Dan Gearino has some short reviews of new bills on his blog.

The former N&O columnist turned self-employed blogger and Wal-Mart shopper is not entirely impressed with lawmakers' output.

On a Senate bill that requires candidates for legislature, county commissioner and school board to disclose past felonies, he notes the exceptions.

Also, notice that other elective offices are specifically not mentioned. Note to felons: Set your sights on a sheriff's post. Or maybe even the governor's office. 

Gearino also says a law making it illegal to feed wild alligators is self-enforcing. "Survivors," he writes, "will be prosecuted."

It will be hard to measure the effects of some bills that passed.

But they should make for good conversation starters around the office water cooler.

The bills will:

Adopt Ayden Collard Festival as the official collard festival of North Carolina.

Make the following the official salute to N.C. state flag: "I salute the flag of North Carolina and pledge to the Old North State love, loyalty, and faith."

Give residents the right to install solar panels on their property, regardless of what homeowners associations or local ordinances say.

Create an advisory commission to oversee boxing, but give the commission no regulatory authority or money.

Make it unlawful to feed wild alligators.

A total of 153 bills competed in the third qualifying round of Speed Week.

Among the 56 that passed a third reading in either the House or the Senate Wednesday:

Protective orders: A House bill would make it a felony to violate a domestic violence protective order while armed.

Don't feed them: A Senate bill would it illegal to intentionally feed alligators outside of captivity.

Swift Boating: A Senate bill would require 527 groups such as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to disclose state campaign spending.

MySpace: A Senate bill would require parental consent for minors on social networking sites such as MySpace.

In other news, a Senate bill would allow off-road bikers on public lands, a Senate bill woul allow prosecutors to keep the name of an informant from the defense, a Senate bill would allow private investigators to have tinted windows, a House bill would allow detention officers to carry guns into courthouses, a House bill would establish Juneteenth as National Freedom Day and a House bill would allow DNA testing for men paying child support.