Final Push On As Session Draws to a Close

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Final Push On As Session Draws to a Close

Special Report - July 27, 2007
Legislators are putting in extra hours to finish up their work before the 2007 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly adjourns, and a number of controversial bills hang in the balance. The final push is on to get bills heard and passed in committee and on the floor of the State House and Senate before the end of the legislative year. The conference report on the budget bill is expected to be rolled out today (Friday), and lawmakers plan to hold the two required votes on the bill on Saturday and Sunday. Reports indicate that legislative leaders are hoping to wrap up the session before the end of next week.

Several controversial bills are part of this end-of-session push. The pro-homosexual “Bullying Bill” is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary 2 Committee Friday morning. HB 1366—School Violence Prevention Act has passed the House and the proponents of the bill are working hard to see its passage before the session ends. A bill that would establish a state policy in favor of embryonic stem cell research is scheduled for floor debate in the House on Friday, as is a bill that would rewrite the state’s “advance directives” laws. HB 1837—Stem Cell Research & Wellness Act passed the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday after controversy arose regarding a vote on the bill the day before. SB 1046—Advance Directives/Health Care Power of Attorney has been the subject of significant debate, as many see this bill weakening North Carolina’s policy regarding end of life care.