As promised, the Conference Report on S508, Budget Technical Corrections, rolled out this week and was quickly adopted by both chambers and will be sent to Gov. Roy Cooper for his consideration. It contains technical fixes to some environmental policy that we don’t support, such as the elimination of the emissions inspection program for new cars and a shortened timeline for on-site wastewater projects being “deemed approved." In many cases, these changes were negotiated with Department of Environmental Quality.
The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously recommended approving Cooper's appointment of Joey Hopkins as Secretary of Transportation. The Committee also was presented with H198, DOT Legislative Changes, which contains a section that rolls back regulations on billboards along highways (see page 8 of the current version). Specifically, it would allow billboard owners to begin cutting native redbud trees, which can't be cut around billboards under the current law. It would also nearly double the area where tree-cutting is permissible to expand the sightline for billboards. This runs afoul of North Carolina’s commitment to roadside beauty and trees for roadside carbon reduction. We'll be working on getting amendments to the bill for the Transportation Committee's next meeting on Wednesday at noon.
S166, Building Code Regulatory Reform, is a 70-plus page bill designed to make home construction faster and cheaper, including the fast-tracking of some DEQ permitting processes. The bill now goes to the House Finance Committee and we'll keep you apprised of its progress.
Some of you may have taken part in our February action alert supporting the Coastal Resources Commission's effort to restore shoreline protections that were stricken from the N.C. Administrative Code. As that fight continues, H426, Various Environmental Amendments, is stepping in with language to address one concern: protection for Jockey's Ridge State Park. The bill would direct CRC to implement a rule designating the park as an area of environmental concern until permanent rules are adopted.
We're keeping an eye out for budget recommendations. Appropriations Chairs are already sequestered with staff to develop these adjustments, which are a key part of the "short session," and which often serve as a vehicle for unrelated issues prioritized by legislative leadership.