What has the Senate passed 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 House:
S.B. 138: Ban hallucinogenic herb Salvia divinorum
S.B. 1062: Allow judges to include custody of pets in a domestic protective order
S.B. 1018: Prohibit stores on the Outer Banks from using plastic bags
S.B. 11: Allow district attorneys and assistant D.A.'s to carry concealed weapons in courthouses
S.B. 307: Regulate venomous or constricting pet snakes
S.B. 167: Ban cell phones and tobacco in state prisons
More after the jump.
Prosecutors in North Carolina could pack heat in a courthouse under a bill approved by the Senate Wednesday.
The legislation, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Julia Boseman of Wilmington, would allow district attorneys and assistant district attorneys to carry concealed weapons in a courthouse if they have a permit and have completed firearms training. The firearm also must be locked up when they're not carrying it.
Concealed weapons are prohibited in courthouses except for law enforcement officers and judges.
Roxane Kolar is concerned about several bills.
The executive director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence said the advocacy group opposes bills that would allow concealed weapons in state parks and restaurants.
"Right now, most people visit state parks because it's a safe environment," she said. "While others may feel safer having their weapons in a state park, there's a lot of others who won't."
She said the group opposes allowing guns in restaurants because "guns and alcohol don't mix." Even though most people with concealed weapons permits are responsible, she said they may not stay that way after a few drinks.
In addition, Kolar said that exempting restaurants would "take away the rights of the business owner" to decide what they want.
On the other hand, she said that the group does not have a stance on two bills that would allow district attorneys to carry concealed weapons into courthouses.
"If D.A.'s feel as a whole that this would improve their safety, then we're not going to question that," she said.
More information on those Senate bills is available.
Here are a few of the more interesting bills not already discussed on Dome:
S.B. 6: Would temporarily stay on higher surcharges under the state's Beach Plan and increases in statewide insurance rate.
S.B. 8: Would appropriate $10 million to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to hire people to work in community programs for the developmentally disabled.
S.B. 11: Would allow a district attorney or assistant D.A. who has a concealed handgun permit to carry a gun while on duty in the courthouse.
S.B. 12: Would make it an infraction with a $100 fine to use a cell phone while driving except during an emergency.
S.B. 13: Would increase penalties for injuring a pregnant woman who is past her 20th week of pregnancy and include it as an aggravating factor in felony cases.
S.B. 14: Would transfer the functions of the Occupational Safety and Health division to a new commission not in the N.C. Department of Labor.
A few more Senate bills have been filed:
S.B. 8: Funds for CAP/MR-DD Slots, Sen. Julia Boseman
S.B. 9: Amend Peeping Tom Law, Boseman
S.B. 10: New Hanover Annexation Moratorium, Boseman
S.B. 11: District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney / Concealed Gun in Court House, Boseman
S.B. 12: Ban Mobile Phone Use While Driving, Sen. Charlie Dannelly
S.B. 13: Injury to Pregnant Woman / Penalty, Sen. Doug Berger
S.B. 14: Create Employment Safety and Security Commission, Berger