NOTE: Reminder that IIANC members interested in hearing an update on what’s happened so far during the current Session of the NC General Assembly, and what’s likely to be the course of legislative action going forward, should click HERE to register for a free webinar at 12 noon on May 20th hosted by IIANC lobbyist Joe Stewart (CE credit has been approved for this webinar).

House Budget Released 

Portions of the House version of the state’s two-year tax and spending plan were presented in the various Appropriations Subcommittees yesterday, with continued presentations, discussion and debate next week. 

Like the state Senate budget proposal enacted by that chamber last month, the House makes some state government agency spending cuts by eliminating long-unfilled positions. The House also reduces by $130M funds to UNC System schools and calls for tuition increases, and transfers $500M previous appropriated to NC Innovation to be used for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. 

Details on the amount of raises for teachers/state employee and other budget details will be known next week as the House budget proposal continues to wind its way through the committee process, with a vote by the full House expected by next Friday. 

Both chambers are taking off the following week for the Memorial Day holiday, scheduled to return to start the budget negotiation process between the House and Senate leaders to come up with a compromise proposal to present to Governor Stein for his signature. 

Speaking of Memorial Day, a record 1.3M people are expected to travel in North Carolina this coming Memorial Day Weekend, according to AAA Carolina. Those traveling by car will pay less for gas, as the average price of regular in the state is currently $2.89 per gallon, down from $3.33 this time last year, also according to AAA. 

Also This Week 

HB 821 that attempts to get at the backlog at DMV by giving NC motorists a two-year grace period for renewal of their drivers license beyond the expiration date was approved in the House Rules Committee, but a vote by the full House was postponed until next week. Some members expressed concerns that the provision would cause issues for those attempting to use their ‘expired’ NC driver’s license in other state for things like renting a car.

Also with regards to DMV, new Commissioner Paul Tine (who is an independent insurance agency owner and IIANC member), is traveling the state to visit every single DMV office in North Carolina as he begins efforts to improve the operation of the agency and address long wait times faced by DMV customers in recent years.  

The House budget does include funding for 85 more driver license examiner positions (the first increase in the number of those positions since 2003) and some new DMV office locations. 

Legislation that has farmers and health experts on one side and raw milk advocates on the other is SB 639, what’s called the Farm Act and which covers a wide variety of agribusiness related policy issues. 

Language in the legislation would prohibit the direct-to-consumer sale of raw milk, where current law allows unpasteurized milk to be sold as long as the container bears the warning ‘Not For Human Consumption.’ The bill was scheduled for a vote in the Senate, but was moved to next week’s calendar. 

The Senate also this week confirmed three nominees for state position put forward by Governor Josh Stein. Regina Smith Adams to the Board of Review, Christopher J. Ayers as executive director of the Public Staff of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, and Don van der Vaart as a member of the Utilities Commission. Those nominations now go to the House for consideration.

And finally …

Congratulations goes out to Rick Pierce of National General (an Allstate Company), who IIANC Vice President of Governmental Affairs Joe Stewart recently presented with an IIANC Plott Hound Award.

True to his engagement with and support of IIANC advocacy efforts, Pierce was recently attending a legislative reception co-sponsored by IIANC, the Insurance Federation of NC, and APCIA, so was able to receive the recognition with IIANC  member legislators Rep. Chris Humphrey, Sen. Todd Johnson and Sen. Vickie Sawyer all present. 

The award’s namesake is the official state dog of North Carolina, a breed known for its intelligence, tenacity and loyalty – the very qualities necessary to be an effective advocate on behalf of the independent insurance agents of this state. 

Pierce is an active participant with many of IIANC’s advocacy efforts, and serves on the IIANC Governmental Affairs Committee and is a consistent contributor to IIANC’s state political action committee, iPAC.  

He recently attended the Big “I” Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, joining with IIANC Board members and other volunteer leaders in meeting with NC Congressional delegation members.  

He is also a member of the Board of the NC Alliance for Safe Transportation (NCAST – IIANC lobbyist Joe Stewart is Chair of the NCAST Board), and showed his company’s support for a hands free driving law by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the IIANC-sponsored Distract Driving Awareness Winston-Salem Dash baseball game last April.