Neighbors on Call’s NC Policy Update for 6/19/23

Governance

• NC House Republicans want state savings held as gold bullion – Lynn Bonner, NC Newsline

• NC Republican elections proposal would strip the governor of appointment power – Lynn Bonner, NC Newsline

Voting Rights

• Voting rights advocates sue in federal court over NC’s felony disenfranchisement – Kelan Lyons, NC Newsline

• Elections overhaul poised to advance in NC legislature amid protests by voting rights advocates – Will Doran, WRAL

Education Policy

• Bill to establish Charter School Review Board advances in the Senate – Greg Childress, NC Newsline

Economic Policy

• Cooper signs sports gambling bill into law, but no betting allowed yet – Brian Murphy, WRAL

• NC lawmakers don't want pension plan to consider company environment, social records to invest – Will Doran, WRAL

Environmental Policy

• Analysis: Regulatory reform bill puts state on collision course with federal enviro law – Lisa Sorg, NC Newsline

• Bill limiting NC wetland protections sent to Gov. Roy Cooper – Coastal Review Staff Report, WRAL

• North Carolina lawmakers OK bill blocking local government energy fuel prohibitions – WRAL

Health Care Policy

• NC Gov. Cooper signs Blue Cross reorganization bill – Lynn Bonner, NC Newsline

Women’s Rights

• Planned Parenthood sues over new NC abortion law – Lynn Bonner, NC Newsline

LGBTQ Rights

• Transgender sports bill, now targeting only trans women and girls, poised for final votes – Travis Fain, WRAL

Criminal Justice

• https://ncnewsline.com/2023/06/15/lawmakers-advance-bill-that-would-make-bail-harder-for-some-criminal-defendants-to-obtain/

• Lawmakers advance bill that would make bail harder for some criminal defendants to obtain – Kelan Lyons, NC Newsline

• Lawmakers advance courts reform bill – Kelan Lyons, NC Newsline

• North Carolina legislature increases penalty for utility damage after substation shootings – Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press/Report for America