WHAT HAPPENED: While observers kept eyes on budget possibilities in the Senate -- remember
the House's recent budget-veto override vote that caught many by surprise -- this week's conversation fell more on any remaining priority bills and standalone spending authorizations, the latter per North Carolina's ongoing lack of an approved-and-signed state budget. "There's no sense holding those things up because of an unrelated disagreement on the budget overall," Senate leader Phil Berger said at a press conference. Next week, he said, is less certain but could involve long days.
WHAT IT MEANS: The General Assembly began the 2019 long session on Jan. 30. We've said before that some weeks had felt like wind-downs on legislative activity. Now, in October, with moves on those "mini" budget bills to fund programs or projects around the state, some top lawmakers indicate they're ready, to some degree, to turn off the lights and call it a day. There's still some work on the table in the meantime.
ON TAP: Adjournment? Senator Berger said he wants to close down his chamber by Oct. 31. That doesn't preclude reconvenings, though, as some big-ticket items like redistricting and Medicaid hang in the air.
THE SKINNY: General Assembly leaders may discuss the road ahead over the weekend, deciding or at least working toward understanding what the final priorities will be. Bills still in play right now that don't meet the cut aren't immediately doomed, as the 2020 continuation of legislation business -- known as the short session -- will begin in the spring. Read on for more of this week's activity.
Grammy Award-winning artist Common and cities-focused author Peter Kageyama are booked to keynote this year's City Summit, the National League of Cities' annual conference that draws local government officials and supporters from across the country for a better tomorrow. It's set for Nov. 20-23 in San Antonio, Texas. "The conference will offer local officials education for professional development, discussions on common challenges and new trends affecting cities and proven best practices that will improve local communities," says NLC. "Exclusive to NLC’s fall conference, mobile workshops offer city leaders a chance to see the success of peers during guided tours of noteworthy municipal projects." You can learn more about the 100-plus educational sessions and networking opportunities, and so much more, at citysummit.nlc.org. Registration is open.