Friend,

Yesterday, the General Assembly formally adjourned the 2019 long session. Once again, I voted against an adjournment resolution because the General Assembly still has not fulfilled its duties to the residents of North Carolina by passing a state budget, passing legislation to better fund public education and expanding access to affordable healthcare. On our last day, the House did pass the following bills:


In the Senate, Senator Berger finally allowed a vote on Governor Cooper's vetoes of SB 354 (which would have provided inadequate raises to teachers and non-certified personnel) and SB 553 (a bill reforming various state regulations). Both override attempts failed, and the veto override of the Governor's budget was withdrawn from the calendar before the Senate could vote on it.

Despite the disagreements of the long session, I hope that House and Senate leadership are able to come together with the Governor during the weeks before and during short session to finally compromise on a state budget. We need to pass a meaningful teacher pay raise, provide our students with the resources they need and expand Medicaid to close the health care coverage gap and create health care jobs. The citizens of North Carolina are depending on us to put our differences aside and do what’s right for our state.

The short session will begin on April 28th. In the meantime, my office will remain open. As always, please feel free to reach out to my office if you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance.

Sincerely,

Representative Julie von Haefen
District News:
Wake County Libraries are Late Fee Free:
From the Wake Co. Government website:

"Effective Jan. 2, 2020, Wake County Public Libraries has eliminated late fees on overdue materials. Going late fee free means removing barriers so more people in Wake County have greater access to the WCPL's books, resources and services. 
 
What does this mean for library cardholders?
No more late fees charged on overdue items.
Existing late fees are cleared from all accounts, giving everyone a fresh start!
New 3 week checkout period!


Library patrons are still responsible for the replacement of lost or damaged books and other materials. However, you can return outstanding materials to clear replacement fees, and you won’t ever be charged a daily late fee!

WCPL encourages patrons to return books in a responsible and timely fashion so others may enjoy our shared resources."

**REMINDER**
The Eva Perry Library in District 36 is closed for renovations until August.
2020 Wildlife Resources Commission Public Hearings:
The NC Wildlife Resources Commission has begun the annual statewide public hearing process. This is an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the proposed 2020-2021 fishing, hunting, trapping, and wildlife resource management regulation changes.

The public can provide comments at one of the nine statewide public hearings or submit comments online at our Public Comments Portal . The handout  From Proposal to Regulation   describes the Commission's rule-making procedures. Links below list rules the Commission is currently proposing to change, a description of each, and avenues for comment. 
 
Wake County 4-Year Property Tax Reappraisal
Yesterday, the Wake County Department of Tax Administration mailed about 395,000 notices to residential and commercial real estate property owners. The notice provides property owners with a first look at their property’s tax value as a result of the 2020 reappraisal, which was effective Jan. 1, 2020. 

Property owners can see an estimate of what their upcoming tax obligation could be by using the county’s Revenue-Neutral Tax Calculator. It provides an estimate of how the reappraisal might affect their property-specific taxes using revenue-neutral tax rates. 

If you have any questions or if you would like to appeal your appraisal, please contact the Wake County Tax Administration using the information below:

Office Hours Are Back!
Rep. von Haefen will hold office hours on  Friday, January 31st from 9:30AM - 11:30AM  at the McDonalds at the intersection of Ten-Ten Rd & Fayetteville Rd.

Address: 7991 Fayetteville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603

Stop by anytime between 9:30AM & 11:30AM to share your thoughts or ask questions!
Flashback!
One Year Ago: Swearing in Ceremony
How time really does fly! One year ago, I was sworn in to represent House District 36 in the North Carolina House of Representatives. That day, I made you this promise:

As your representative, it is my oath that my goals will remain transparent, that my door will remain open, and that I will remain accessible to you throughout my time in the General Assembly.

I will keep that promise for the duration of my time in the General Assembly. It is an honor to serve on your behalf and to help you whenever I can.
Office Updates
NC Policy Watch Interview
Last month, I was pleased to sit down with NC Policy Watch to discuss the need for more diversity in our public schools, the Leandro decision, and about what I thought the January session of the General Assembly might look like.
Public Schools First Webinar
I was happy to join Senator Wiley Nickel to discuss the budget stalemate and public education funding on the Public Schools First webinar last week.

Check it out to hear us discuss what the Leandro decision means for our public schools.
NC Institute of Medicine Fellowship
This week, I was honored to graduate as a NC Institute of Medicine Legislative Health Policy Fellow! 

To complete this fellowship, I attended three day-long briefings from health policy experts, elected officials, and medical professionals from across North Carolina and the United States to learn about the urgent healthcare needs of our state, what other state governments are doing to address similar needs and to hear about policy recommendations to assist us in our work here at the General Assembly. Thank you to NCIOM for a fantastic program. I learned a lot about a complex and challenging topic.
ASEZ
Last week, I was pleased to meet with local members of ASEZ, a university student group with chapters across the state. ASEZ stands for "Save the Earth from A to Z."

ASEZ members organize community service events to clean up polluted areas of our environment.

I was glad to meet with these young people who are so passionate about protecting and cleaning up our environment.
NC Transportation Summit
I got to visit the autonomous air taxi at the Exhibition Hall with my colleague Rep. Becky Carney. This drone technology is the future of flight in our state and nationwide!
There was a lot of other cool technology at the NC Transportation Summit, including an autonomous shuttle which will be used at NC State starting in February on Centennial Campus. It will be open to the public so be sure to check it out near the Hunt Library!
Public Schools First
A few weeks ago, I enjoyed celebrating the New Year with my Great Schools In Wake and Public Schools First NC friends.

I hope that we can all work together to ensure that 2020 is a transformational year for public education in NC.
In Remembrance
On Monday, flags flew at half staff in honor of Staff Sgt. Ian Paul McLaughlin and Pfc. Miguel Angel Villalon, who deployed from Fort Bragg and sacrificed their lives in service to the United States.

Our deepest condolences to their families. North Carolina stands with them during this difficult time.
District Events in Honor of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Click the links for more details about each event!
Did you Know?
The Legislative Cafeteria works with the NC Department of Agriculture to source fresh ingredients from local NC farmers & fisheries. Our cafeteria is open to the public (after you go through security, of course) . Next time you're downtown, stop by for lunch and try my favorite dish in the cafeteria: the vegetable beef soup! And be sure to stop by our office while you’re here!