Perspective North Carolina General Assembly Update | August 20, 2021
Kilpatrick Townsend’s Government Relations Team represents a variety of clients across many industries and in all levels of government, with a focus on the North Carolina General Assembly. Below is an update on the activity at the NC General Assembly this week. Please feel free to contact a member of the team with any questions or visit our website to learn more about our Government Relations practice.
Sports Betting
This week, ushered by Kilpatrick Townsend, the Senate passed both the second and third readings of S688, Sports Wagering. Passed with a bipartisan vote of 26-19, 9 Republicans and 17 Democratic members supported final passage. S688 would authorize, regulate, and tax sports betting in North Carolina. The Lottery Commission would be responsible for regulating and issuing licenses to 10-12 sports wagering operators. S688 also creates the North Carolina Major Events, Games and Attractions Fund. This Fund, administered by the Department of Commerce, would provide grants for local governments or nonprofit entities working with local governments. The goal is to attract major entertainment, musical, political, sporting, and theatrical events to the State that will stimulate economic activity and create jobs. Next week, the Sports Wagering bill, S688, will be referred to the Rules Committee in the NC House before further actions are taken.
Budget
On August 17th, the North Carolina Senate voted not to concur on the House passed budget, S105. House and Senate appointed conferees can be found here. Budget conference negotiations have already begun in earnest and will continue for the next 3-4 weeks.
Criminal Justice Reform
The North Carolina House has approved S300, Criminal Justice Reform, an omnibus bill that provides numerous changes. Changes that stemmed from the deliberations of the NC House Task Force on Community Relations, Law Enforcement and Justice. Legislation will be returned to the NC Senate for concurrence next week, before being submitted to the Governor’s office. Other criminal justice reform bills advancing include H536, Law Enforcement Duty to Intervene, and H436, Support Law Enforcement Mental Health, which are also contained in S300.
