Dear Friends,
Welcome back from the long holiday weekend. We hope you had a great time enjoying the wonderful outdoors, which are able to stay beautiful and clean thanks to local and statewide regulations.
This morning, the House Regulatory Reform Committee approved a new PCS for SB 112, now named ”Create Jobs Through Regulatory Reform,” which greatly expands the reach of the original bill. Two of the new provisions cause us grave concern for the environmental and public health of North Carolina and local areas.
- First, this PCS adds the components of HB 74, which we strongly oppose, that would require the periodic review and expiration of existing rules. Any rule that is not reviewed during a ten year period would expire, which places an extraordinary burden on agencies, the Rules Review Commission, the regulated public, and other stakeholders. With the large number of existing rules, it is possible that some may be overlooked, which poses a severe threat to federally delegated programs such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and RCRA.
- Second, the new version of the bill contains language originally in SB 612 relating to local government preemption. Current law allows cities and counties to impose stricter environmental, health, or zoning regulations than the state or federal government. Under the proposed change, however, the local governments would be stripped of their power to regulate any environmental field under the control of a number of environmental agencies to the degree of strictness their citizens demand. This is of particular concern to coastal communities, whose stricter water level requirements are currently keeping them from being overtaken by the sea.
We will be keeping a close eye on this bill as it moves its way through the House. Below is an updated list of currently active legislation that we oppose or support. As always, feel free to e-mail us at logan@nclcv.org, michael@nclcv.org, ordan@nclcv.org with any questions.
Best,
Michael and Logan | michael@nclcv.org, logan@nclcv.org
OPPOSE
HB74 PERIODIC REVIEW AND EXPIRATION OF RULES
HB94 AMEND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS | SB112
HB201 REINSTATE 2009 ENERGY CONSERVATION CODES
HB1011 GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION AND EFFICIENCY ACT
SB112 CREATE JOBS THROUGH REGULATORY REFORM | HB94
SB151 COASTAL POLICY REFORM ACT OF 2013
SB163 PROTECT LANDOWNERS’ WATER RIGHTS
SB328 SOLID WASTE REFORM ACT OF 2013
SB515 JORDAN LAKE WATER QUALITY ACT
SB612 REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2013
SB677 CORPORATE INCOME TAX REDUCTION & REFORM
SB710 FAIR SHARE CONTRIBUTION FOR ELECT. VEHICLES
SUPPORT
HB401 EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY RATES
HB440 NORTH CAROLINA BENEFIT CORPORATION ACT
HB573 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FEE USES
SB706 EXTEND RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDIT CARRYOVER
The HotList is a weekly email the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) sends out during session where we talk about relevant legislation and share information on key environmental issues as they come before the General Assembly. While primarily intended for elected representatives, the HotList is also made public to any and all who are concerned about the environment.
