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Each week, the Chamber GA team shares updates and news related to bills we are monitoring in accordance with the Chamber's 2021 Government Affairs Priorities. Over the week of Feb. 15-19, the North Carolina General assembly wrapped up another week of meetings. Here is a recap of recent bill activity.

The House Finance and Appropriations Committee reviewed the annual consensus economic forecast for 2021. North Carolina’s general fund for fiscal year 2020-21 is expected to be $4.13 billion over the May 2020 forecast. The year-to-year changes include individual income tax up by 3.8%, sales and use tax up by 8.0%, corporate income and franchise tax up by 4.9%, and the total general fund up by 6.0%.

The forecast also predicted fiscal year 2021-22 to have an adjusted growth of 3.1% and 4.0% of growth for fiscal year 2022-23. Having received the economic outlook forecast for the state, the Governor and General Assembly can now begin the budget process.

As discussed in previous blog posts, Senate Bill 37 requires an in-person learning choice for families. The bill passed the legislature this week and has been presented to the Governor for his consideration. The Governor has stated concerns with the bill and could veto the legislation in the days ahead. We will continue to monitor the bill and share another update once the Governor has taken action.  

Another notable piece of legislation is House Bill 82, which mandates local schools to offer a six-week school extension learning recovery and enrichment program outside of the instructional calendar following the 2020-21 school year. This bill directs the State Board of Education to provide for and require units to implement innovative benchmarks to allow teachers to measure students learning loss throughout the school year. On Feb. 16, House Bill 82 was introduced in the House and subsequently referred to the House Education Committee where it received an initial hearing without a vote.
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On Feb. 15, House Bill 73 (temporarily waives ABC permit renewal fees,) was introduced in the House and subsequently referred to the House Rules Committee. Additionally, House Bill 4 originally filed on Feb. 11, waives certain ABC permit renewals and registration fees due on May 1, 2021 or for the period covering May 1, 2021 through Apr. 30, 2022. The bill passed the legislature this week and was presented to the Governor for his consideration. Both of these bills seek to provide relief to the restaurant community through permit flexibility.

​Finally, Senate Bill 38 allows sole proprietors of S Corporations to represent themselves without an attorney in cases under $25,000. The bill passed the Senate this week and is now headed to the House for deliberation.

To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills or to read our blog, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga or @raleighchamber.  

Now more than ever, it’s important to show our dedicated doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical professionals just how much we appreciate them. In partnership with Wake County and WRAL-TV, we are seeking YOUR help to ‘Share the Love’ with our local healthcare heroes by participating in the month-long campaign.
 
There are many ways to participate — pick the one that works best for you!

• Visit wral.com/sharethelove and add a photo or video of your family, yourself or even your pets—it’s like signing a digital thank-you card.
• Print out a poster and hang it in the window of your home or business.
• Download a coloring page and give it your own creative spin—then show it off!
• Post your photos and thoughts on social media using the hashtag #ShareTheLoveNC. We’ll share your messages with our healthcare workers.
• Send a card (or a Valentine!) to a hospital or EMS station (addresses can be found here.)).
• If you own a business, offer a special discount or coupon to healthcare workers in our ‘Coupons and Member News’ section. See instructions below.

Here are some of the digital thank-yous from our Raleigh Chamber staff:

Over the week of Feb. 8-12, the North Carolina General assembly wrapped up another list of bills. Below, you will find an overview of each bill and what it could mean for you or your business.

On Feb. 9, House Bill 4 (HB 4), initially filed on Jan. 27 as an act to extend the delay on the payment deadline for ABC permit renewals, passed the Senate Committee on Commerce and Insurance and was referred to Senate Rules Committee for further review.

On Feb. 9, the Energy and Public Utilities Committee met to discuss House Bill 20: 1998 Clean Water Bond Add’l Connections. This bill originally filed on January 21, extends the type of development connections to water supply lines funded by the clean water and natural gas critical needs bond act of 1998. This bill passed the House Energy and Public Utilities Committee on the first reading on Feb. 28. The bill was referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

Senate Bill 37 requires all local school administrative units to offer in-person instruction to students in grades K-12, for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. On Feb. 9, Senate Bill 37 passed the Senate on the third reading and passed the House on the first reading. On Feb. 10, the bill was re-referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. On Feb. 11, the bill passed the House on the second and third reading and was ordered engrossed. The Senate subsequently failed to concur in the House changes and the bill is now in Conference Committee.

Senate Bill 38 allows a non-attorney sole owner of an S-Corporation to legally represent and appear in court on behalf of the S-Corporation in certain civil actions. On Feb. 10, the bill passed by the Senate Judiciary and proceeded to the Senate Rules Committee for further review.

Don’t forget to register for the Chamber’s annual Community Success Forum: Dismantling Systemic Racism presented by Bank of America, on Feb. 18 from 9 – 11 a.m. We are pleased to offer this event at no cost to member companies. If you would like to attend, please register here.
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To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills or to read our blog, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga or @raleighchamber.  

Over the week of Feb. 1 – 5, the North Carolina General Assembly wrapped up another list of bills. Below, you will find an overview of each bill and what it could mean for you or your business.

On Feb. 3, House Bill 4 (HB4) was brought before the Alcohol Beverage Committee to discuss the extension of the ABC Permit Renewal Fee Deferrals. House Bill 4 was initially filed on Jan. 27 as an act to extend the delay on the payment deadline for certain ABC permit renewals. This bill amends section 1 of SL 2020-94, which defers payment of ABC permit renewal or registration fees by permitees prohibited from operating under Executive Order No. 141.

Senate Bill 36 is an act to make certain modifications to 2020 COVID-19 relief legislation. On Feb. 3, the Senate amended Section 3.3 and Section 5 of the Senate Bill 36. Under Section 3.3, the NC Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO) is required to report the number of full-time equivalent positions established by State agencies with funds allocated from the Coronavirus Relief Fund on Mar. 1, 2021. Also, under Section 3.3 the monthly reporting requirement of NCPRO from Apr. 1, 2021 to Apr. 10, 2021.

Under Section 5 the Office of Recovery and Resiliency, Department of Public Safety and the Office of State Budget and Management were deemed the responsible agencies for the Emergency Rental Assistance program. On Feb. 4, the House passed House Bill 4 (HB4) and Senate Bill 36 (SB 36). The Senate Bill 36 (SB 36) will head to Gov. Cooper’s office for his review. Also, House Bill 4 (HB4) will head to the Senate.

Senate Bill 37 requires all local school administrative units to offer in-person instruction to students in grades kindergarten through 12, for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. This bill passed the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee on Feb. 2 and passed the Senate on second reading on Feb. 4. It will receive its final Senate vote on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Don’t forget to register for the Chamber’s annual Community Success Forum: Dismantling Systemic Racism presented by Bank of America, on Feb. 18 from 9 – 11 a.m. We are pleased to offer this event at no cost to attendees. If you would like to attend, please register here.
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To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills or to read our blog, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga or @raleighchamber.  

Raleigh, N.C. (February 2, 2021) – Local leaders are banding together to ask community members, businesses and organizations to commit to dismantling systemic racism. This initiative, known as A Better Wake, includes lead partners from Wake County Government, City of Raleigh, Raleigh Chamber, the Triangle DEI Alliance and the Raleigh-Apex NAACP, along with a coalition of leaders from the public and private sectors.
 
"It is critical for our corporate community to lead efforts to end systemic racism," said Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, who helped initiate this effort. "In order to make change, we need to take responsibility as individuals, as businesses, as educators, as community leaders and as government officials. The City of Raleigh is proud to be part of this effort and we thank the Chamber for their leadership."
 
Matt Calabria, chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, said, “Systemic racism remains one of our most complex and pernicious problems. We are committed to working together to develop community-based solutions that will close racial equity gaps.” 
 
A Better Wake seeks to galvanize the community around efforts to address racism. “We must learn to see beyond race and treat everyone with dignity and respect,” states Gerald Givens Jr., president of the Apex-Raleigh NAACP. “A Better Wake seeks to address both elements of interpersonal and infrastructure to eradicate racism.” 
 
This coalition acknowledges that not all residents share the high quality of life in this region. That reality is rooted in systemic racism, which negatively affects black and brown Americans and creates disparities in education, health outcomes, wealth creation, and the criminal justice system. A Better Wake, convened by the Triangle Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Alliance (TDEIA), powered by the Raleigh Chamber, believes in collective impact to address this issue.
 
Adrienne Cole, president and CEO of the Raleigh Chamber said it clearly, “There is no place in our community or society for systemic racism. We will continue to raise awareness and stand up for inclusive prosperity.” 
 
The initiative calls for community members and organizations to visit www.abetterwake.com to join in committing to end racism. The website includes an action guide on practices and policies to aid collective efforts. Additionally, the website has a curated list of books, videos, and other resources to aid individuals in learning more about anti-racist concepts.
 
“Part of dismantling the systems of racism start with individuals changing their attitudes and behaviors, which leads to dissecting how infrastructures that are built with inherent bias,” says Danya Perry, director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity with the Raleigh Chamber. 
 
A Better Wake seeks to support the community in advocating and building fluency in the areas of anti-racist practices, programs, and policies. To learn more about A Better Wake, you can visit www.abetterwake.com and commit to the initiative.  
 
About A Better Wake Initiative
A Better Wake started with a collection of leaders from a diverse cross-section of organizations – all with the desire to address racism and dismantle any systems that negatively impact black and brown residents. Participating leaders believe that this renewed energy for change is more than a moment, but rather a movement. A Better Wake is now calling for your help. As community members and organizations, we ask for your support of our collective commitment to dismantle systemic racism.
 
About the Raleigh Chamber
The Raleigh Chamber is the Triangle’s largest nonprofit business membership organization made up of more than 1,800 member firms, representing two-thirds of the private sector employment in Wake County. The Chamber builds a thriving regional economy, enhances the community’s quality of life, and strengthens member businesses.
 
About the Wake County Government
Home to the State Capital, Wake County is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation and the most populous county in the state, with more than 1.1 million residents. The County has received national and international rankings and accolades from publications such as Money, Fortune, and Time magazines as being one of the best places to live, work and play.
 
About the City of Raleigh
The City of Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina, home to several colleges and universities, with a vibrant performing arts community. Fueled by an impressive mix of education, ingenuity and collaboration, North Carolina’s capital city has become an internationally recognized leader in life science and technology innovation.
 
Media Contacts:
Jen Miller, Raleigh Chamber, jmiller@raleighchamber.org
Dara Demi, Wake County, Dara.Demi@wakegov.com
Julia Milstead, City of Raleigh, Julia.Milstead@raleighnc.gov  

The North Carolina General Assembly has reconvened for the 2021 Legislative Session. The Raleigh Chamber Government Affairs Department will closely monitor the North Carolina House of Representatives and North Carolina Senate. The Government Affairs Department will track a wide range of legislative bills that impact North Carolinians and the business community. You can visit the GA webpage to track bills, see updates, view our 2021 priorities, and read our blog.

The Raleigh Chamber Government Affairs Department recently held its annual Newly Elected Officials Series on January 14 and 28. The series was a success and each elected official’s remarks were inspiring and informative. We received remarks from Congresswoman Deborah Ross, NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, and many more. 

Finally, the Raleigh Chamber will host the annual Community Success Forum: Dismantling Systemic Racism on Feb. 18 from 9 – 11 a.m. The event includes a keynote from Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad professor of History, Race, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and speaker Sara Lawrence of RTI International. The event will also feature a panel discussion where panelists will discuss various pillars of society that are impacted by systemic racism. We are pleased to offer this event at no cost to attendees. If you would like to attend, please register here.

You can follow the Government Affairs team on Twitter at @RcgaJ and @tierra_rcga.