This year’s bad bill tournament winner/loser is SB 1378. Sen. Tony Foriest (D-Alamance), the bill’s primary sponsor, is singing an all too familiar tune: we need to spend money now to create jobs and make North Carolina competitive globally. Think you’ve heard this before? Well, it’s still wrong. SB 1378 is as bad as it is expensive.
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HB 1668 "An Act to Exempt From Sales and Use Tax the Purchase of Products Entirely Composed of Recycled Materials"
All products manufactured from 100-percent recycled content will be exempted from state sales tax.
SB 113/114 "Carrboro Energy Efficiency/Renewable and Chapel Hill Energy Efficiency/Renewable"
Would make the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill exempt from General Statutes, 143-129, 143-131, and 143-132; which compel local governments to accept a minimum number of bids for contracts on municipal projects over $500,000 and supplies exceeding $30,000. The bills provide little guidance as to what projects could be included in these exceptions, save for the extremely vague phrase "aimed at increasing energy efficiency."
HB 1807 "Support Federal Climate Change Legislation"
The resolution calls for federal legislation that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, most likely in the form of carbon taxes or some form of cap and trade
SB 1378 "Build North Carolina’s Future Act"
Authorizes the state to borrow $451 million to build engineering schools at NC State University and North Carolina A&T State University that will also provide for capital equipment purchases for University of North Carolina school system and the Community College System.
SB 1396 "Funds for Low-cost Green Technology Education"
Would appropriate $100,000 dollars for the creation of a biofuels go-kart competition for North Carolina high school students. This bill has two stated objectives, to "increase [students] empirical understanding of environmentally responsible technology" and "lead them into careers in science, engineering, and environmental advocacy to ensure the development and public acceptance of this emergent technology".
HB 1937 "Cooking for Change Funds"
Would make the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill exempt from General Statutes, 143-129, 143-131, and 143-132; which compel local governments to accept a minimum number of bids for contracts on municipal projects over $500,000 and supplies exceeding $30,000. The bills provide little guidance as to what projects could be included in these exceptions, save for the extremely vague phrase "aimed at increasing energy efficiency."
HB 1739/SB 1180 "Implement Gender Neutral Terms"
Seek to rectify the supposed discrimination associated with using non-inclusive language.
HB 1726 "Improve Child Care Nutrition/Activity Standards"
Prohibits serving sugar-sweetened beverages to children of any age in addition to requiring that all juices be served in cups and not bottles. The bill would prohibit serving children more than six ounces of juice per day and bar serving whole milk to children over the age of two. It also bans all flavored milk.
HB 748 "Citizen’s United Response"
Affirms the 5-to-4 landmark United States Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, declaring that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment. Requires all corporations or unions, if advertising support or opposition for a specific candidate, file reports with the State Board of Elections regarding all expenses of the communication, information on the organization itself, information on the candidate the organization is endorsing, and information on donors of the organization including full names, addresses, and occupations.
HB 1404 "Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Act"
Requires licensing for all naturopathic doctors in North Carolina. Anyone unlicensed in naturopathic medicine after this bill comes into effect will be guilty of a Class I Felony.
HB 972 "Uwharrie Regional Resources Act"
Creates the Uwharrie Regional Resources Commission. The Commission established in the bill serves as the potential vehicle through which the state might purchase four hydroelectric dams owned by Alcoa in the Uwharrie Region. It allows the Commission to own and lease property, file suit and to "execute all instruments necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of the Commission."
HB 80 "Ban Electronic Sweepstakes"
Outlaws electronic gambling in North Carolina.
HB 1668 "An Act to Exempt From Sales and Use Tax the Purchase of Products Entirely Composed of Recycled Materials"
All products manufactured from 100-percent recycled content will be exempted from state sales tax.
SB 1441 "e-NC/Request NC Pilot for LifeLine OnLine"
Seeks to hand out $25,000 so that e-NC can apply for the Lifeline Online pilot program and become the agency controlling the dissemination of USF funding. This FCC program, which affords substantial discounts on broadband Internet service costs to welfare-participating families.
SB 1216 "Emergency Program to Reduce Home Foreclosures"
Amends the Emergency Program to Reduce Home Foreclosures Act, creates the temporary State Home Foreclosure Prevention Trust Fund, and implements temporary fees on mortgage servicers.
SB 897 "The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2010"
This year’s budget included over $1 billion in federal stimulus money and relied on temporary sales and income tax increases from last year, added nearly 900 government jobs, allowed for the issuance of more state debt without voter approval and, with the addition of the $1 billion in stimulus dollars, spent $600 million more than last year.
HB 1210 "Increase Licensure Fees/Athletic Trainers"
Would authorize the North Carolina Board of Athletic Trainer Examiners to increase licensure fees. The cost to obtain a license to be an athletic trainer will now be $200.00, up from $100.00. The fee to renew a license was also increased to $75.00 from $50.00.
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