NC General Assembly

The bill would create a new Child Welfare Escalation Team that would investigate reports of abuse and neglect. It would also require more training for social workers and stronger documentation of home inspections by child protective services.

The 37-page bill contains a slew of provisions including allowing any voter to challenge any other ballot and banning overseas voters who haven't ever lived in NC from voting in state elections.

The measure was introduced after the state Supreme Court gave a coastal county the green light to spend occupancy tax revenue on law enforcement and other public safety services.

Republican state Sen. Vickie Sawyer has proposed legislation that would require Charlotte and other local governments to repay $60 million to the state if they don’t reverse course and support proposed privately built and managed Interstate 77 toll lanes in south Charlotte.

Legislation introduced and approved in the state House Tuesday would block counties from using occupancy taxes to fund public safety and other core services. The bill comes in response to a legal dispute between Currituck County and the hotel industry.

Jaleeyah Tune, 13, was killed the week before Christmas in Goldsboro. Her family has worked with lawmakers to craft the new legislation.

On Due South, Leoneda Inge spoke with North Carolina State Senator Natalie Murdock, about the history of voting rights, Black representation, and the future of activism.

The state legislature is taking final votes Wednesday to put several constitutional amendments restricting tax rates on November's ballot. They passed the House thanks to support from two Charlotte legislators who recently left the Democratic Party.

The proposed amendments are among five that the General Assembly is considering putting before voters on this November's ballot.

A new bill filed Tuesday in the North Carolina House would expand protections for immigrant students in public schools.