1.
Raleigh
Roundup
419B Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-3009 ruths@ncleg.net
June 13, 2011 Legislative Update Raleigh, NC
Every NC legislative session calendar includes something called a "crossover deadline," the day by which a bill
must pass one chamber if it's going to have a chance of passage in the other. And, as happens every session, the
House pushed through enough legislation to fill several Roundups as the crossover deadline approached last
Thursday. I'll try to hit the highlights for you here.
The Woman's Right to Know Act, which I sponsored, passed the House. The bill calls for a 24-hour waiting
period before an abortion and ensures that women have all the facts they need before making this
very serious decision . The vote was just one shy of a veto-proof margin, so the fate of this legislation
remains uncertain.
A bill aimed at increasing confidence in our electoral system by requiring voters to present a
government-approved photo ID passed the House. The bill would allow voters without photo IDs to get
one, for free, through their local elections board.
The House passed a bill that would repeal a 2003 law that has allowed legislators to issue "special
indebtedness" in other words, borrow money without voter approval.
New political districts would be draw by non-partisan staffers rather than legislators starting in 2020,
under a bill passed by the House. Redistricting plans proposed by staff would still need the approval of
the legislature, however. This bill would not affect the once-a-decade redistricting process already
underway this year.
By a near-unanimous margin, both the Senate and the House passed a bill that lifts the 100-school cap
on public charters schools. The bill does not address the issue of fair funding for charter schools,
however.
Coming up:
On Sunday afternoon, the governor vetoed the budget the legislature passed earlier this month.
However, we are confident the budget has enough bipartisan support in the House that we can override
her veto.
Speaker Tillis has said that he hopes to finish the regular session by Thursday, so expect more swift legislative
action this week. We'll meet again for special sessions on redistricting and constitutional amendments, most
likely in July and September.
In your service,
Ruth Samuelson, Majority Whip
