Page 18 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Fourth Quarter 2023

LEGISLATIVE / ASSOCIATION NEWS
Legislative Update
LEGISLATIVE WORK CLOSES FOR 2023, FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENTS FOR NCFA MEMBERS
By John Hatcher, Executive Director
The North Carolina General Assembly completed legislative work for the 2023 long session on
October 25, 2023. During the session,
the NCFA was instrumental in working with primary sponsors to amend House Bill 8 - Computer Science Graduation Requirements so the environmental science requirement for high school students would be sustained. We also worked with Senator Brent Jackson (NC
9) to introduce and support language in Senate Bill 582 - The North Carolina Farm Act of 2023 (Session Law 2023-63) to change the liability standard for certified prescribed burners from simple negligence to gross negligence for fire and smoke.
Senate Bill 582 also contained several provisions of interest to NCFA members, including:
•Prohibition of an unmanned aircraft system near a forest fire
•Amendments to the timber larceny statute that would expand the list
of offenses
•A provision that establishes a forestry services and advice fund that would allow the North Carolina Forest Service to use the funds for services rendered to develop, improve, repair, maintain, operate, and otherwise invest in providing forestry services and advice to owners and operators of forestland.
On June 27, 2023 Senate Bill 582 became law, notwithstanding the objections of Governor Roy Cooper.
While the General Assembly has concluded its legislative work for the year, the NCFA continues to work with members of the NC Senate to convey our concerns over House Bill 295 - Promote NC Sawmills, which passed the NC House of Representatives this year and is currently in the North Carolina Senate Commerce and Insurance committee.
On October 3, 2023, the State Budget (House Bill 259 - 2023 Appropriations Act) became law without Governor Cooper’s signature. The measure contains many provisions, including:
•Acceleration in the reduction of the personal income tax rate from the 2024 proposed rate of 4.6% to 4.5%
•Nonrecurring appropriation of $125 million to the state’s savings reserve fund
•Nonrecurring appropriation of $750,000 for the Be Pro Be Proud initiative
•Nonrecurring funding of $750,000 and $1.85 million for 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively, for the North Carolina Forest Service Region
1 Headquarters
•Nonrecurring funding of $750,000 for the construction of the Griffith Forest Center.
While the NC General Assembly is finished with their legislative work for 2023, the NCFA will continue to keep its members apprised in our weekly Zipline email communications on legislation that is still eligible for consideration for the 2023-2024 legislative session.
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ncforestry.org / FOURTH QUARTER 2023