• • This Week at the General Assembly
• • Bills Introduced This Week
• • Bills on the Move
• • Joint Regulatory Reform Committee Public Meetings
• • Quote of the Week

Week 8 of the 2011 session included debate on issues such as voter ID requirements, terminal groins, repeal of the land transfer tax (this time in the Senate) and more annexation repeals.  Regarding the multitude of annexation repeals, the following sums up the Thursday meeting of the House Government Committee perfectly: “… More bills repealing or blocking local annexations rolled through the House Government Committee. Add Rocky Mount, Wilmington, Fayetteville and Biltmore Lake to the list of places that could see annexation ordinances overturned or indefinitely stopped. It's not all bad news for municipal government officials. So far, they’ve been able to stave off any bill filings to just do away with towns and cities ...”

For NCHBA, the hustle and bustle in Raleigh was interrupted by more hustle and bustle in Washington, DC at NAHB’s Legislative Day on Capitol Hill.  Special thanks to over 40 members who made the trip (some went up and back in one day!).  Your presence and advocacy made all the difference in the world. 

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HB 349 Promote Green Roofs on Buildings would provide incentives to install green roofs.

HB 350 Clarify Property Tax for Conservation Land would modify classes of property excluded from the tax base.

HB 355 Simplify Taxation of Certain HOA Property would simplify the collection of property taxes that are due on property owned by certain non-profit HOAs.

HB 378 Exclusion from Post-Construction Practices would exclude public and private roads in Winston-Salem from compliance with stormwater post-construction practices if projects meet NCDOT BMP manual requirements.

HB 384 Register of Deeds/Fees would simplify fees charged for registering instruments with a Register of Deeds. (Could result in a fee increase and, if so, NCHBA will oppose!)

HB 388 APA: Disapprove Reclaimed Water Rules would prevent reclaimed water rules adopted by the Environmental Management Commission on November 18, 2010 from going into effect.

HB 406 Voluntary Agricultural Districts would allow land used for agricultural purposes to enroll in a voluntary agricultural district even if it does not qualify for taxation at present-use value.

SB 354 Rental Property/Lithium Battery Smoke Alarms would require landlords to install a 10-year lithium battery in all new smoke alarms after December 31, 2011.

SB 367 Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates Bill (identical to HB 135) would require the NC Utilities Commission to establish tiered electricity rates for residential, commercial, public and commercial customers.  Creates the energy efficiency public benefit loan fund to encourage the addition of energy efficiency measures.  

SB 368 Modify Public Swimming Pool Requirements would modify the applicability of fencing requirements for public swimming pools.

SB 373 Community Association Manager’s Licensing Act would require licensure for community association managers.

SB 374 Landowner Protection Act would require written permission to hunt on the land of another statewide and prohibit hunting from the right-of-way statewide.

SB 380 ETJ/Clarify Definition of Bona Fide Farm would exempt farms from municipal ETJ.

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HB 92 Repeal Land Transfer Tax is before the full Senate for consideration on 3/21/11.

SB 22 APA Rules: Limit Additional Costs passed the Senate on a concurrence vote and awaits the Governor’s signature.

SB 110 Permit Terminal Groins passed 3^rd reading in the Senate and moved to the House Environment Committee.

SB 165 NC Turnpike Authority Corridor Selection passed 2^nd and 3^rd reading in the House and awaits the Governor’s signature.

SB 308 State Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions passed 2^nd and 3^rd reading in the Senate.

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As mentioned in previous Legislative Updates, the Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Reform is conducting a statewide listening tour.  The first meeting was held March 11^th in Wilmington and was attended by several members of the home building industry.  The dates and locations for the remaining five meetings were announced this week – if you have been negatively affected by regulations or the arbitrary interpretations of regulations by state officials please make plans to attend one of the following meetings: 

Charlotte – Monday, March 21
Central Piedmont Community College – West Campus
Harris Conference Center - 3216 CPCC Harris Campus Drive, Charlotte, N.C.
Signup to make a two minute statement: 12:30 p.m.
Meeting: 1 to 3 p.m.

Triad – Monday. March 28
Guilford Technical Community College – Jamestown Campus
Koury Hospitality Careers Center Auditorium - 601 High Point Road, Jamestown, N.C.
Signup to make a two minute statement: 12:30 p.m.
Meeting: 1 to 3 p.m.

Eastern N.C. – Monday, April 4
Pitt Community College
Goess Building, Rooms 137-139 - 1986 Pitt Tech Road, Winterville, N.C.
Signup to make a two minute statement: 12:30 p.m.
Meeting: 1 to 3 p.m.

Western N.C.  – Friday, April 15
Blue Ridge Community College
Thomas Auditorium - 180 West Campus Drive, Flat Rock, N.C.
Signup to make a two minute statement: 12:30 p.m.
Meeting: 1 to 3 p.m.

Raleigh – Thursday, April 21
Legislative Building Auditorium (3^rd Floor)
16 W. Jones Street, Raleigh, N.C.
Signup to make a two minute statement: 12:30 p.m.
Meeting: 1 to 3 p.m.

A website for the committee has been launched at www.ncleg.net/regreform.  The website includes a form to submit public input, as well as an email address for those that cannot attend meetings, but would still like to send comments (or for those who do attend and want to submit additional comments or materials).  The public email address is regreform@ncleg.net.  Written comments may also be mailed to Regulatory Reform Comments, 16 West Jones Street, Room 2007, Raleigh, N.C. 27601.

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“Builders should be put on the Endangered Species List!”

Heath Clark, of Bill Clark Homes, at the first stop of the Joint Committee on Regulatory Reform’s statewide listening tour.  Heath indicated that all the regulation in North Carolina had nearly put his company out of business and feared the same fate for other builders.

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