This Week at the Legislature
The legislature reconvened on Wednesday at noon with the goal of focusing on redistricting. Although it was stated that lawmakers may take up other issues this week, there was no discussion on school employee pay following the Governor’s veto of SB 354: Strengthening Educators’ Pay Act last Friday, November 8. Both the House and the Senate plant to adjourn today and are scheduled to reconvene on January 14.
Session Laws
The following education k-12 bills have become session law:
- HB 377: Teacher Step Act – signed into S.L. 2019-247 on Friday, November 8
- SB 199: Child Sex Abuse/Strengthen Laws – signed into S.L. 2019-245 on Thursday, November 7
- SB 522: Low-Performing Schools/Advanced Teaching Roles – became S.L. 2019-248 on Monday, November 11
- Governor Cooper did not sign this bill into session law, but instead allowed the bill to become law 10 days after it was ratified
- Click here to read the Governor’s press release explaining his opposition to SB 522
To view summaries of these three bills, click here to access our 2019 Legislative Summary. You can also access the summary by going to the NCSBA.org website: click on the green square in the middle of the page labeled “Governmental Relations” and select “8. 2019 Legislative Summary” from the menu on the left side of the page.
Mini Budgets
So far this session, 16 mini budget bills have been signed into session law by the Governor. Over the past two weeks, the Governor signed the following mini budget bills into session law:
- HB 377: Teacher Step Act
- HB 399: Extend Tax Credits/Other Finance Changes
- SB 61: Community Colleges Budget/2019-2021 Biennium
- SB 557: Various Finance Law Changes
The Governor vetoed the following mini budget bills:
- HB 231: UNC & Comm. Coll. Pay/Retiree Bonus
- HB 398: Info. Tech. Budget/2019-2021 Fiscal Biennium
- SB 354: Strengthening Educators’ Pay Act
- SB 578: Reduce Franchise Tax/Expand Film Grants
Public Policy Conference – Advocating for Students
January 23-24
Raleigh, NC
Early bird rate: $250 – After January 3: $325
- Transforming an Education Culture – Tips & Tools to Improve Teacher Recruitment, Retention, & Effectiveness
- How to Maximize Educational Attainment & Economic Alignment
- Outside the Box Approach to Effective Advocacy
- Personalized Learning: Hear from a Principal Who Implemented the Program & Eliminated A-F Student Grades
- What’s Trending at the Legislature
State Board of Education Meeting – November 5-7
The State Board of Education met last week for three days at the North Carolina A&T State University Student Center. This month’s meeting consisted of the monthly meeting schedule and votes, as well as the fall planning work sessions. Board members and advisors heard presentations concerning shifting demographics in NC and the US that are changing common perceptions of public-school students, the School Justice Partnership, and how North Edgecombe High School’s principal is striving to address students’ needs with equity. The Board was also presented with the monthly Innovative School District (ISD) update, which included a summary of SB 522: Low-Perf. Schools/Adv. Teaching Roles (S.L. 2019-248) and a list of 69 qualifying schools. Click here to access the presentation.
Click here to access all Board materials.
Leanne E. Winner
Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919) 747-6686
Bruce Mildwurf
Associate Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919) 747-6692
Richard Bostic
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919) 747-6677
Rebekah Howard
Governmental Relations Research Specialist
N.C. School Boards Association
(919) 747-6688