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Here's a breakdown of issues tackled by state lawmakers during the short 2006 legislative session:
PASSED:
- MINIMUM WAGE: After the issue appeared dead last year, lawmakers revived and approved a $1 boost the minimum wage by $1 to $6.15 an hour. It was the first raise since 1997.
- BUDGET: The $18.9 billion budget partially cut two "temporary" taxes first approved in 2001, dropping the state sales tax by a quarter-penny and the individual income tax rate for the highest wage earners from 8.25 percent to 8 percent. Lawmakers also agreed to cap the gas tax at 29.9 cents per gallon. Republicans wanted the temporary taxes to expire completely and actually reduce the gas tax.
- MORE SPENDING: Thanks largely to a $2 billion surplus, lawmakers increased state spending by about 10 percent from last fiscal year, giving large portions to education, the court system, building construction and emergency reserves. Some GOP leaders who voted against the budget said Democrats spent too much, which could lead to a shortfall in 2007.
- MENTAL HEALTH: Five years after a mental health reform bill passed the Legislature, lawmakers gave at least $75 million to help improve community health services. The budget also contained the issuance of new debt to replace psychiatric hospitals in Goldsboro and Morganton.
- PAY RAISES: Teachers received an average 8 percent raise, part of Gov. Mike Easley's push to increase average teacher pay above the national average by 2008. State employees earned a salary increase of 5.5 percent.
- LANDFILL MORATORIUM: Environmental advocates secured a one-year moratorium on new landfills, giving the state time to assess how the trash would affect North Carolina's waterways and habitats.
- SEX OFFENDERS: Lawmakers voted to prohibit registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school or daycare center, and approved a provision that would keep offenders from working or volunteering where they would interact with minors. Some of the worst predators face lifetime satellite monitoring. However, the bill didn't contain mandatory 25-year sentencing for sex crimes against children under the age of 12.
- DWI LAWS: A crack down on people caught driving while impaired passed two years after a special state panel studied the issue. While increasing the penalties for some offenses, the reforms also reach to judges, prosecutors and district attorneys to get more drunken driving convictions.
- ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Lawmakers required state agencies to verify the legal status of all new employees. Motorists also will need to produce a valid Social Security number to acquire a driver's license.
- INNOCENCE COMMISSION: If Gov. Mike Easley agrees, North Carolina will become the first state in the nation to adopt an innocence commission with the authority to overturn wrongful convictions.
- STORMWATER RULES: After years of legal and administrative battles, the Legislature approved new rules to oversee how stormwater runoff is managed in more than 150 small- and medium-sized communities.
- TEENAGE TALKERS: Legislators voted to bar motorists under the age of 18 from using a cell phone while driving. If caught, teens could face a $25 fine and a six-month extension on their graduated license.
- SEAT BELTS: All passengers must now use safety belts, even if they're sitting in the back seat. North Carolina law had allowed passengers over the age of 16 to ride without a seat belt in the back seat.
- EMINENT DOMAIN: Stopping short of a constitutional amendment, legislators adopted a measure that would clarify state law to prohibit government agencies from taking someone's land for economic development.
- ELECTIONS: Up to 20 communities could test out "instant runoff" elections over the next two years in a pilot project. Third parties such as the Libertarians will have to meet a lower threshold to remain on the ballot. Legislators also beefed up campaign disclosure requirements for "527" groups.
- SMOKING BAN: Fearing for the health of workers and student observers, legislators outlawed smoking in General Assembly buildings.
- VIDEO PROGRAMMING: Cable television service will be deregulated in a move supporters hope will lead to new programming choices and lower rates.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: All schools will have to provide students a daily opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Lawmakers approved the largest rewrite of the Bill Lee Act in 10 years, authorized twice as much money this year for job-creation grants and placed tighter reins on seven regional economic booster groups after critical state audits on two of them.
Here's a breakdown of issues tackled by state lawmakers during the short 2006 legislative session:
PASSED:
- MINIMUM WAGE: After the issue appeared dead last year, lawmakers revived and approved a $1 boost the minimum wage by $1 to $6.15 an hour. It was the first raise since 1997.
- BUDGET: The $18.9 billion budget partially cut two "temporary" taxes first approved in 2001, dropping the state sales tax by a quarter-penny and the individual income tax rate for the highest wage earners from 8.25 percent to 8 percent. Lawmakers also agreed to cap the gas tax at 29.9 cents per gallon. Republicans wanted the temporary taxes to expire completely and actually reduce the gas tax.
- MORE SPENDING: Thanks largely to a $2 billion surplus, lawmakers increased state spending by about 10 percent from last fiscal year, giving large portions to education, the court system, building construction and emergency reserves. Some GOP leaders who voted against the budget said Democrats spent too much, which could lead to a shortfall in 2007.
- MENTAL HEALTH: Five years after a mental health reform bill passed the Legislature, lawmakers gave at least $75 million to help improve community health services. The budget also contained the issuance of new debt to replace psychiatric hospitals in Goldsboro and Morganton.
- PAY RAISES: Teachers received an average 8 percent raise, part of Gov. Mike Easley's push to increase average teacher pay above the national average by 2008. State employees earned a salary increase of 5.5 percent.
- LANDFILL MORATORIUM: Environmental advocates secured a one-year moratorium on new landfills, giving the state time to assess how the trash would affect North Carolina's waterways and habitats.
- SEX OFFENDERS: Lawmakers voted to prohibit registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school or daycare center, and approved a provision that would keep offenders from working or volunteering where they would interact with minors. Some of the worst predators face lifetime satellite monitoring. However, the bill didn't contain mandatory 25-year sentencing for sex crimes against children under the age of 12.
- DWI LAWS: A crack down on people caught driving while impaired passed two years after a special state panel studied the issue. While increasing the penalties for some offenses, the reforms also reach to judges, prosecutors and district attorneys to get more drunken driving convictions.
- ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Lawmakers required state agencies to verify the legal status of all new employees. Motorists also will need to produce a valid Social Security number to acquire a driver's license.
- INNOCENCE COMMISSION: If Gov. Mike Easley agrees, North Carolina will become the first state in the nation to adopt an innocence commission with the authority to overturn wrongful convictions.
- STORMWATER RULES: After years of legal and administrative battles, the Legislature approved new rules to oversee how stormwater runoff is managed in more than 150 small- and medium-sized communities.
- TEENAGE TALKERS: Legislators voted to bar motorists under the age of 18 from using a cell phone while driving. If caught, teens could face a $25 fine and a six-month extension on their graduated license.
- SEAT BELTS: All passengers must now use safety belts, even if they're sitting in the back seat. North Carolina law had allowed passengers over the age of 16 to ride without a seat belt in the back seat.
- EMINENT DOMAIN: Stopping short of a constitutional amendment, legislators adopted a measure that would clarify state law to prohibit government agencies from taking someone's land for economic development.
- ELECTIONS: Up to 20 communities could test out "instant runoff" elections over the next two years in a pilot project. Third parties such as the Libertarians will have to meet a lower threshold to remain on the ballot. Legislators also beefed up campaign disclosure requirements for "527" groups.
- SMOKING BAN: Fearing for the health of workers and student observers, legislators outlawed smoking in General Assembly buildings.
- VIDEO PROGRAMMING: Cable television service will be deregulated in a move supporters hope will lead to new programming choices and lower rates.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: All schools will have to provide students a daily opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Lawmakers approved the largest rewrite of the Bill Lee Act in 10 years, authorized twice as much money this year for job-creation grants and placed tighter reins on seven regional economic booster groups after critical state audits on two of them.
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