This week at the NC General Assembly was not quite as hectic as the prior week, but there are still a few items of interest to report:

• Closed-door negotiations between the House and Senate over the state budget continue to move along, but Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R – Rockingham) said this week if talks stall he’ll consider having his chamber roll out their own tax and spending plan. House Speaker Destin Hall (R – Caldwell) said he believes there is ‘still a chance’ the two chambers can work out their differences and produce a compromise package. 
  
  
• State and local officials including Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, Attorney General Jeff Jackson, State Auditor Dave Boliek, and State Treasurer Brad Briner (who runs the health insurance program for active and retired state employees) expressed concerns regarding the surprise announcement last week of a proposed merger between WakeMed based in Raleigh and AtriumHealth based in Charlotte.  
  
  While the two hospital systems say the consolidation is necessary to meet WakeMed’s need for capital for modernizing renovations to facilities, officials expressed concerns regarding how such a consolidation would impact healthcare costs. As a result, Wake County Commissioners decided to delay by 90 days the vote to approve the deal. 
  
  
• House Democrats on Monday held a press conference to roll out a set of election-year legislative proposals focused on healthcare affordability. 
  
  
• IIANC member Sen. Jim Burgin (R – Harnett) presented two healthcare-related bills in the Senate Rules Committee – HB 390 to allow Medicaid prepaid health plans to align with national payment standards as well use outpatient hospital and hospital laboratory services where appropriate, and HB 727 to limit facility fees charged made by hospitals. 
  
  
• Legislation (SB 889) that puts a pause on new appraisals for local property tax assessments in some counties passed in the state Senate with strong bipartisan support, and now heads to the House.
  
  A special House committee has been meeting on this topic for several months, and produced a proposed constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would give the state more control over how North Carolina counties and municipalities raise property taxes.

• The legislators sponsoring HB 1199 to require chronic excessive speed offenders have a device installed in their vehicle that uses GPS technology to prevent speeds in excess of posted limits held a press conference on Wednesday.
  
  IIANC Chief Advocacy Officer Joe Stewart joined traffic safety advocates and families who’ve lost a loved one in a crash caused by a motorist traveling at high speeds to express support for this effort to make NC roads safer. 

And finally …

Looking for a way to support all the advocacy work done on behalf of North Carolina independent insurance agents by the IIANC Governmental Affairs Program?

Contributions to the IIANC Action Fund from member insurance agencies as well as insurance carriers and other related organizations provide

resources to support research, analysis and public communications efforts associated with IIANC’s legislative and public policy agenda.

On June 8^th, we’re holding the inaugural IIANC Chairman’s Cup Golf Tournament at MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, with funds raised from sponsorships and golf registrations going to support the IIANC Action Fund. There's a reception and dinner for sponsors and golfers the evening before, June 7^th.

Click HERE for information on sponsorship opportunities or to register to play golf in the IIANC Chairman’s Cup, or contact IIANC Chief Advocacy Officer Joe Stewart at (919) 614-0520 or jstewart@iianc.com for more information.