Activity at the General Assembly continued to accelerate this week as joint appropriations committees held their final meetings and prepared to break-off into their separate, chamber-specific committees.

State Health Plan Study (H184)

A bill creating a study committee to examine changes to the State Health Plan passed the House Health Committee this week. The bill addresses issues raised by State Treasurer Dale Folwell and others related to the plan’s operation and payment mechanisms. The Plan covers over 720,000 state employees, retirees and their family members.

Immigration Policy (H370)

A proposal to require local law enforcement to help federal immigration officials deport prisoners that are immigrants passed the House Judiciary Committee this week. Although there was significant debate on the bill, it was approved and will next be considered by the House Rules committee.

Wind Ban (S377)

Senator Harry Brown (R-Onslow) this week introduced a bill that could ban new wind projects in a number of eastern North Carolina counties.  The bill references recent mapping that considered the impact of “vertical obstructions” on North Carolina’s military mission.  A prior statewide moratorium on these projects expired on December 31, 2018.