NORTH CAROLINA -- A new year brings a new legislative session, with its own set of issues that will affect the lives of North Carolinians. Here's a comprehensive guide on what the legislature will face and discuss over the coming months.
New Balance of Power:
Republicans still have majority; however, they no longer have supermajorities in both chambers. That means theoretically they have enough votes to pass anything based along power lines but they do not automatically have enough votes to override potential vetoes from Governor Cooper.
Republicans now have a 65-55 advantage in the House and a 29-21 advantage in the Senate. It was 75-45 and 34-16 last year.
State Budget:
This is the biggest issue lawmakers will debate in the session that should last until sometime this summer. Governor Cooper will unveil his budget proposal first which is expected in early March. However, lawmakers can simply ignore it, if they choose. The House and Senate will be passing their own versions and eventually come up with a compromise that is then sent to the governor. A budget needs to be in place by July 1.
As the state continues to recover from Hurricane Florence, recovery funding, along with plans on how to deal with future disasters, both from a fiscal and infrastructure perspective, will likely be an ongoing discussion.
House Speaker Tim Moore has also said he wants a $1.9 billion school construction bond on the 2020 ballot, meaning that legislation will almost certainly be on the floor this year.
Other:
School safety and prison safety will continue to be important issues, as well as the numerous redistricting lawsuits remaining, including on the Supreme Court. Any judgments against the current maps could require a redraw.
Teacher pay is almost always an issue, with Gov. Cooper and the Democrats likely seeking a big hike again. However, it’s unclear where Republicans will stand on the issue. Democrats and Gov. Cooper will also continue their push for Medicaid expansion as well, but the question again sits on whether enough Republicans will be even willing to discuss it.
Potential Under the Radar Topics:
- Privatizing the ABC system
- Whether the state should step in on scooter/bike sharing issues