New year, new laws: Here are 6 measures that will go into effect in NC on Jan. 1
North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature passed nearly 150 bills this year that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law. More than a dozen of those will go into effect at the start of 2022.
While some of those bills make changes that are unlikely to impact the daily lives of most North Carolinians, others stand to completely shift how some of the state’s agencies and organizations work. Here are some of the most important measures that will become law Jan. 1:
- Senate Bill 473: Enhancing local government transparency. Signed into law in November, SB 473 makes it a felony for elected officials to use their positions for their own financial benefit and blocks public officials who serve on nonprofit boards from voting to award contracts to those organizations. “There has to be some consequences for these local government, local elected officials who are abusing their positions,” said State Auditor Beth Wood, who championed the legislation, in a November committee hearing.
- Senate Bill 693: Expediting child safety and permanency. Led by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, a provision of SB 693 that goes into effect Jan. 1 helps get children in the welfare system into permanent homes or placements more quickly. The new law, much of which is already in effect, will also allow parents who test positive for drugs to continue visits with their children and furthers efforts to keep siblings together. “When you look at the whole bill and what the different parts do, it is really trying to look at some of the big components in child welfare that need strengthening and drive those pieces,” said Karen McLeod, a lobbyist for Benchmarks, which represents agencies that help children, families and adults. “The intent collectively is to improve the quality of care.”
- House Bill 366: Regulatory reform. HB 366 consists of numerous measures included in a 2019 regulatory reform bill that never became law, the NC Insider reported earlier this year. The legislation allows for remote building inspections.
House Bill 436: Law enforcement mental health. Police officers will be required to undergo psychological screening and be educated on mental health and wellness strategies.
House Bill 890: Changing Alcohol Beverage Control Commission laws. HB 890 makes changes to laws regulating distribution of liquor and further deregulates the alcohol industry in North Carolina.
Senate Bill 103: Deregulating some professionals who care for kids with autism. North Carolina behavior analysts who provide therapy to a range of patients, including kids with autism, will now be able to practice independently without oversight from licensed psychologists. A provision in this law effective Jan. 1 makes it illegal for these practitioners to practice without a license.
For more North Carolina government and politics news, listen to the Under the Dome politics podcast from The News & Observer and the NC Insider. You can find it at link.chtbl.com/underthedomenc or wherever you get your podcasts.
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
