The state House met this week, holding a brief ceremonial session in the State Capitol to commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence before adjourning Wednesday.

The House also adopted the adjournment resolution approved last week by the Senate that sets dates each month for legislative sessions if needed, but House Speaker Destin Hall indicated it was unlikely the legislature would return until November to finish its work for the year.

Items of Interest

The House took no action on HB 328, legislation to more strongly regulate the sale of intoxicating hemp products that passed in the Senate last week.

Groups from both law enforcement (for the bill) and the hemp industry (against it) held press conferences on Tuesday, but Speaker Hall said there were sufficient concerns about the bill from within the House GOP Caucus to wait until the legislature returns in November to take the matter back up.

Changes made by Congress last year will effectively ban the sale of intoxicating hemp products starting in November, with the Trump Administration recently calling for a repeal of the federal prohibition.

On a party-line vote, the House approved election law legislation (HB 958) adopted by the Senate last week. Governor Stein stated publicly it’s his intention to veto the bill once it arrives on his desk for his signature.

Also passing along partisan lines was HB 268 which made some adjustments to the state budget passed in July and signed into law by the governor.

An item of note, as reported last week this legislation does restore to NC Department of Insurance a little over $1M of the $2.7M in funding cuts made in the original budget, but the reduction remains significant according to Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who indicated 16 positions will need to be eliminated as a result of the funding cut.

In conversation with Commissioner Causey this week he indicated he’ll continue to work with legislative leaders to reverse this reduction, saying the impact of having fewer staff would diminish the department’s ability to fully execute the regulatory and consumer protection responsibilities it has under the law.

The House also approved SB 445 that modernizes various regulatory provision and includes language clearing the way for installation of accessory dwelling units – sometimes called ‘tiny houses’ or ‘granny flats’ – for NC cities with populations of 50,000 or more.

Election News

US Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC 11) announced he was withdrawing from running for re-election following release of a report from the Ethics Committee of the US House on his inappropriate conduct regarding female staffers.

Several names have already floated as possible replaces for Edwards on the ballot, with state Senator Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson) emerging as a likely prospect. Moffitt told reporters he would be talking to ‘leaders and neighbors’ in the district about whether he should run over the coming weeks.

And Finally

As we approach Labor Day and the homestretch of the 2026 Election Session, we ask all IIANC members who have not already made their contribution to our state political action committee, iPAC, to take a minute now to click HERE.

iPAC makes possible our support of state legislative candidates who are our allies on key issues important to the independent insurance agency business model – and it’s your contribution to iPAC that makes it possible.

Consider a contribution of $30, $60 or even $120 (which gets you this amazing YETI tumbler). You’ll be doing your part to support the advocacy work IIANC does for you and every independent insurance agent in North Carolina, and making a strong investment in the future of your profession.