Members
of the N.C. General Assembly continued business and ramped up their political
rhetoric this week, following the conclusion of last week’s COVID-19 session.
(Read the League’s report on what happened during that session above). Though
no committees met, no votes were taken, and legislators mostly stayed home this
week, they continued to file bills as the two chambers operated “skeleton”
sessions. And though changes may come later, for now, neither chamber has
modified its bill filing deadlines. These dates include a deadline of Tuesday,
May 12, to file local bills.
The
handful of bills filed since the session reconvened April 28 included a
bipartisan House bill that would create a worker’s compensation presumption in
favor of “frontline” workers who contracted an infection such as COVID-19
during an outbreak. Under
HB 1057
WC/COVID-19 Front Line Coverage/Funds, this group of employees would
include municipal employees in law enforcement and fire, as well as any other
employee of a business declared to be essential during a pandemic. Due to the
employer costs of covering worker’s compensation claims pursuant to this bill,
the League and a multitude of other statewide associations and business groups
opposed the proposal.
Meanwhile,
in contrast to the bipartisan tone of last week’s legislative work, Republican
members of the N.C. Senate turned up their political rhetoric this week. After
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Phase I plans for reopening some businesses and
activities in the state, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger
questioned the
need for a one-size-fits-all approach. That same day, nearly every
Republican senator signed onto
a bill
prohibiting criminal enforcement of many of Cooper’s COVID-19 executive orders
and similar local emergency declarations. Sen. Carl Ford later predicted that
bill would pass the Senate, while he noted how social distancing appeared to
take on a partisan meaning last week during the legislature’s session. “I’m
sure there’ll be a long and very exciting debate, including the Democrats
trying to talk through their masks,”
WRAL reported
he said. He then publicly called for tens of thousands to gather in Raleigh
Tuesday to rally for reopening the state’s economy. Also, sixteen GOP leaders
wrote to
Cooper Thursday, asking why the state lacked adequate virus testing supplies.
While legislative business
slowed this week—and is expected to remain minimal for at least one more
week—House committees that focus on COVID-19 response will pick up their work
again with remote meetings scheduled for next week. Looking ahead, though
legislative leaders predicted a return to full-time work beginning May 22,
details have not been shared publicly regarding what such a session would look
like if the state at that time still restricted the number of people who may
gather indoors.