Latest news with #NCHouse
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cook to challenge Brockman
HIGH POINT — High Point City Councilwoman Amanda Cook has announced plans to run for a seat in the N.C. General Assembly in next year's elections. She revealed in a social media post in March that she will seek the N.C. House of Representatives District 60 seat, currently held by state Rep. Cecil Brockman, a High Point Democrat. Candidate filing opens in December 2025 for the March 2026 primaries, with the general election to follow in November 2026. Brockman said in a text message Wednesday that he plans to seek reelection to a seventh term in the state legislature. When asked for comment on Cook's challenge, he replied, 'My only comment is this: Anyone has a right to run and anyone has a right to get beat.' A first-term council member elected in 2023, Cook holds one of the two at-large seats on High Point's governing body. She could not be reached for comment on her decision to run against Brockman, who has come under criticism from some fellow Democrats for missing votes and siding with Republicans on budget bills. Cook's website and Facebook page for her campaign contain only one apparent reference to Brockman, which she posted in announcing her candidacy: 'It's time for a representative who truly shows up and stands up for US. Let's bring change together!' Her campaign website outlines a platform of broad issues traditionally supported by Democrats. Cook's term on the council goes until December 2027. If she wins the state House seat in 2026, she would have to resign from the council, and her colleagues on the council would choose a replacement to finish her term. Brockman is the only High Point resident in the 170-member legislature. The 60th House District covers most of the city. He has defended his record, citing $40 million in state funding he helped secure for High Point needs and projects. Last year, Brockman faced a Democratic primary challenge for the first time since he won the seat in 2014. Brockman edged out a victory with 50.7% of the vote against former High Point NAACP President James Adams, then comfortably won the general election against Republican challenger Joseph Perrotta, with 63% of the vote.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$65.9 billion budget for 2025-27 passes NC Senate, heads now to the House
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The NC Budget for fiscal years 2025-2027 is on to its next hurdle, the NC House. On Thursday, leaders in the state Senate voted 30-15 in favor of the multi-billion-dollar biennium budget. Now, the budget goes to the NC House of Representatives for consideration. Republicans in the North Carolina Senate released the budget late Monday afternoon, which outlines the current leadership's top spending priorities. In total, the budget calls for spending $32.6 billion in the first year and $33.3 billion in the second year for a total of $65.9 billion. The senators unveiling the budget said they want to focus on more aid for western North Carolina and pay increases for state employees. There's also lots of talk in the budget about how to handle taxes moving forward. The budget suggests cutting the state personal income tax rate 3.49% in 2027 and 2.99% in 2028. Other highlights of the budget, according to GOP senators, include: $700 million for Helene recovery efforts An average pay increase for teachers of 2.3% in fiscal year 2025-26 and an average of 3.3% over the two years, as well as a $3,000 bonus over the same time period A 1.25% pay increase for most state employees in the first year of the budget, plus a $3,000 bonus over the two years A $3,000 bonus for local law enforcement officers over the biennium Cutting the state personal income tax rate to 3.49% in 2027 and 2.99% in 2028 Increasing support for NC Children's, a standalone hospital that will be built and run as a joint partnership between the UNC and Duke healthcare systems For more budget coverage, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC House lawmakers delay vote on bill that targets DEI within government
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – For the second day in a row, North Carolina state Republican representatives pulled a bill that would eliminate DEI from state agencies from their voting calendar. Democrats organized dozens of people to be at the General Assembly building to specifically protest this bill. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Republicans move forward bill to remove DEI practices from higher education in NC House lawmakers were scheduled to vote Wednesday on House Bill 171, which removes DEI requirements and practices from state government and agencies. Without warning, the bill was pulled from the calendar. Republican House Speaker Destin Hall said this occurred because the bill sponsor, state Rep. Brenden Jones, wasn't able to attend. Democrats said Republicans don't want to face their own constituents over the bill. 'I think it's cowardly not to face the people you represent in the state being able to actually say, 'This is why we're trying to pass this bill right now' and giving Democrats in the General Assembly an opportunity to stand up against it,' North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton said. 'But I also think this shows disunity in the Republican caucus right now for the fact they've had to delay this vote now twice when you have a majority in the state and you could do anything you want to with it right now.' Said Hall, 'I'm not aware of any member of our caucus that's even remotely considering voting no on that bill. I think it's overwhelmingly supported by our caucus and the people of our state.' It's unclear when the House will take up the bill next. The North Carolina Senate is also voting on a bill to remove DEI from public higher education on Wednesday afternoon. Democrats are urging protestors to be at the General Assembly for that vote as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Make Elevators Great Again' bill passes first reading in NC House
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A bill that seeks to adjust fees higher for inspections on elevators and 'amusement devices' has been filed in the NC House with the goal of eliminating the current backlog. House Bill 559 — which bears the name 'Make Elevators Great Again' — was filed on March 27 and is sponsored by seven Republican representatives. Authors of the bill call these changes 'modest, common-sense fee adjustments' that will empower the NC Dept. of Labor to eliminate the inspection backlog while raising inspector pay to market rates. The bill is not limited to only fees. It also has something to say about safety standards. The bill, as written, would give the Commissioner of Labor the power to waive or amend the American National Safety Standards as those standards relate to the qualifications of inspectors if the Commissioner sets 'alternative standards that are reasonably equivalent.' HB 559 seeks to repeal three general statutes that exist to cap inspection and certificate issuing fees. The already existing caps are at $200, as established in the Elevator Safety Act of North Carolina; $250 as established in the Amusement Device Safety Act of North Carolina; and $137, as established in the state's Passenger Tram Safety guidelines. What the bill seeks to add are new general statutes that would allow the Department of Labor to adjust fees each year based on the year's consumer price index. If passed, this change would begin on July 1, 2025, with the bill outlining these new cap prices: $1,000 Special, expedited inspection fee $1,000 Reinspection fee of failed new and repair/alteration $500 Routine/annual escalator and moving walk inspections $300 Routine/annual elevator inspections (10 or more floors) $300 Temporary limited certificate for construction use (10 or more floors) $200 Temporary limited certificate for construction use (Less than 10 floors) $200 Routine/annual elevator inspections (Less than 10 floors) $100 Routine/annual wheelchair lift and dumbwaiter inspections If approved, the State Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau (which conducts the inspections) would be required to publish any changes to price caps with 60 days notice in the NC Register. Other caps stipulated in the bill include inspection cap fees of $500 for roller coasters, $300 for water slides and $50 per Go Kart, among others. You can view the full bill here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC House debate on banning DEI in government delayed to Wednesday
The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Clayton Henkel) The NC House delayed a scheduled debate and floor vote on a controversial bill that would ban diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in state and local government from Tuesday to today. House Speaker Destin Hall said the bill sponsor wanted time to consider amendments to House bill 171. It prohibits schools and state and local governments from maintaining DEI offices or programs. Diversity and equity could not be considered in awarding contracts. It bans diversity training. Employees would face civil fines of up to $10,000 for infractions and could be sued for alleged violations. After Tuesday's House session, House Democratic leader Robert Reives (D-Chatham) said he hoped the bill would not reappear. 'I'm hoping that we recognize that this isn't the kind of thing we need to be concentrating on right now,' he said. 'I don't see any purpose that is served by this bill. I think the House has done an exceptionally good job this year of not getting into these kinds of issues.' Legislation on DEI and other divisive topics are a distraction from the issue of economic well-being for state residents that should be the legislature's focus, Reives said. 'There's one clear question that everybody has: Why do I have to work two or three jobs to get the same thing my parents did with one job? We keep trying to find ways to keep people distracted from that, and we've got to stop that.' In response to criticisms, Hall (R-Caldwell) maintained that DEI is illegal and unconstitutional, pointing to the 2023 US Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in college admissions. 'That same general rule, one would think, applies to hiring decisions,' Hall said.
