Legislative Update
Very, very busy week in Raleigh as the crossover deadline is May 9
th
. That means if a bill does not make it through either the Senate or the House by that date, it’s dead for the session, unless the bill contains a money component.
It’s our understanding that House bills 483 and 486 were both discussed in the House Republican caucus on Tuesday afternoon. According to what we heard, there was no appetite for moving either bill forward. Since then, however, we hear rumblings that some want the caucus to reconsider one of the bills. Caucus meetings are behind closed doors and the deliberations are held rather tight, so all we can do is sit back and wait.
On Tuesday afternoon in the House Environment Committee in discussions of an environmental bill, an amendment was offered by Rep. Jimmy Dixon and Pat McElraft that provides oversight on fisheries issues by the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources. NCFA has been attempting to get back to the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood & Aquaculture which was disbanded in 2011, but that effort won’t get any traction. What this measure does is provide legislative oversight to marine fisheries issues. NCFA agrees with this measure and thanks Representatives Dixon and McElraft for bringing it forward. The bill itself is H-479 and passed the House and sent to the Senate.
On the Senate side, S-554 and S-648 were discussed in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday. It was discussion only with Senator Norman Sanderson giving an excellent overview of the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997. Speaking in favor of the bill were Jerry Schill for NCFA, Joy Hicks of DEQ and Nancy Fish of DMF. David Sneed of CCA offered negative comments about the bill. On Thursday morning the Committee met again and passed both bills with no opposition. They now move to the Senate Rules Committee which will take them up next week if they are to meet the crossover deadline.
Also, on Tuesday evening, H-169, the bill to make the Loggerhead Sea Turtle the official state reptile, was approved by the House and now goes to the Senate. Representative Larry Yarborough, who just cannot resist making negative comments about anything involving nets, made some out of line and inaccurate comments on the House floor. We have the transcript of his comments and will provide them upon request.
Jerry
H-169
, the bill to make the Loggerhead Sea Turtle the state reptile passed the House and sent to the Senate.
H-483: LET THEM SPAWN
Voted favorably 11-3 in Wildlife Resources on April 16; now in Rules.
Would require minimum size limits on all species to ensure 75% of juvenile fish of each species have an opportunity to reach maturity and spawn at least once. We understand it was discussed in Republican caucus but unsure of status.
NCFA OPPOSES H-483
H-486 COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE REFORMS
Voted favorably 6-4 in Wildlife Resources on April 16; now in Finance.
This is similar to a bill filed last year, but it died in committee. This bill would eliminate the RCGL or recreational commercial gear license, would only allow one standard commercial license per person with person including corporation; doubles the license fees. We understand it was discussed in Republican caucus but unsure of status.
NCFA OPPOSES H-486
S-517: PROTECT THE MILITARY/FISHERIES/TOURISM;
by Senator Peterson
No action this week. In the Senate Rules Committee.
Would prohibit offshore drilling. Same as H-545 below.
S-554: MARINE FISHERIES REFORMS;
by Senators Sanderson, Brown, Tillman and Steinburg
Discussed this week in the Senate Ag Committee and passed. Now in Rules.
This is a bill that began as a meeting of several stakeholder groups, including NCFA, with DEQ/DMF. In NCFA’s opinion, the bill as introduced needs to be modified.
Very similar to H-860 introduced this week and explained below.
S-648: SUPPORT SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE;
by Senators Sanderson, Rabon and Steinburg
Discussed this week in the Senate Ag Committee and passed. Now in Rules.
This is a result of many meetings with a variety of stakeholders. Similar to H-809.
H-545: PROTECT THE MILITARY/FISHERIES/TOURISM;
by Rep. Harrison, Martin, Russell and others
No action this week: In the House Rules Committee. Same as S-517 above.
H-598: BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN AS STATE MARINE MAMMAL
by Reps Hanig, Grange and others.
Passed the House and sent to the Senate. In the Senate Rules Committee.
H-597: WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION AMENDS;
sponsored by Adams, Henson, Wray, Yarborough and others.
Substantially raises license fees and makes changes in proclamation authority.
Passed the House Wildlife Resources Committee; now in Finance.
H-809: SUPPORT SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE;
McElraft, Yarborough, Shepard, Harrison and others.
Similar to S-648 mentioned above. In House Environment Committee.
H-810: MARINE FISHERIES REFORMS;
Yarborough
Similar in name to S-554 and H-860 but NOT the same in content!
In House Rules Committee.
NCFA opposes H-810.
H-860: MARINE FISHERIES REFORMS:
Cleveland, McElraft, Butler
Similar to S-554 but modified to include changes requested by NCFA.
In House Rules Committee.
H-479: ERC STUDIES/SCOPE:
Dixon
Provides legislative oversight of marine fisheries issues by the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources.
Passed the House and sent to the Senate.
THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION
The primary was held this past Tuesday, and the following will be on the ballot for the general election as they won their primary:
Democrat Allen Thomas
Libertarian Tim Harris
Constitutional Party Greg Holt did not have a primary but will be on the general election ballot.
A runoff will be held on the Republican side as no candidate received at least 30% of the votes cast. They are:
Greg Murphy from Greenville
Joan Perry from Kinston
