Less than two months after convening in the second year of the two-year biennium, the legislature officially adjourned its 2011-2012  session "Sine Die" today.  The Senate completed their business with the drop of the gavel close to 4:00 a.m. this morning, and the House concluded their work this afternoon.

Prior to its departure, the Republican-majority General Assembly successfully overrode the three vetoes issued thus far this session by Democrat Governor Bev Perdue: on S 820, "Clean Energy & Economic Security Act," S 416, "Amend Death Penalty Procedures," and on H 950, "Appropriations Act of 2012."  These three measures will now become law notwithstanding the objections of the governor.  Unlike their Senate counterparts, House Republicans alone do not reach the two-thirds majority margin necessary to achieve an override, thus making for interesting politics as various Democrats defected from their caucus to vote with the majority.

The most immediately significant veto override was on H 950, the budget bill.  This 155 page document outlined the state spending plan for the 2012-2013 fiscal year which began on July 1 and several other pieces of legislation depended upon language found in this document. 

Initial highlights from this session include:

Finance

• prohibition of contingency audits for taxable property at the local government level
• cap of gas tax at 37.5 cents
• one-year extension of various tax caps and credits set to expire in 2013
• continuation of the expiration of the sales tax increase

Regulatory & Environment

• alignment of the state air toxics program with federal standards to eliminate duplicative regulations
• creation of regulatory infrastructure with concurrent comprehensive studies to authorize clean energy production and gas extraction
• various regulatory streamlining/duplication reductions within divisions of DENR

Health Care

• funding for additional inpatient psychiatric beds through coordination of DHHS, community hospitals and local management entities/managed care organizations
• one-year prohibition of Medicaid rate increase
• one-year prohibition of Medicaid optional services reduction
• changes to board governance laws ensure successful statewide implementation of new mental health care delivery model

Education

• restoration of flex cuts to K-12, community colleges and University system
• 1.2 percent raise and five additional PTO days to all teachers and state employees
• creation of an innovative high schools pilot program, a regional network of high schools focused on workforce development through a partnership with institutions of higher education and career specific programs and on-the-job training

BILL TRACKING

From the date of adjournment, Governor Perdue has 30 days in which she may take action on the legislation sent to her for approval.  If she does not sign into law or veto the ratified bills, they will become law without her signature upon this deadline.