[co-authors: Katelyn Kingsbury and Drew Moretz, Government Relations Advisors]

This week at the General Assembly, budget conferees worked on the budget bill, and legislators considered various other bills.            

Budget Bill

Legislators from both chambers this week continued work in a conference committee on the biennial budget bill (S 105). Among the differences between the bills passed by each house are the amount of educator salaries, tax reductions and infrastructure spending. Legislative leaders were quoted this week in press reports indicating that a budget agreement might not be reached until mid-September to early-October. Although a new budget bill was not enacted before the end of the state’s fiscal year on June 30, state government operations are continuing pursuant to state law with spending at the FY 21 recurring funding levels.   

Health Care Certificates of Need

Gov. Roy Cooper this week signed into law a bill (S 462) that amends the Certificate of Need process under which state officials must approve purchase of certain health care equipment and facilities. Among other things, the bill raises the dollar thresholds requiring state approval and puts a time limit on approved projects.   

Video Lottery Terminals

This week, the House Commerce Committee passed a bill (H 954) that would legalize certain video lottery terminals. Under the bill, the machines would be permitted in premises with ABC permits with potentially up to 10 machines per location. The bill will next be heard in the House Finance Committee.

Catalytic Converter Theft

The House this week unanimously passed a bill (S 99) to discourage the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles. Among other things, the bill increases the penalties for this theft, defines who may possess and who may buy a detached converter, and adds additional documentation that must be maintained by buyers. Since the Senate earlier approved the bill, it now goes to Gov. Cooper for his expected signature.