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More bills filed in N.C. General Assembly that could impact veterans, military families

Fayetteville Observer - 4/28/2021

Apr. 28—Since the start of the Jan. 13North Carolina General Assembly legislative session, several bills have been filed that could impact military families and veterans if passed into law.

There are bills that would appropriate state funds to benefit Fayetteville's local military museum, to one that could eliminate a tax for veterans.

Other bills would recognize military spouses or benefit military children who want to play sports and transfer to a new school.

Here's a look at some of the bills that have been filed:

— House Bill 457 and Senate Bill 500 seek to appropriate funds to the Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation. The foundation supports the museum, which is located in downtown Fayetteville.

According to the House version of the bill, it recommends appropriating $3 million to the foundation and city of Fayetteville. The Senate version of the bill recommends appropriating $2.5 million to the foundation.

—Where the bill stands: It passed its first reading March 31 and was referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

—Local representatives and senators who support it: Republican Rep. John Szoka, whose district includes part of Cumberland County, is a primary sponsor along with Rep. Diane Wheatley (R), whose district includes part of Cumberland County, Rep. Billy Richardson (D), whose district includes part of Cumberland County, and Rep. Marvin Lucas (D), whose district includes part of Cumberland County.

Democratic Sens. Kirk deViere, whose district includes part of Cumberland County, and Ben Clark, whose district includes part of Cumberland and Hoke counties, are primary sponsors.

Rep. Garland Pierce (D), whose district includes part of Hoke and Scotland counties, is a cosponsor.

— Senate Bill 12 seeks to provide income tax relief to certain retired members of the Armed Forces.

—Where the bill stands: It passed its first reading Jan. 28 and was referred to the Committee On Rules and Operations of the Senate.

—Local representatives or senators who support it: Democratic Sen. Ben Clark, whose district includes part of Cumberland County, is a primary sponsor. Sen. Kirk deViere, whose district includes part of Cumberland County, is a cosponsor.

— Senate Bill 231 seeks to reorganize rules for interscholastic athletics in public schools to expand the rules of edibility for children of military families to participate in athletics.

The bill would require the State Board of Education to adopt a rule allowing any child of a military family who transfer into middle school or high school to participate in interscholastic athletics, according to the bill's text.

—Where the bill stands: It passed its first reading March 29 and was referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

—Who supports it: Sen. Kirk deViere (D), whose district includes Cumberland County, is a primary sponsor. Sen. Ben Clark (D), whose district includes part of Cumberland and Hoke counties, is a cosponsor.

— House Bill 323 seeks to incentivize buffering military installations from incompatible development and protect floodplains in disaster counties through time-limited tax credits.

—Where the bill stands: It passed its first reading March 18 and was referred to the Committee on Finance.

—Local reps or senators who support it: Republican Rep. John Szoka, whose district includes part of Cumberland County, is a primary sponsor. Rep. James Boles (R), whose district includes part of Moore County, is a cosponsor. Rep. Brenden Jones (R), whose district includes part of Robeson County and Columbus counties, is a cosponsor. Rep. Larry Strickland (R), whose district includes part of Harnett and Johnston counties, is a cosponsor.

— Senate Bill 620 seeks to designate the Friday before Mother's Day as Military Spouse Appreciation Day in North Carolina. According to the bill's text, the first Military Spouse Appreciation Day was observed May 23, 1984, with a proclamation issued by President Ronald Reagan.

—Where the bill stands: It passed its first reading April 7 and was referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

—Local reps or senators who support it: Republican Sen. Jim Burgin, whose district includes Harnett, Johnston and Lee counties, is a primary sponsor.

Sen. Danny Britt (R), whose district includes part of Robeson and Columbus County, is a co-sponsor along with Sen. Kirk deViere (D), whose district includes part of Cumberland County.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

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