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 | 5/10/2013 | Pillar 1: Education and Talent Supply: North Carolina must develop and maintain first-rate, leading education and workforce development systems that are effective, agile, accountable, flexible, and consistently produce a competitive, diverse, world-class workforce. This includes the state’s K-12 public schools, network of state community colleges, state university system and independent colleges and universities.
K-12 Education/Strengthen Workforce Development System
 House Bill 23/Senate Bill 118: Digital Learning Competencies/School Employees was signed by Governor McCrory on Friday, March 15. This bill would direct the State Board of Education to develop and implement digital teaching and learning standards for teachers and school administrators. The North Carolina Chamber supports establishing common standards for our teachers and administrators.
House Bill 44/Senate Bill 121: Transition to Digital Learning in Schools was signed by Governor McCrory on Tuesday, March 19. This legislation would transition funding from textbooks to digital learning initiatives in K-12 public schools. Evolving innovations in online learning are a big opportunity in North Carolina to provide anytime/anywhere access to learning for educators and students. The North Carolina Chamber supports efforts for the state to lead the nation in the use of digital devices in the classroom.
| Pillar 2: Competitive Business Climate While North Carolina appears near the top of several noteworthy business climate rankings, the state is not creating enough good jobs fast enough to balance the job losses of the last decade and the influx of new people. North Carolina must continually strive to position its business climate competitively to lure investment and keep, attract and grow good jobs for the future. Restore Solvency, Integrity and Affordability to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
House Bill 4: UI Solvency & Program Changes was signed by Governor McCrory on February 19. This bill shifts the focus from unemployment to reemployment and puts in place a plan to repay the state’s more than $2 billion debt within three years. We commend Governor McCrory and the legislature for taking action to restore responsibility and accountability to our state’s unemployment system and to provide real solutions that encourage North Carolina businesses to create the jobs our citizens desperately need.
Modernize State Tax Code
House Bill 69: Opportunity Advancement Zones No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 263/Senate Bill 255: Small Business New Job Creation Incentive No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 239: Amend NC Business Corporation Act No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 242: Hire Long-Term Unemployed Workers Incentive No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 363: Business Tax Reductions and Reforms No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 394: Lower Tax Rates for a Stronger NC Economy No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 490/ House Bill 453: Correct Taxation of Computer Software was found favorable in the Senate Finance Committee and passed the Senate with a 47-2 vote on Wednesday, May 8. This legislation excludes software customization costs in the determination of value for property taxation purposes. Eliminating this taxation method provides a better business environment for both current and future organizations.
Senate Bill 677: Corporate Income Tax Reduction & Reform No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Continue Updating Workers’ Compensation System
Senate Bill 51: Workers’ Comp Program Integrity No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 174: Disapprove Industrial Commission Rules was re-referred to the Senate Rules and Operations Committee on Thursday, May 9. This legislation excludes software customization costs in the determination of value for property taxation purposes. Eliminating this taxation method provides a better business environment for both current and future organizations.
Senate Bill 450: WC/Adjust Organ Injury Benefit Annually No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 614: WC/Omnibus Changes No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Provide Greater Protection through Tort Reform
Senate Bill 452: Jurisdictional Amts/Arbitrations/Sm Claims Ct. No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 648: NC Commerce Protection Act was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee and will now be considered by the Senate Judiciary I Committee. SB648 makes important, balanced changes to NC’s civil liability system to provide fairness and predictability and encourage job creation. The NC Commerce Protection Act of 2013 tackles many costly concerns, including prohibiting third-party litigation financing, employment fraud prevention and creates transparency in private attorney contracting by attorney general.
Protect and Attract Jobs through Continued Regulatory Reform
House Bill 74: Periodic Review and Expiration of Rules was approved by the House Regulatory Reform Committee and placed on the House calendar for next week. This legislation provides for a resubmission of all rules 10 years after implementation. This allows for greater efficiency and effectiveness in our state’s regulatory climate.
House Bill 135: Adjust Landfill Permit Fee Timing No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 706: Preserve Landfill Space passed in the Senate on Tuesday, May 7 and has been presented to Governor McCrory. This legislation would provide that the disposal of on-site demolition debris from the decommissioning of manufacturing buildings is exempt from the landfill permitting requirements.
Senate Bill 10: Government Reorganization and Efficiency Act No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 34/House Bill 164: Eliminate Obsolete Boards and Commission: No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 171: Limit Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 328: Solid Waste Management Reform Act of 2013 No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 380: Adjust Landfill Permit Fee Timing was approved in the Senate Finance Committee and passed the Senate with a 48-1 vote on Wednesday, May 8. This bill adjusts the landfill permit fee timing to reflect the extensions of these permits, giving business greater certainty in their payment schedule.
Senate Bill 580: Expedite Cleanup of Orphan Landfill Sites No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 612: Regulatory Reform Act of 2013 was referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee on Tuesday, May 7. This legislation further increases regulatory efficiency to balance job creation and environmental protection.
Promote Business Voice in Health Care Exchange Set Up
Senate Bill 4: No N.C. Exchange/No Medicaid Expansion was signed by Governor McCrory on Wednesday, March 6. This legislation clarifies the state’s intent not to operate a state-run health benefit exchange and provides that future Medicaid eligibility determinations will be made by the state, along with rejecting the Affordable Care Act’s optional Medicaid expansion. Health care costs have a huge impact on business profitability and the ability to create jobs. The NC Chamber continues to support a state health care exchange that is market-based and fairly represents the needs of employers. However, due to our broad membership representation and the complex nature of this issue, the NC Chamber does not currently have a position on Medicaid expansion.
Workplace and Labor Issues
House Bill 49: Firearm in Locked Motor Vehicle/ Parking Lot No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 53: NC Right to Work/ Secret Ballot Amendments No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 100/ Senate Bill 536: Healthy Families & Workplace/Paid Sick Days No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 115/ Senate Bill 220: State Minimum Wage/Inflation Increases No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 160: Public Contracts/Illegal Immigrants No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 786: RECLAIM NC Act No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 408: Lawful Citizens Self Protection Act No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 535/ House Bill 99: Caregiver Relief Act No update, check Bill Chart for status. | Pillar 3: Entrepreneurship and Innovation North Carolina must consistently foster innovation and entrepreneurship that leads to capital formation, investment, employment and good jobs. Creating the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship necessary to be a world-class jobs leader will require a high degree of economic freedom with minimum government interference, regulation and taxes.
Strengthen “All of the Above” Energy Production Strategy
House Bill 613: Omnibus Act Regarding Coal-Based Energy No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 76: Domestic Energy Jobs Act No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Enhance Investment
Senate Bill 522: New Markets Jobs Act No update, check Bill Chart for status. | Pillar 4: Infrastructure and Growth Leadership North Carolina must identify ways to invest in the development and maintenance of sound physical infrastructure, including schools, transportation, water and sewer, energy and broadban advanced communications to meet the demands of growth and the market. While economic development incentives are certainly a less palatable tool for job growth than sufficient, sound infrastructure systems, failing to use them to create jobs when 49 other states are doing so would disadvantage North Carolina. Protect NC’s Growth and Water Needs
House Bill 89/Senate Bill 113: DENR Support for Regional Water Supply System No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 151: Coastal Policy Reform Act of 2013 No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 163: Protect Landowners’ Water Rights No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 341: Amend Interbasin Transfer Law was referred to the House Environment Committee on Monday, May 6. This legislation establishes an expedited process for movement of water between different parts of the state in the case of short supply. The NC Chamber believes that adequate water supply and storage are vital to economic development across the state and supports the steps this legislation takes to address water supply issues.
Encourage Adequate Support for State Transportation
House Bill 157/ Senate Bill 525: Limit Use of Highway Fund Credit Balance No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 817: Strategic Transportation Investments passed in the House with a 102-15 vote on Thursday, May 9. This legislation makes a new Strategic Mobility Formula to prioritize infrastructure spending. The North Carolina Chamber supports this effort to address our transportation system’s funding challenges.
House Bill 887: Public Contracts/Public-Private Partnerships No update, check Bill Chart for status.
House Bill 966: Cap Fuel Tax No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 710: Fair Share Contribution for Elect. Vehicles No update, check Bill Chart for status.
Senate Bill 711: Highway Trust Fund/ Funding Mechanism No update, check Bill Chart for status. | Do you have questions or input about the Chamber’s work at the legislature?
Contact our Government Affairs team. Gary Salamido, Vice President of Governmental Affairs
gsalamido@ncchamber.net or (919) 836 -1403
John Goodman, Director of Governmental Affairs
jgoodman@ncchamber.net or (919) 836 -1402 Jake Cashion, Director of Governmental Affairs
jcashion@ncchamber.net or (919) 836 -1411
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