Senator Bill Cook General Assembly Legislative Update February 27, 2017 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Reining in State Regulations

    Continuing our strong record of eliminating or simplifying job-killing rules and regulations, along with Senators Andy Wells and Norman Sanderson we filed a comprehensive regulatory reform bill last week, Senate Bill 131. In the past six years, we have crafted legislation rolling back unnecessary and burdensome regulations. Due to our efforts through the Regulatory Reform Act of 2013, rules now must be reviewed for effectiveness and need at least once every 10 years, or they will automatically expire. Thus, 12 percent of the rules reviewed so far are being removed. Additionally, over one-fourth of rules have to undergo further scrutiny through the rule adoption process, meaning more could be repealed. Results show that this reform is working, hence approximately 871 rules are slated to be removed. This bill continues our commitment of providing relief to the citizens of North Carolina by modernizing and simplifying cumbersome or outdated regulations.

Beach Stabilization Study

    A provision in the 2016 state budget directed the Division of Coastal Management and the Department of Environmental Quality to study and provide an executive summary of readily available data on the physical, economic, storm mitigation, and public safety benefits of beach nourishment. Tourism is one of North Carolina's largest industries and based on most recent statistics, tourism statewide generates $1.0 billion in state tax revenue and $601.2 million in local tax revenue. In 2013, 3 of the top 10 counties for tourist travel expenditures were coastal counties, with Dare County (#4) generating $957 million, New Hanover County (#8) $478 million, and Brunswick County (#10) $471 million. Dare County alone provides 5% of North Carolina's tourist travel income, with 17.7% of overnight visitors to the state reporting beach recreation as their leading activity during their stay. We must maintain a healthy ecosystem, protect the public's right to access and use the beach, protect property rights, and afford property owners (both public and private) with storm protection. To review a copy of the report click here.


    Enjoyed meeting with Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently to discuss the needs of our state's number one industry. The agriculture sector contributes $84 billion to the state's economy and accounts for more than 17 percent of the state's income.

Senate Issues Subpoena after Cooper Cabinet Secretary is a Repeated No-Show

    Last Thursday, Gov. Cooper's Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs failed to appear for a third time at a hearing to confirm his appointment, those of us who serve on the Senate Commerce Committee voted to issue a subpoena compelling Sec. Larry D. Hall to appear this week. Open government is vital to an informed public. Giving the people of this state an opportunity to learn about unelected department heads who control billions of their tax dollars is not something anyone should be fighting over. Nor should it be controversial that public officials must - like everyone else - follow the law.

• Contact: Bill Cook
•     bill.cook@ncleg.net