Annexation Bills Pass HouseMay 30, 2012
BACKGROUND
In the first week of session, Senator Buck Newton (R-Nash) -- in response to a local Rocky Mount annexation issue -- stripped an existing bill that had already passed the house, HB 925 (Moffitt). HB 925 became a bill that now changes the annexation process to a referendum vote (during the municipal election) of the annexation area. A simple majority of all registered voters who actually vote in the referendum would likely kill any proposed annexation, and therefore stop balanced growth of the city.
The Senate also took up HB 5, also led by Senator Newton, that targets specific communities for deannexation. HB 5 deannexes legal, in-process or completed annexations in Lexington, Rocky Mount, Southport, Fayetteville, Asheville, Marvin, Wilmington, Kinston, and Goldsboro. In addition lawmakers added a provision that , if successful, would prohibit any annexation attempt of those areas for twelve years.
Although debated, both bills received approval and passed the Senate. The bills then went to the House for a concurrence vote on the floor only (since both bills have already passed the House, even though the original language was stripped and replaced). Both bills passed the House Tuesday on 3rd reading of a concurrence vote. For reference: LeagueLINC Bulletin: May 25, 2012LeagueLINC Bulletin: May 18, 2012Please join our LINC in THURSDAY webinar, Thursday, May 31 at 3 o'clock for more details and updates on the week's legislative issues. Posted on May 30, 2012 by Kelli Kukura |