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2021 Farm Act Approved by North Carolina House

Today the North Carolina House approved the North Carolina Farm Act to support agriculture communities across North Carolina.

The North Carolina Farm Act of 2021-22 represents the crucial role of farming families, with various changes to laws applicable to agriculture, forestry, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The Farm Act includes the following key reforms:

  • Clarifies that a local government may either make decisions about establishment and modification of voluntary agricultural districts or delegate that authority to an agricultural advisory board.
  • Allows local governments to grant agricultural advisory boards the authority to execute agreements with landowners necessary for enrollment of land in a voluntary agricultural district.
  • Allows magistrates to waive trials for state forest rule offenses.
  • Exempts fires started for cooking, warming, or ceremonial events from open burning laws.
  • Modifies overtime policy for North Carolina Forest Service employees/
  • Increases punishment for timber larceny and increase civil penalties for damaging timber or agricultural commodities.
  • Requires timber buyers to provide a wood load ticket to sellers of certain wood products.
  • Expands the laws enforced by the Department of Agriculture and consumer services law enforcement officers.
  • Creates a new general permit for farms with farm digester systems.
  • Requires production of electronic records for Department of Agriculture and consumer services record audits.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said, “North Carolina agriculture sustains our communities, provides a source of wellness and good health to North Carolina families, and is an essential driver to the economic health of our state.”

He continued, “The General Assembly acknowledges the vital role that farmers play in our communities and we will continue to support them.”

Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R- Duplin) said, “We know that agriculture is number one in our state, and this bill is a common-sense approach to maintaining a safe, economical, sustainable supply of food in North Carolina.”

The bill is now returned to the Senate.

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House Passes SB 173, “Free the Smiles Act”

Today the House passed SB 173, the “Free the Smiles Act.”
 
The bill gives local school boards the authority to determine masking policies for students in their district.
 
The bill would also require school boards to define their masking policies by an August 1 deadline. If no policy has been adopted by the deadline, students will not be required to mask. If a masking policy has been adopted by that deadline, the policy must be reconsidered for a vote each month.
 
House Speaker Tim Moore said, “North Carolina students deserve a safe learning environment in which they can thrive, but what works for one school district may not work well for another. One-size-fits-all mandates are not the answer. Local school boards, with input from parents and teachers, are best suited to do determine what works best for their own students.”
 
Rep. David Willis, said, “I am thankful for the support of our leadership and my fellow House members who voted for this bill. Our students deserve the right to remove their masks in school. The sooner they can get back to normal, the sooner they can begin to put the strain of this past year behind them. It is time to ‘Free The Smiles!'”
 
The bill will now go back to the Senate for concurrence.
 
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House Speaker Tim Moore Responds to Governor Cooper’s Veto of SB 43

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore responded Friday to Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of SB 43 with the following statement:
 
“Today Governor Cooper vetoed SB 43, a bill to ‘Protect Religious Meeting Places.’ Senate Bill 43 passed through the House with veto-proof margins. It is a narrowly targeted legislation that simply allows North Carolinians to exercise their Second Amendment rights at a religious meeting place that is also the location of a school, as long as it is outside school operating hours.”
 
Speaker Moore continued, “North Carolina must always be steadfast in protecting our Second Amendment rights and our religious liberty.”
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NEWS: House Speaker Tim Moore Responds to Consensus Revenue Forecast for N.C.

House Speaker Tim Moore responded Tuesday to consensus revenue forecasts released by North Carolina’s nonpartisan budget agencies.

Today the Consensus Revised Revenue Forecast was presented to the Joint Full Chairs Appropriations/ Finance.

Analysts for both the General Assembly’s nonpartisan Fiscal Research Division and the Office of State Budget and Management predicted expect an estimated $6.04 billion in overcollections when compared to the May 2020 forecast, with total GF revenue up 13.6%, individual income tax is up to 12.6%, and sales and use tax is up 14.5% with corporate and franchise tax up 35.4%.

Expected growth over the biennium is estimated at 8% with FY 2021-22 shift-adjusted growth expected to be 4.5% and FY 2022-23 growth 3.4%.

The forecast projected a new $2.354 billion in recurring funds over the February revenue forecast for next year and $2.245 billion for FY 2022-23 compared to the February revenue forecast.

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said in a statement:

“There is no question that the strength of North Carolina’s economic outlook is proof that Republican policies work, and it is no coincidence that our state is the number two destination for Americans fleeing other states with bleak economic outlooks. North Carolina’s overall fiscal policy has set the stage for a commitment to conservative tax policies and we will continue to work collaboratively with the Governor and the Senate to keep our state on an upward trajectory of economic growth.”

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HB 453 Passes Through Senate, Heads to Governor for Signature

Today the North Carolina Senate passed House Bill 453, the Human Life Nondiscrimination Act/ No Eugenics.
 
In a statement, House Speaker Tim Moore said, “The unborn are the most vulnerable among us and should not be discriminated against based on a presumptive in-utero diagnosis. This violates natural law and robs society of the blessing each and every child is to all of us.”
 
He continued, “No child should have to be ‘screened’ to be given the chance to live.”
 
House Bill 453 now goes to the governor’s desk for signature.
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NEWS: General Assembly Leaders Announce Agreement on State Budget Total

North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) today announced an agreement on next year’s budget total.
 
General Fund spending for the fiscal year 2021-22 will not exceed $25.7 billion, a 3.45% increase in spending. The fiscal year 2022-23 expenditures will increase by 3.65%, to not exceed $26.7 billion.
 

In a joint statement, Sen. Berger and Speaker Moore said, “This agreement builds on the last decade of responsible Republican-led budgets resulting in a boom decade that put North Carolina on a strong trajectory to recover from the recession. As we work out the details of the budget, we intend to fulfill our commitment to balance the budget while saving for future needs and cutting taxes for the vast majority of residents.

“The agreement dedicates at least $4.2 billion in new capital spending funded through the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund to support critical needs across the state, including several transformational projects.”

Along with the topline budget figure, budget writers have agreed to terms that replenish the state’s “Rainy Day Fund,” significantly reduce taxes, and fund the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund. House and Senate budget writers have also agreed that their budgets will not include a bond or Medicaid expansion.
 
The latest projections from the nonpartisan Fiscal Research Division estimate revenues will total $27.4 billion next year.
 
The $25.7 billion figure does not include payments for the state’s debt service, which will come from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund.
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NC House Passes SB 116 to Get North Carolina Back to Work

Today the North Carolina House of Representatives passed SB 116, the “Get North Carolina Back to Work Act” in a 71-36 overwhelming bipartisan vote.
 
The bill would make unemployment benefits non-taxable income and withdraw our state from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Agreement (FPUC.)
 
“This bill is the way to restore strength in our economy, and finally move forward, to put this pandemic in the rear view mirror,” said House Speaker Tim Moore.
 
He continued, “This is a common-sense, reasonable approach to taking care of the people of this state, businesses, and the overall economy of this state.”
 
Click here for the Speaker’s floor speech in its entirety.
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NC House Moves to Get North Carolina Back to Work

SB 116, the “Get North Carolina Back to Work Act,” would make unemployment benefits non-taxable income and withdraw our state from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Agreement (FPUC.)
 
“North Carolina businesses have reached their tipping point. While workers are being incentivized by the federal government to stay home, many business owners have cited the additional $300 per-week federal unemployment benefits as a prime reason why they can’t hire,” said Speaker Tim Moore.
 
He continued, “The bottom line is if we want to truly get our economy back on track and thriving again, we cannot continue punishing businesses in the name of helping individuals. We need a more holistic approach.”
 
The House will vote on SB 116 today.
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North Carolina House Passes COVID Relief Bill (S172)

Yesterday the NC House of Representatives passed the 2021 COVID-19 Response and Relief bill with overwhelming bipartisan support.
 
The COVID-19 Response and Relief bill is focused on getting federal dollars where they are most needed in our state. Of the $6.4 billon total appropriated, $556,611,000 has been designated for rental assistance and $805,767,400 toward child care stabilization grants.
 
A total of $3,224,272,535 is designated for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, plus $21,500,000 allotted to charter and residential schools.
 
Local governments will receive a total of $705.4 million. A breakdown of how that total is allocated by county can be found here.
 
“As North Carolina and the rest of the country move forward and rebuild in the wake of a global pandemic, these are needed funds that will get businesses back on track and the economy moving in the right direction. The passage of S172 will ensure that these federal dollars get to those North Carolina businesses and citizens who need it,” commented Speaker of the House Tim Moore.
 
Senate Bill 172 will now be sent to the governor for his signature.
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Office of Speaker Moore Adds Demi Dowdy as Director of Communications

Raleigh, N.C. – The Office of North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) is pleased to announce that Demi Dowdy has joined the Speaker’s Office as Director of Communications.
 
Dowdy is a first generation Cuban-American and lives in Harnett County. She brings 12 years of policy and communications experience, including three years as Communications Director for the Civitas Institute (now John Locke Foundation) here in Raleigh.
 
Dowdy is also a gifted columnist who has been featured in Town Hall, the Daily Caller, and more.
 
All future press inquiries will be directed to Demi Dowdy.
 
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