… and that’s what the state legislature did this week, adjourning for this week to return on April 28^th to resume the 2025 Session.

With the state Senate having passed its version of a biennial state budget last week before heading out of town, it will now be the House’s turn when legislative work resumes next week.

Speaker Destin Hall has indicated he thinks the House budget will be ready to be voted on in that chamber by Memorial Day, leaving June for negotiations between the House and Senate leadership to hopefully come up with a final version for Governor Stein to sign by the July 1^st start of the fiscal year.

May 8^th is the Crossover Deadline, meaning bills other than those that deal with revenue generation or expenditures must have passed either the House or Senate by that date to remain eligible for consideration through the end of the 2026 Session.

There is generally a mad rush to get legislation passed before Crossover, meaning long days of committee meetings and lengthy daily session for the next few weeks.

Also This Week

IIANC lobbyist Joe Stewart attended a NC DOT sponsored press event on Tuesday intended to bring awareness to the issue of work zone safety.

Department of Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins spoke about the need for motorists to be extra attentive, avoid distractions and not speed while driving through work zones, citing the tragic statistic that 47 people died in North Carolina in 2024 as a result of vehicle crashes in work zones.

As part of IIANC’s ongoing support for a hands-free driving law in North Carolina and partnering with the Carolina Hurricanes, the webpage www.handsfreenc.org was printed on the ‘rally towel’ given to every fan at Tuesday’s Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canes and New Jersey Devils (which the Canes won 3 – 1).

The distracted driving awareness public service ad produced by IIANC and the NC Alliance for Safe Transportation that runs in the Lenovo Center during Hurricane’s games and on the team’s social media platforms has updated to reflect that the team is now in the playoffs.

IIANC member Johnny Robinson snapped this selfie at the game, showing his support for the Carolina Hurricanes and for a hands-free driving law in North Carolina!

And Finally…

Thank you to the many loyal annual contributors to IIANC’s political action committee, iPAC, who have already stepped up to renew their support in 2025.

And, a big shout out to all those who have responded to the call and made an iPAC contribution for the first time in 2025.

The 2026 election cycle is just around the corner, and we’ll need iPAC to have the resources necessary to support state legislative candidates who are aligned with IIANC on the key issues that matter most to the perseveration of the independent insurance agency business model.

If you support the advocacy work IIANC provides for you and every independent insurance agent in North Carolina, please make a contribution to iPAC in 2025 – click HERE to make your online contribution (the amount is up to you, and for all contributions of $120 or more you get this amazing YETI tumbler)!