Barbara Weyher is the new president of the N.C. State Bar, the organization that licenses and regulates lawyers.

Weyher, who succeeds John McMillan of Raleigh, is only the second woman to hold the job, according to a news release. 

Weyher is a founding partner of Yates, McLamb & Weyher, a civil defense law firm based in Raleigh. She previously served on the bar's governing council and was chairwoman of a number of committees including the Grievance and Ethics committees.

In a news release, Weyher said she wants to increase the role of women and minorities in governing the organization.

"I have been privileged over the years to be involved with the North Carolina State Bar and have a great respect for the organization and its members," said Weyher. "In the coming year, we will be exploring ways to increase the number of women and minority lawyers on the State Bar Council." 

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The session has started; the bills have been filed.

But which ones will live, and which will die? Which will fall into existential limbo, forever stuck in endless committee hearings without coming up for a vote?

There's no hard and fast rules, but lobbyist John McMillan shared with Dome a few ways to know that the bill you're following is not going to make it:

* OFF-TOPIC COMMITTEE: When a bill on health insurance gets referred to the committee on rural Internet services, that's a sign it's not coming up for a vote anytime soon. See if your bill is going to the relevant committee.

* ENDLESS HEARINGS: A bill might get past a relevant committee, only to be re-referred to yet another relevant committee. Though it appears to be making progress, it's actually stuck in an endless hamster wheel of committee considerations.

* PAST DEADLINE: All non-spending and non-revenue bills have to pass at least one chamber by crossover, which is May 14 this session. If legislative leadership in the House and Senate haven't put your bill up for a vote by that week, it's over.

Still, McMillan notes that things can change overnight. A bill that seems dead can be shockpaddled back into life in a minute if the leadership wants it, and another that seems to be sailing toward passage can have the plug pulled.

"One thing you need to understand: There are no absolutes," he said. "There are more exceptions than there are rules. You can't be guided by what the rule is."

A new ranking says Raleigh has a new top lobbyist. It also says that some lobbyists' influence has been shaped by ethics investigations and a fight over a real estate transfer tax.

The N.C. Center for Public Policy Research released its biannual ranking Thursday of the most influential lobbyists in the state capital. The ranking is based on a survey of legislators, lobbyists and capital journalists following the 2007 long session of the General Assembly.

Roger Bone ranked No. 1, after seven previous surveys had ranked him No. 2 or 3. His wide variety of clients includes Lorillard Tobacco Co., the N.C. Association of Long Term Care Facilities and the Save our Summers group.

Rounding out the top five: John McMillan, John Bode, Franklin Freeman and Zeb Alley.

Previous No. 1 Don Beason fell to No. 35, following revelations about a series of $500,000 transactions between him and former House Speaker Jim Black. Beason later resigned his clients. Black, a Democrat, is in prison on unrelated corruption convictions.

Bob Hall, who filed the original complaint against Black with the State Board of Elections, saw his ranking jump from 49th to 19th for his work with Democracy North Carolina.

Also seeing their rankings rise: Tim Kent (11th), Rick Zechini (12th), Paul Meyer (25th) and Jim Blackburn (31st). All were involved in the fight over a tax on real estate transfers.