Today @NCCapitol (March 23): Protest petitions on light agenda

The House is expected to debate a bill that would remove protest petitions from controversial zoning moves. The Senate will take its final vote on tax code changes.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Mar 23, 2015 — Updated 9:00 a.m. Mar 23, 2015

Matthew Burns

RALEIGH, N.C. — Good morning and welcome to Today @NCCapitol for Monday, March 23. Here's what's going on at the state legislature and around state government.

HOUSE: A bill that would eliminate the use of protest petitions in local zoning debates is scheduled for its first floor debate, although it could get pushed back to Tuesday's calendar. Under a protest petition, if enough property owners balk at a nearby development, they could require a super-majority vote on a city council, instead of a simple majority, to approve a rezoning of the site. Supporters of the bill say the petitions interfere with an owner's right to develop his or her property, while opponents say the petitions guarantee that neighbor's voices are heard in a development debate.

SENATE: The Senate takes its final vote on a package of changes to the tax code, including adjustments to what taxpayers may owe under certain circumstances for 2014.

ADVOCATES: Rep. Larry Hall, D-Durham, holds a noon 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. This had been scheduled for last Thursday but was postponed.

Also at noon, the state chapter of the NAACP reconvenes its "People's Grand Jury" to collect evidence of people's hardships because the legislature has chosen not to expand Medicaid as allowed under the Affordable care Act.

Suggest A Correction