Page 22 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Fourth Quarter 2021

LEGISLATIVE/ASSOCIATION NEWS
Legislative Review of 2021:
The Results of Our Advocacy
The NCFA remained steady in its advocacy efforts during 2021. We would like to thank all of our members and partners who made our advocacy efforts a success over the last year.
• Take all reasonable steps to achieve a 70% reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide from electric public utilities from 2005 levels by the year 2030, and carbon neutrality by the year 2050.
• Authorize performance-based regulation of electric public utilities.
• Proceed with rulemaking on securitization of certain costs and other matters.
• Allow potential modification of certain existing power purchase agreements with eligible small power producers.
The current version of this legislation is a compromise between the North Carolina House of Representatives, Senate, and Governor Roy Cooper, who signed the bill into law on October 13. The NCFA took a neutral position on the final bill.
The NCFA worked in support of
H.B. 228 – Attractive Nuisances. If enacted, this bill would provide that a landowner is not subject to liability for injury to a child trespasser where the injury arises from an unimproved body of water.
FEDERAL MATTERS
INVEST in America Act
At the federal level, the NCFA and its members worked hard with the NC Congressional Delegation to insert a special provision into the H.R. 3684 – INVEST in America Act to grandfather the 10,000 lb tolerance for several NC state roads that are transitioning into
the federal interstate system. Congress is expected to vote on this legislation before the end of the year.
H-2B Visas
On June 24, 2021, U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced S.2207, a bill to temporarily increase the availability
of H-2B visas for restoring American forests. The bill would establish an uncapped, but temporary carve-out of the H-2B program to permit a surge in workers to address a multi-year backlog in forest management, including wildfire restoration, long-term timber supply, and carbon sinks.
On April 20, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would make an additional 22,000 H-2B visas available, pursuant to Section 105 of the Consolidated Appropriations
STATE MATTERS
The North Carolina General Assembly convened the 2021 long session on January 27, 2021. At the time of this writing, the House and the Senate are winding down their committee work, focusing much of their attention on the state budget and on redistricting. Neither chamber has announced when they will be adjourning the 2021 long session. Both chambers will likely be meeting into the fourth quarter to finalize redistricting.
State Budget
Governor Roy Cooper, President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, and Speaker Tim Moore began negotiations on the state budget the week of September 27. Aside from passing “mini-budgets” to fund certain aspects of state government, North Carolina is still operating on the 2018 appropriations. Governor Cooper and leadership from both chambers are optimistic about agreeing to a budget that will be signed into law this year. The NCFA will summarize the budget in our weekly Zipline newsletter, if it passes.
Redistricting
Following the decennial census, states are required to redraw districts for state-level House and Senate seats, as well as their
U.S. House of Representatives delegation, based on population changes and the need to maintain equal representation. This year, North Carolina will add another U.S. House of Representatives district. North Carolina added its 13th district after the 2000 census.
Other Legislative Matters
During the long session, the NCFA engaged our elected officials on a number of bills, which include:
• H.B. 141 – Promote NC Sawmills
• H.B. 228 – Attractive Nuisances
• H.B. 334 – JOBS Grants and Tax Relief
• H.B. 496 – Property Owners Rights / Tree Ordinances
• H.B. 951 – Modernize Energy Generation • S.B. 605 – NC Farm Act of 2021
The NCFA and its members worked
with bill sponsors to amend H.B. 141 – Promote North Carolina Sawmills. The amended version of the bill ensures that all lumber milled in North Carolina conforms to product and inspection standards
under the American Softwood Lumber Standard PS 20. It also ensures that lumber is certified by an inspector who has been certified by an accredited, independent, third-party agency of the American Lumber Standard Committee.
Many of our members were instrumen- tal in crafting the timber theft provisions in S.B. 605 – NC Farm Act of 2021. The NCFA, its members, and other partners have invested considerable time over the past two and a half years to ensure the provisions were good for both landowners and forestry professionals. This legislation became Session Law 2021-78 on July 2, 2021.
H.B. 334 – JOBS Grants and Tax Relief bill originated in the House as the Temp Align PPP Treatment to Federal Treatment, and the Senate significantly amended. The NCFA will summarize the final version of the budget conference report and supports this bill.
H.B. 496 – Property Owners Rights / Tree Ordinances legislation would prohibit local governments from adopting ordinances regulating the removal of trees from private property without the General Assembly’s express authorization. This bill is currently in the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate and the NCFA is working to support this bill as written.
On Thursday October 7, the North Carolina General Assembly passed
H.B. 951 – Energy Solutions for North Carolina. This heavily amended version of H.B. 951 – Modernize Energy Generation will authorize the Utilities Commission to:
20 ncforestry.org / FOURTH QUARTER 2021