate agricultural interests.
New DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser sworn in
After the N.C. Senate did not approve Dionne Delli-Gatti’s nomination to be secretary of DEQ, Governor Cooper nominated Elizabeth Biser and she was sworn in this morning. Governor Cooper moved Delli-Gatti to a new clean energy director position where she will focus on renewable energy policy. Biser’s nomination still requires approval by the Senate and no date has yet been set for that process to begin. Expectations are that the Senate is likely to approve her nomination due to her strong relationships with legislators, having served as a lobbyist for DEQ and other entities for many years. If approved, Biser will be the first female secretary of DEQ, as Delli-Gatti would have been. She’s known to have strong policy expertise across the board but especially in recycling, waste management, and wind energy. Check out this NC Policy Watch story for more details.