The North Carolina General Assembly concluded their policy-making efforts for the 2024 legislative short session. While they have scheduled several dates to reconvene later this summer and fall, limited items will be allowed to be considered during these sessions.
Typically, the short session isn’t meant to have as many substantive policy debates as the odd-year long session, but this year saw less activity than most short session years.
By the numbers:
8 bills vetoed by the Governor.
3 vetoes have been overridden thus far by the legislature.
30 bills became law (This does not include local bills and other appointment bills that don’t require gubernatorial action). Of those, 1 bill became law without the Governor’s signature.
Child Care: The General Assembly approved $67.5 million in stop gap funding for six months to help child care centers at risk of closing after pandemic-era federal grants expired at the end of June.
PFAS: House Bill 864: PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability has been postponed. This bill would have granted the state Department of Environmental Quality the authority to compel businesses identified as “responsible parties” to reimburse public water systems for the “actual and necessary costs” incurred in removing or mitigating contamination.
Additionally, an amendment aimed at prohibiting the use of PFAS in food packaging also failed to pass this legislative session.
PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals, often referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment and potential for bioaccumulation.
Appointments: Charlotte Attorney Todd Brown was confirmed by the NC House and NC Senate and will be sworn in this fall as a Special Judge to the NC Business Court.
TPLI: No legislation has been passed regarding third parties making the civil justice system an investment market.
TPLI is a practice in which an external party provides financial support to one of the parties involved in a legal dispute.
Tax: The due date has been extended for corporate income tax returns, which will be implemented through an administrative rule change in the next 90-180 days. This will lessen the number of amended returns submitted to the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
Infrastructure: H198: DOT Legislative Changes passed this session following a veto-override. The bill supports enabling the full utilization of Build NC Bonds, allowing projects to proceed without delay or further cost increases.
Criminal Justice Reform: Criminal justice reform measure S565: Revise Automatic Expunction passed and will help create opportunities for justice-involved individuals to reengage in the workforce by lifting the pause on automated expunctions for not guilty/dismissed cases.
Housing: S166: 2024 Bldg. Code Regulatory Reform, which would address challenges to housing availability, passed the NC House and Senate but was vetoed by the Governor. If overridden, the bill will modernize development regulations, including building codes, construction and contracting regulation, and environmental regulations.
The GBA and the NC Chamber look forward to working with North Carolina’s elected leaders in the upcoming long session to continue elevating our competitive business climate.