Each quarter the North Carolina Homebuilders Association hosts a quarterly meeting for the state associations. This year the Q2 meeting in Raleigh during “crossover” week, where bills go from House to Senate. This tends to be a busy and bustling week! However, it’s also a week where decisions are being made and passed.
Key Conversations and Housing Bills at the State Level
HB 765 was a big one this year. We met with Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, Sen. Kevin Corbin, Sen. Julie Mayfield, and Sen. Tim Moffitt. Others who were on our schedule but had to attend caucus meetings or committee meetings are Rep. Eric Ager, Rep Mark Pless, Rep. Lindsey Prather, and Rep. Jake Johnson. That’s how this week usually goes since it’s busy. We are always grateful for the time to speak with legislators, and understand their schedules are fluid this week.
Some of our members at Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains and I (Sarah, Advocacy & Community Engagement Director) were able to attend the State Housing & Development Committee meeting on SB 765 and SB 661. The folks from our association in the room were Brian Sineath :Sineath Construction, Jay Cope: Semper Fi Construction, Nick Scroggs: Scroggs Construction, and Brandon Bryant: Alair Asheville. We heard the PCS (Proposed Committee Substitute, similar to an amendment) of the bill, the opposition, and the vote to send it to the House Floor.
It’s also tradition to stop and say hello to the Liberty Llama while moving back and forth between legislative buildings. (pics below)
Short Details of (Controversial) bill HB 765 (Local Gov’t Development Regulations Omnibus) are:
*Improves access to land for more housing through reasonable density zoning to prevent sprawl and preserve NC Farmland
*Stops Regulatory Overreach that drives up housing costs
*Corrects review delays and sets hard deadlines
*Makes housing development more predictable
*Provides accountability for laws adopted by the General Assembly
*Improves Infrastructure Certainty for new housing
SB 661 Building Industry Efficiency Act
*Establishes “Right to Repair”
*Standardized local street and pedestrian requirements
*Contractor licensing board change
As a part of your 3-in-1 membership, you are a member of the State Association. We are grateful for that staff in Raleigh sending us updates via “Cliffs Notes” “Advocacy Call to actions,” and the “Monday Morning Briefing”. It is a busy season for sure in our State Capitol.
