Legislative Briefing

ARTS: A saxophonist, harpist and opera singer were among those performing at the Legislative Building to promote the arts in North Carolina.

Along with local arts groups, they staffed tables in the building's atriums to talk about what they offer the state. Members of the N.C. School of the Arts also performed on the Senate floor. School leaders want the General Assembly to change the school's name to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

VETERANS HONORED: Scores of veterans, many of whom served in the Korean War and visited the Legislative Building on Wednesday, were honored in a resolution approved unanimously by both chambers.

The resolution singled out Korean War veteran Pfc. Lawrence Ellerbe Hunt, who died in 1951. Family members of Hunt sat in the gallery. They included former Gov. Jim Hunt, who was his first cousin.

Quick hits

IN THE HOUSE:

* H2126, to spend $43.9 million to remove the families of an additional 10,000 children from the state's waiting list for subsidized child care and to adjust subsidy rates for some high-quality facilities. Sponsor: Rep. Martha Alexander, D-Mecklenburg.

* H2111, to remove the income limit on getting credit for paying premiums on long-term care insurance. Sponsor: Rep. Cary Allred, R-Alamance.

* H2112, to increase the income eligibility limit for the homestead property tax exemption from $25,000 to $30,000 during the next fiscal year. Sponsor: Rep. Cary Allred, R-Alamance.

IN THE SENATE:

* S1608, to place before the state's voters a proposed constitutional amendment recognizing marriage as taking place only between one man and one woman. Sponsors: Sens. Jim Forrester, R-Gaston, and Fred Smith, R-Johnston.

Noteworthy

* The leader of a movement to change how voters elect the president of the United States met with House members in hopes of building support for legislation that passed the Senate last year.

Barry Fadem, of National Popular Vote, is backing legislation in which North Carolina would enter a compact with other states to eliminate the power of the Electoral College. If enough states agree, North Carolina would be required to give its electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the popular vote.

On the agenda

The legislature finishes its first week with Thursday morning floor sessions. Lawmakers will return for their usual Monday evening session.

Overheard

'I really want to be back, because I feel like I owe it to my constituents to be here.'

-- Rep. Melanie Goodwin, D-Richmond, on returning to work at the legislature less than two weeks after giving birth to a son.