Another bill would ask a citizens' panel how much to pay legislators.

Sen. Dan Clodfelter, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, said he filed the bill to get better advice on how to pay lawmakers as well as judges and members of the governor's administration.

Under the bill, a Citizens Commission on Compensation would be created. Thirteen members, a majority, would be chosen randomly from registered voters in each Congressional district.

Another 12 members would be appointed by the speaker of the House, the Senate president pro tem, the governor and the chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court.

"The concept of the bill is to take the process out of just the hands of the elected officials themselves," he said. 

The commission's annual reports would still have to be adopted by legislators, however.

Previously: Bill would automatically raise legislative pay; other states pay less; pay affects who serves in legislature.