HB494-09

Bill would allow mayors to officiate

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:27:06 -0400

A bill would allow mayors to officiate at weddings.

Senate Bill 992 was sponsored by freshman Democratic Sen. Don Davis, the former mayor of Snow Hill, N.C.

The Senate had little debate on the issue, though Sen. Jim Forrester said that he had hoped to add an amendment that would have put a constitutional ban on gay marriage up for a statewide referendum.

Forrester filed a separate bill on the gay-marriage ban that Senate leadership essentially killed by leaving it in committee.

"If we don't get it in the constitution, I'm afraid it's going to happen to us just like Vermont," he said.

The bill passed 35-9 and now heads to the House.

Several other bills this session have also sought to expand who can perform weddings. One already signed into law by Gov. Beverly Perdue, allows Superior Court judges to officiate.

Another bill stuck in a House committee would have allowed any judge, while a third would allow retired judges. A Senate bill to allow any judge passed and is now before a House committee.

What Perdue has signed so far

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:42:17 -0400

What has Gov. Beverly Perdue signed into law?

As of mid-week in crossover, the governor has signed 14 bills into law:

* S.B. 287: Reduces benefits to State Health Plan in effort to keep it solvent.

* S.B. 89: Designates Grandfather Mountain as a state park.

* H.B. 494: Allows Superior Court judges to perform weddings.

* H.B. 613: Says state does not approve of building a Navy landing field in a county that does not already have a military base.

* S.B. 198: Allows the governor to name another public school employee to the State Board of Education.

* S.B. 127: Restricts state management of institutional funds.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly included local bills and resolutions that do not require the governor's signature.

More after the jump.

Recent House bills

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:04:48 -0400

Some recent House bills of note:

H.B. 433: Change Corporate Income Tax, Rep. Harold Brubaker

H.B. 442: Parental Involvement in School Discipline, Reps. Martha Alexander, Susan Fisher, Rick Glazier and Earline Parmon

H.B. 443: Increase Class Size in the Public Schools, Reps. Paul Stam and Laura Wiley

H.B. 453: Increase Cig. Tax/Proceeds to MHTF, Reps. Verla Insko, Beverly Earle and Alexander

H.B. 494: Superior Court Judge May Perform Marriage, Reps. William Wainwright, Dan Blue and Garland Pierce

H.B. 504: Tax Credit for Energy-Efficient Homes, Reps. Fisher, Pricey Harrison, Bruce Goforth and Ruth Samuelson