Civitas Action will grade House Bill 402 in the Legislative Freedom Rankings because it curbs excessive rulemaking by unelected bureaucrats and ensures rules with substantial economic impact are debated and approved by legislators accountable to the people. Unchecked red tape hampers economic growth, stifles innovation, and often restricts actions that should be free from government interference....
House Bill 44: Const. Amendment/Repeal Literacy Test will remove the archaic requirement currently in the NC Constitution, which states, “Every person presenting himself for registration shall be able to read and write any section of the Constitution in the English language.” On the surface, there is no racial intent behind that clause. However, we know that the...
SB 630: Constitutional Amendment/Citizens-Only Voting will add much-needed clarity to the North Carolina Constitution, affirming that only United States citizens have the right to vote in our elections. If passed, the bill would propose a constitutional change that would require a vote of the people. The change would state that “Only a citizen of the United States”...
Civitas Action to Grade HB 1074: Constitutional Amendment/Citizens-Only Voting HB 1074: Constitutional Amendment/Citizens-Only Voting will add much-needed clarity to the North Carolina Constitution, affirming that only United States citizens have the right to vote in our elections. If passed, the bill would propose a constitutional change that would require a vote of the people. The change would...
SB737/HB750: Address ESG Factors aims to tackle the use of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria by state agencies and state pension plan fiduciaries. There is a growing concern about the increasing use of ESG criteria to influence state investments and employment decisions. SB737 and HB750 are an essential step towards ensuring that state agencies and...
SB325: Limit Online Marketplace Regulations is a good piece of regulatory reform legislation that is based on free market principles. Businesses and consumers should be allowed to operate, innovate, and exchange goods without unnecessary and arbitrary government interference at the local level, which this bill addresses. SB325 recognizes the importance of online marketplaces as a tool...
SB 406/HB 823 Choose Your School, Choose Your Future are companion bills that are massive advancements for school choice in North Carolina! In part, these bills would remove income eligibility requirements for the Opportunity Scholarship Program and reward scholarships on a sliding scale. Household income would still determine the size of the scholarship to ensure that students needing it the most...
HB 618: Charter School Review Board would shift the authority to approve charters from the State Board of Education to the newly created Charter Schools Review Board. Under the Proposed plan, applicants to the Review Board can appeal decisions to the State Board of Education. In doing so, this bill has the potential to remove barriers and bureaucratic animosity towards school...
HB 756: Standards Advisory Commission creates the State Course of Study Advisory Commission. The purpose is to involve stakeholders in establishing a standard course of study and to make recommendations to the State Board of Education. Twenty members will be on the committee, 16 of the appointments will be made by the General Assembly to make recommendations to the...
HB 409: Regulation of Accessory Dwelling Units would allow ADUs, sometimes called mother-in-law suites or granny flats, by-right across the state. The bill would remove local regulations that make ADU impractical, such as owner-occupancy requirements, parking minimums, and conditional-use zoning. Local governments would still be allowed to regulate ADUs so long as they do not...
S.B.669: Solar Decommissioning Requirements solves a crucial problem: what to do with solar panels once their service life is over, and who is responsible? Unlike carbon-free baseload nuclear power facilities, which have a lifespan upwards of 80 years, solar panels require replacing around approximately 25 years. As North Carolina remains in the top 3 states for...
S.B. 678: Promote Clean Energy would amend the N.C. General Statutes to correct the definition of “renewable energy” to “clean energy,” adding nuclear power to this definition. Nuclear power is the most efficient and reliable carbon-free energy source available. N.C.’s nuclear operators have a proven track record for safety and maintaining the reliability of the...
SB 512: Greater Accountability for Boards/Commissions helps provide a check on unchallenged power of the governor’s office to single-handedly appoint allies onto these highly influential boards and commissions. Regardless of party, heathy tension among the branches of government providing checks and balances is good for policymaking. In particular, SB 512 takes critical first steps to reform the...
While the state budget in its entirety will not be graded for the Civitas Action Freedom Rankings, we do intend to grade floor amendments, in both chambers, that have a relevant impact on the economic prosperity of North Carolinians and an impact on freedom. Floor amendments that will be considered for grading will include, but not be...
HB 146: Taxpayer Protection Act contains a policy that is sometimes referred to as a “taxpayer bill of rights” or TABOR. Specifically, H.B. 146 would amend the North Carolina Constitution by adding a new article to limit the state’s annual budget growth to the sum of annual inflation plus the state’s population growth. Since 2013, conservative budget writers...