Speaker of the state House Destin Hall (R – Caldwell) and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R – Rockingham) held a hastily-called press conference on Tuesday to announce the two chambers had agreed to the principal elements of a state budget (notably, the size of raises and bonuses for state employees and public school teachers, and the corporate and personal income tax rates).

Click HERE to see a summary of the agreed-upon budget items presented at Tuesday’s press conference.

Senator Berger said ‘there is still a lot that will need to be decided’ in negotiations between the House and Senate before the final biennial budget is completed and ready for a vote, but expectations are for a rollout of the full tax and spending plan the week of June 15^th.

Also This Week

• IIANC Chief Advocacy Officer Joe Stewart participated in a press conference with representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving along with families and victims of crashes caused by drunk drivers in support of HB 1199 that contains language to clarify who within the range of those arrested for driving while intoxicated can have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle, to help prevent crashes caused by repeat DWI offenders.

• IIANC continued outreach to legislators as a participant in a coalition of business groups led by the NC Chamber working in support of the passage of HB 315 that prohibits investments in civil litigation cases by outside parties who cover legal costs of plaintiffs in exchange for a portion of funds received in a settlement or judgement.

Stopping this practice, referred to as third party litigation financing and which adds to legal expenses borne by insurers, is a national legislative priority of the Big “I”, with state associations including IIANC asked to take an active role in supporting legislation that address this issue at the state level.

Also contained in the bill are adjustments for inflation of the amount provided under the state’s worker’s compensation law for the loss of certain organs due to a workplace injury. A summary of both provisions is located HERE.

• IIANC is also tracking two healthcare related bills:

SB 863 that looks to reduce regulatory costs of adult care facilities by eliminating duplicative inspection requirements.

SB 1040 that repeals the state’s certificate of need (CON) rules for ambulatory surgical and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

Supporting legislation that reduces unnecessary expenses in the healthcare system that drive up health insurance costs for individuals and employers offering health coverage for employees is an ongoing IIANC legislative priority.

• IIANC Legislative Agenda items mentioned previously that make needed clarifications to the certificate of need statute, provide stronger enforcement of the prohibition on lenders from requiring the replacement cost estimator as a condition of issuing a loan, and moving from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, the effective date of the requirement enacted last year that all drivers subject to the inexperience operator surcharge must maintain continuous liability coverage are on track to be taken up in the Senate Commerce and Insurance Committee next week.

And Finally...

Reminder of the upcoming 2026 Chairman’s Cup Golf Tournament on June 8^th to support the IIANC Action Fund.

There is still time to sign up as a sponsor of the event, or to play in the tournament. Click HERE for information on sponsorship options or to register for golf.

The IIANC Action Fund supports the advocacy work done by the Governmental Affairs Program on behalf of North Carolina independent insurance agents, providing resources that make possible analytical research, polling and public opinion surveys, targeted broadcast and digital communications, and grassroots outreach beyond the agent community.