Page 9 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Second Quarter 2024

FISCAL YEAR
INSURANCE UPDATES
Health & Wellness Trust
Earlier this year, the NCFA teamed up with Cobbs Allen insurance agency and Blue Cross Blue Shield NC to offer exclusive health plans to our members who operate a forestry-
related business and have one common law
employee. To date, 100 NCFA members have enrolled! Any active NCFA member can review the benefits options online.
Hunt Club Insurance
The NCFA’s hunting lease liability insurance program remains one of the top choices among hunt clubs. To participate in this program, the hunt club and the landowner must be NCFA members in good standing.
In 2023, the association provided coverage for more than 500 hunt clubs and landowners combined. The total acreage represented by the program spans more than 346,000 acres.
The policy runs annually from August 1 – August 1. Hunt clubs may enroll at any time throughout the year since hunting season start times vary by species.
For more information and to sign up, visit the Assured Partners website.
2023 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
STATE ISSUES
Recap of the General Assembly’s 2023 Session
The 2023 Long Session presented a great opportunity to educate members of the NC General Assembly on the important role our industry plays in providing clean air, clean water, an abundance of wildlife habitat, and good-paying jobs for North Carolinians. We are happy to report the NCFA had another successful legislative session working on several key pieces of legislation, which include:
Senate Bill 582 (S.L. 2023-63):
The North Carolina Farm Act of 2023
The NCFA introduced and supported language to change liability standards for prescribed burning to gross negligence. The bill was initially vetoed by the Governor on June 23, 2023. Four days later, that veto was overridden by the General Assembly and the bill became law.
House Bill 8 (S.L. 2023-132):
Computer Science Graduate Requirement
The NCFA and Forest Education and Conservation Foundation (FECF) continue to account for rising costs while maintaining a high degree of excellent programming and service for our members. Thanks to our great members, dues revenue and contributions to our education programs increased in 2023 from prior years.
The staff and board of directors have worked hard to ensure financial stability for the organization over the last couple of years while increasing our impact through our education programs and advocacy efforts, which are further discussed herein. While our costs for advocacy have remained relatively stable, our investments in our education programs and strategic initiatives have increased over the last couple of years. In 2023, we finished the year with a modest deficit due to some of these investments.
2023 Financials*
*Note: The financials represented in this report have not been audited.
NCFA Revenue
The NCFA worked with bill sponsors on an amendment to sustain NCFA
the environmental science graduation requirement, an area of Expenses
educational focus that is critical to our industry and beyond. This
became law on October 2, 2023.
House Bill 295 & Senate Bill 70:
Looking into 2024,
Promote North Carolina Sawmills
we project a balanced
Our organization continues to work with members of the North
budget thanks to
Carolina Senate Commerce & Insurance Committee regarding 3202TROPERLAUNA
the hard work and
this bill. We successfully opposed Senate Bill 70 from being heard planning of the NCFA
in committee. We are currently working with NCFA member
staff and board of
companies on a compromise for House Bill 295.
directors.
ncforestry.org / SECOND QUARTER 2024 7