What did the House pass by crossover?

Here are some of the more interesting bills that made it past the upper chamber before the deadline to be considered by the Senate:

H.B. 9: Bans texting while driving.

H.B. 88: Allows parents to choose comprehensive sex ed for their children.

H.B. 813: Allows people to collect money from negligence lawsuits even if they are somewhat at fault as well.

H.B. 961: Bans campaign contributions from officers of companies that have state contracts.

H.B. 1185: Allows habitual drunk drivers to get their licenses restored after 10 years with some conditions.

More after the jump.

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The state House voted overwhelmingly today to lift the state requirement for seniors graduating in 2010 to compete special projects to get their diplomas.

The 115-3 vote for House Bill 223 to delay the requirement until the class of 2011 graduates rubber stamps a decision the State Board of Education made last month, reports Lynn Bonner.

Local school districts can still choose to require the projects for 2010.

Senior projects drew praise from some legislators, but even a few supporters said the projects are easier for students who have extensive support.

Rep. Tricia Cotham, a former teacher and school administrator in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, said many good things come from projects, but they create "a system of haves and have-nots."

The bill now goes to the Senate.

* Burley Mitchell tells N.C. Lawyers Weekly that a panel hopes to recommend U.S. attorneys and District Court judges to U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan by the end of May.

* U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick wants to make sure that people don't start using their cell phones on airplanes, notes recent experience with rude passenger.

* House bill to require parents or guardians to give written permission before a child could be spanked in school passes 91-24, heads to Senate.

* State Rep. Jimmy Love was not aware of a Facebook group with more than 8,000 members supporting his bill to end the high school graduation project.

Do you want to "friend" a bill in the General Assembly?

You can't exactly do that, but you can join a group for or against a piece of state legislation, another step in the evolution of online politics.

Here's a running list of Facebook groups on state bills:

* Support NC House bill 223, ditch the graduation project: Supports this bill to end the high school graduation project. 8,257 members.

* I Oppose NC Senate Bill 272: Opposes this bill for a referendum to ban gay marriage in the state constitution. 6,635 members.

* North Carolina State Sovereignty Movement: Supports this resolution to declare North Carolina a sovereign state under the 10th Amendment. 849 members. 

* Ban Smoking in N.C.'s Public Places: 717 members. I'M FOR A SMOKE-FREE NORTH CAROLINA: 107 members. NC FOR Smoking Ban in Resturants (sic) and Bars: 92 members. All support this smoking ban bill.

* I support NC Senate Bill 272: 703 members. I support NC Senate Bill 272 - Defense of Marriage: 64 members. Say yes to NC Senate Bill 272: Defense of Marriage: 5 members. All support gay marriage ban referendum.

* Davie's Law / Humane Euthanasia in NC Shelters: Supports this bill to end gas chambers at state animal shelters. 577 members.

* Support Sunday ABC Sales in NC! Supports this bill to end prohibition on Sunday sales of liquor. 491 members.

* Prevent School Violence North Carolina: Supports this bill to reduce bullying in school. 461 members.

* Oppose the NC Smoking Ban: Opposes the smoking ban. 121 members.

* Pass the NC Racial Justice Act: Supports this bill to allow courts to review death sentences for racial bias. 100 members.

* NC Citizens Against Anti-Competition Bills HB1252 and S1004: Opposes bills that would prevent municipal Internet providers. 49 members.

* I oppose NC Senate Bill 138 (Salvia Ban): Opposes this bill to make a hallucinogenic mint a Schedule I drug. 49 members.

Are we missing one? E-mail dome@newsobserver.com.

Some interesting recent House bills:

H.B. 223: No High School Graduation Project Required, Reps. Jimmy Love and Angela Bryant

H.B. 232: Scholarship Loan for Rural Social Workers, Reps. Larry Bell, Rick Glazier, Marvin Lucas, Marian McLawhorn

H.B. 257: No Seizure of Lawful Firearms in Emergency, Reps. George Cleveland, Mark Hilton, Tim Moore and Laura Wiley

A bill would make a new, controversial high school graduation requirement optional for school districts.

Rep. Jimmy Love, a Sanford Democrat, filed the bill today in response to complaints about the cost to school districts that have hired project coordinators and incurred other expenses to meet a requirement the State Board of Education handed down, Lynn Bonner reports.

Next year's seniors must complete a project  in order to be eligible to graduate. The project includes a paper, a project, work with a mentor and an oral presentation.

State school board members are sold on the project, which they say allows students to demonstrate that they've acquired skills they need for the workplace and college.

Parents and students critical of the project say it's a waste of time and will cause struggling students to drop out of school.