Courts and Justice

NEWS & OBSERVER: Supreme Court Ruling Brings Stability to NC Insurance Market
 The U.S. Supreme Court declared Thursday that more than 6 million Americans, including almost 459,000 in North Carolina, can keep the federal subsidies that help them pay for health insurance.

GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD: Changes to NC Voter ID Law Rankle Some, but Could Preserve Law
Federal and state lawsuits filed nearly two years ago challenging what's in North Carolina's election overhaul law are finally heading to trial starting next month.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Supreme Court Ruling Means Same Sex Marriages Can Continue
Champions of same-sex marriage were jubilant after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, a decision striking down bans in 14 states.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Governor vs. General Assembly: NC Supreme Court to Hear Landmark Case
 The North Carolina Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a landmark case pitting the governor against leaders of the General Assembly.

Education

FAYETEVILLE OBSERVER: Governor Signs Bill to Help Veterans Get Education, Jobs
 With an audience of veterans and a backdrop of uniformed military personnel at the Executive Mansion, Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday signed two bills into law to help veterans and their families.

Elections

ROLL CALL: Kay Hagan Won't Challenge Richard Burr in 2016
Former North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan will not be mounting a challenge to her former GOP colleague, Sen. Richard M. Burr.

Healthcare

GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD: Medicaid Reform Bill Passes in House
The state House voted 105-6 Tuesday to pass Bill 372, which features a provider-led format for tackling the risk involved in the $14 billion state Medicaid program.

WNCN: Governor, Other NC Politicians React to Supreme Court Keeping Health Subsidies
The U.S. Supreme Court decided that those who are receiving federal subsidies can continue to do so regardless of their state's plan. Reaction is understandably mixed.

WINSTON SALEM JOURNAL: McCrory: Medicaid Expansion 'Very Complex' Issue
 Gov. Pat McCrory has said from the first day of his administration that the state's Medicaid program is broken and must be reformed before expansion can be pursued.

NEWS & OBSERVER: Audit Finds NC Medicaid Billing Supervisor Wasted $1.6 Million
 Auditors found the problems were much worse than they expected: at least $1.6 million wasted over three years.

Regulatory Reform

WRAL: Senate Ok's Gun Hunting on Sunday
 A proposal to allow hunting with guns for most of the day on Sundays is headed to Gov. Pat McCrory.

GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD: Bill Regulating Packaging of E-Cig Liquids Heads to McCrory's Desk
A bill is headed to Gov. Pat McCrory that mandates child-resistant packaging and warning labels on liquids used with electronic cigarettes and vaporizers.

TWC NEWS: Bill Enforcing Uniform Building Requirements Advances
A bill aimed at enforcing uniform building codes in North Carolina is continuing to move forward.

State Budget

STATESVILLE RECORD & LANDMARK: NC Lawmakers Have Work to Do on Stop Gap Spending Plan
 A temporary measure is needed because the two chambers passed competing budget plans that are far apart on Medicaid, taxes and incentives .

WRAL: House, Senate Negotiations Next Step to Passing NC Budget
 The North Carolina House formally rejected Tuesday the budget proposal that senators wrote and approved last week, but not before top leaders criticized senators for the major policy changes they inserted that are likely to drag negotiations deep into the summer.

NEWS & OBSERVER : Hospitals, Colleges Lobby Against Senate Tax Proposals
Hospital and private university officials said Thursday that the Senate's proposed tax changes could leave them with budget holes and reduced private donations.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Future NC Employees Would Not Receive Retirement Healthcare Under NC Senate Budget
The proposed change appears deep within the Senate's 500-page budget bill and attracted little notice when the budget was debated last week.

NEWS & OBSERVER: NC Senate Provision Could Raise Bank Taxes
 A little-noticed provision in North Carolina's Senate budget could drive bank traders out of Charlotte – along with their multimillion-dollar payrolls – a Mecklenburg County lawmaker warned Thursday.

State Government Reports

NEWS & OBSERVER: Report: State Could Save Money Selling Vacant Properties
The state owns and leases a number of properties that are underused – and some completely unoccupied – which legislative staff say could be sold for millions of dollars.

Taxes

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Lawmakers Moving Towards Tax Break for Homebuilders
 State lawmakers are moving to give North Carolina's homebuilders a break on their property taxes by making it less expensive for builders to hold on to houses that haven't yet sold.

WRAL: AARP Seeks Medical Deduction Return
 As the House voted Tuesday to formally reject the Senate's budget proposal, advocates for senior citizens urged Senate leaders toward the House position on the restoration of the state tax deduction for medical expenses.

Transportation

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Cycling Advocates Unhappy with Proposed Bike Lane Limits
A bill in the N.C. legislature would restrict the state from eliminating a lane of traffic to add bike lanes, sparking criticism from cycling advocates.

WRAL: Lawmakers Approve Moped Insurance Requirement
After years of debate over the issue, the state Senate gave final approval Tuesday to requiring moped drivers to carry liability insurance.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: McCrory Hits Trouble With Plans to Pay for Roads by Borrowing
 Even as Gov. Pat McCrory touts growing public support for nearly $1.4 billion in highway bonds, his proposal has hit a roadblock in the N.C. Senate.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.