Legislative Week In Review 2016 | UNC-TV

This week's episode follows reaction to North Carolina's $22.225 billion dollar budget plan agreed to by the House and Senate. Alexandra Sirota and Barry Smith offer their take on the budget priorities. Marc Rotterman, host of North Carolina Channel's "Front Row," explains how the budget could be used on the campaign trail & how the McCrory/Cooper race shapes up. This is the 2016 season final

This week's show discusses the legalization of Narcan, Rep. Larry Pittman's call for all state lawmakers to reaffirm a commitment to the US Bill of Rights and we'll interview Denise Weeks, the long-time House Principal Clerk who's announced her retirement in 2016.

This week's show follows Senate debate over changing the North Carolina constitution to cap the top income tax rate at 5.5%. The House debates changing Food Stamp program rules to require lottery winners' names be compared to social services databases. Large and small hospitals debate, in front of lawmakers, over regulations that place controls on hospital construction and equipment purchases

The NC House rejects the NC Senate budget bill, setting the stage for compromise negotiations. Lawmakers debate the best methods of regulating video footage recorded by police "body cameras." A discussion on allowing industrial hemp to be grown by NC farmers. Unofficial ID cards would be restricted under a new immigration bill in the NC House.

The North Carolina Senate passes its budget bill. HBCUs within the UNC-System protested a budget provision that wouldve reduced tuition to $500-per-semester. Carolina Journal's Barry Smith analyzes. Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Scotland County) discusses his proposal to ban the herbal supplement "Kratom." The House passes a new coal ash bill.

The NC Senate is debating legislation to cap tuition increases for future, incoming Freshmen, set tuition at $500 per semester for campuses struggling with low enrollment and would cap student fees. The House approves legislation to study if the state is saving enough money to cover healthcare costs of current and future state retirees. And we look at NC's newest political polls.

This week's show covers the House's passage of a $22.225 billion dollar budget bill. Rep. Grier Martin (D-Wake) discusses legislation calling on judges to consider a veteran's PTSD diagnosis when the veteran faces court sentencing. Rep. Chris Sgro (D-Guilford) discusses issue advocacy as advocates and grassroots groups descend on Raleigh, sometimes with hostility.

The week's show covers the McCrory Administration's lawsuit filing against the US Justice Department seeking a federal judicial decision on HB2 and whether it violates the US Civil Rights Act. Interviews with Sen. Andy Wells (R-Catawba & Alexander) and Rep. Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe)

This week's program highlights the US Justice Department's ruling that "House Bill 2" violates the US Civil Rights Act. House Democratic Leader, Rep. Larry Hall, discusses HB 2. Some Democrats propose using lottery revenue to relieve teachers' college debt. A bi-partisan bill could see anti-overdose drugs be made available without a prescription

The 2016 season premiere of Legislative Week in Review covers House Bill 2. We'll hear from Tami Fitzgerald of the NC Values Coalition, Rep. Grier Martin (D-Wake) who calls for a repeal and get analysis from "Mac" McCorkle, Assoc. Professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy. We discuss the recent Voter ID court ruling with Rep. David Lewis and hear comments on the governor's 2016 budget.