Today @NCCapitol (March 19): Protest petitions, groundwater rules up for discussion

House committees will look at bills that would eliminate the ability of neighbors to bring protest petitions against rezoning cases and would ease rules on groundwater polluters. Gov. Pat McCrory is scheduled to speak to the N.C. Association of School Administrators in the afternoon.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Mar 19, 2015 — Updated 9:00 a.m. Mar 19, 2015

Mark Binker

and

Laura Leslie

RALEIGH, N.C. — Good morning and welcome to Today @NCCapitol for Thursday, March 19. Here's what's going on at the state legislature and around state government.

THE HOUSE: Lawmakers will take up a package of changes to the state's criminal laws at 2 p.m. Members are also expected to elect members to the UNC Board of Governors.

THE SENATE: Senators will meet at 11 a.m. to vote on a package of changes to the tax code, including adjustments to what taxpayers may owe under certain circumstances for 2014.

COMMITTEES WE'RE WATCHING: Two interesting House committees meet at 10 a.m.:

House Local Government will take up a bill that does away with protest petitions in zoning cases. These petitions allow neighbors of a property being rezoned to force a city council to assemble a super-majority before approving the change to how land might be used. WRAL.com plans to carry this meeting live.
House Environment will take a look at a controversial report on easing rules for groundwater polluters.

ADVOCATES: Rep. Larry Hall, D-Durham, holds an 11:30 a.m. news conference to introduce a bill that would allow medical examiners access to inmates' medical records in cases where there is a death in custody. WRAL.com plans to carry this event live.

GOVERNOR: Gov. Pat McCrory is scheduled to speak in Raleigh at 3 p.m. to the North Carolina Association of School Administrators. The occasion helps mark the 175th anniversary of North Carolina's public education system.

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