House Bill 4, Extend ABC Permit Renewal Fee Deferral, defends the freedom of North Carolina business owners by preventing burdensome fees on them at a time when the government has shut down their businesses. Civitas Action believes the vote for freedom is a vote YES on HB4. When the governor shut down businesses in response to the...
Senate Bill 37, In-Person Learning Choice for Families, expands freedom for North Carolina families by requiring that government-run schools offer an option for students to receive in person instruction. Civitas Action believes the vote for freedom is a vote YES on SB37. Some students across the state have been out of school since March 2020 – nearly...
House Bill 1080, Revenue Laws Recommendations, would make several mostly technical changes to North Carolina revenue laws. While there are many provisions, most of which would have minimal impact, one provision of the bill overshadows all the rest and makes this a bad bill. Section 7.4 includes a provision to extend the sunset for the...
House Bill 1225, Education & Transportation Bond Act of 2020, is a $3.1 billion bond package that would borrow money to finance school construction and transportation projects. It is more prudent to spend money that is on hand instead of borrowing, which burdens future taxpayers and crowds out future revenue that could finance core government...
Senate Bill 599, Open Skating Rinks/Bowling Alleys, would allow skating rinks and bowling alleys to re-open with several strict health safeguards. This circumvents “Phase 2” of Gov. Cooper’s Executive Order which prohibits such establishments from opening. Health safeguards include limiting the facilities to 50% capacity, regular disinfecting of equipment, and employees wearing masks. Business owners...
House Bill 594, Temporary Open Gyms/Health Clubs/Fitness Centers, would allow gyms and fitness centers to re-open with several strict health safeguards, as well as treat bars equally with restaurants, and circumvent “Phase 2” of Gov. Cooper’s Executive Order which prohibits such establishments from opening. Health safeguards include limiting the gyms to 50% capacity, regular disinfecting...
HB 399 extends and expands various tax credits and makes finance law changes that in sum, harm the overall economy of North Carolina. Among other things, HB 399 would specifically allow an income exclusion for distributions from IRAs to charities; would allow an income tax deduction for amounts received as a JDIG, JMAC or OneNC...
Senate Bill 578, Reduce Franchise Tax/Expand Film Grants, is a net positive for the economy of North Carolina. SB 578 lowers the state’s franchise tax, which is defined as a tax on a company’s “net worth.” The franchise tax essentially serves as a penalty for doing business in North Carolina. Reducing the franchise tax encourages...
HB 74, the Taxpayer Refund Act, would provide refunds to taxpayers up to a maximum of $125 for individual and $250 for a married couple. Counting administration costs, the refund program would use approximately $663 million dollars or almost three-quarters of the revenue surplus and distribute it to 5.1 million taxpayers. The refunds will not...
Senate Bill 683, Combat Absentee Ballot Fraud, is an attempt to address absentee ballot fraud in North Carolina. Its primary reform is cutting political operatives off from information about which voters will receive absentee ballots. It does this through two means. First, the bill makes absentee ballot requests private until Election Day. Absentee ballot requests...
House Bill 131 would repeal the Transportation Corridor Official Map Act. The Map Act, as the statute is commonly known, prohibits an owner of property located within a designated corridor map from making any changes to their property. A corridor map outlines area designated for possible future highway construction. Some landowners have been prevented from...
While the state budget in its entirety will not be graded for the Civitas Action Freedom Rankings, we do intend to grade floor amendments that have a relevant impact on North Carolina’s free markets, school choice, and other issue related to freedom. Floor amendments that will be considered for grading will include, but not be...
Senate Bill 622, Tax Reduction Act of 2019, would make several changes to North Carolina’s tax code, and result in a net tax reduction. The most significant provisions include a reduction in the franchise tax, and an increase in the standard deduction for individual tax filers. Reducing the franchise tax helps encourage greater capital investment...
Senate Bill 609, K-12 Scholarship Changes, expands the eligibility requirements for the state’s parental choice programs. The bill: Simplifies the eligibility requirements for children with disabilities to qualify for a state scholarship. Allows gifted 4-year-olds — who are mature enough to enter kindergarten early — and enter special needs scholarship programs Eliminates the requirement that...
Civitas to Grade Vote on Bill to Aid Charter Schools – SB522 Senate Bill 522, Various Changes to Charter School Laws, makes several changes beneficial to the operation of charter schools. First, the legislation would eliminate the prohibition on local tax dollars being used to buy buildings or other facilities. Currently, charter schools receive no...