AANC Legislative Update (March 2024)
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
The North Carolina General Assembly will convene in for the short session on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. During the interim months, the AANC Government Affairs team continues to meet with makers to discuss the legislation AANC supported in 2023 – HB 551/SB 553: Landlord-Tenant and HOA Changes. The bill passed the House in 2023 and will be awaiting a Senate vote when session begins in late April. Additionally, AANC is regularly meeting with stakeholder organizations, such as the NC Administrative Office of the Courts on the e-courts rollout, and with the NC Chamber of Commerce, the NC REALTORS, the NC Home Builders Association, and others to tackle the housing affordability challenges currently facing the state.
Last fall, the AANC Government Affairs Committee endorsed a slate of seven lawmakers as AANC’s legislative champions. We are working with the appropriate local affiliates to set up meetings with the lawmakers in their districts before the short session begins. The legislative champions were primary sponsors AANC’s supported legislation (HB 551 / SB 553) and/or advocated for the industry in their work this session:
If you come across a challenge related to state law, reach out to AANC’s Government Affairs Director, Sarah DuBose, at GAD@aanconline.org. The AANC Government Affairs Committee will look into what can be done to remedy the situation, whether it is facilitating a meeting to fix an issue, or working with the General Assembly to amend state law.
REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Building Code
At their December 2023 meeting, the NC Building Code Council, the regulatory body responsible for publishing and amending the North Carolina State Building Code, voted to adopt the bulk of the 2021 edition of the International Code Council’s codes, updating the codes from the 2018 version currently in effect. The 2021 edition will take effect in North Carolina on January 1, 2025. With these impending changes to the building code and with the passage of HB 488: Code Council Reorg. And Var. Code Amend in 2023, AANC is actively participating in all NC Building Code Council meetings. If you have a concern or question about the building code, contact Sarah DuBose at GAD@aanconline.org.
RealPage Investigation
On March 4, the Department of Justice announced that Attorney General Stein is investigating RealPage. The press release is available HERE.
Insurance
In response to the (recently rejected) request by the NC Rate Bureau to increase homeowners’ insurance rates by an average of 42.2%, AANC is seeking to establish a working group to evaluate and discuss potential solutions to combat the rising cost of insurance from our industry’s perspective. We are seeking subject matter experts to join the work group. Contact Sarah DuBose at GAD@aanconline.org.
ELECTIONS & PAC
Ahead of the March 5, 2024 primary election, the AANC PAC Board of Trustees voted to support the reelection campaigns of 26 lawmakers. This is a bi-partisan group of lawmakers who have demonstrated a commitment to our industry's values and priorities. Supporting aligned lawmakers is crucial to protecting advancing the rental housing industry’s goals at the North Carolina General Assembly.
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Rep. John Bell (GOP / Wayne) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Bell is the Majority Leader and will continue to be in a leadership position next biennium.
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Rep. Mark Brody (GOP / Anson, Union) – Won the primary election with 82% of the vote and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Brody is a contractor has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Rep. Ashton Clemmons (Dem / Guilford) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Clemmons has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Rep. Kevin Crutchfield (GOP / Cabarrus) – In an upset, incumbent Rep. Crutchfield lost by 171 votes. He is the New Member Leader and is a co-sponsor of AANC-supported HB 551(/SB 553): Landlord-Tenant and HOA Changes.
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Rep. Carla Cunningham (Dem / Mecklenburg) – An AANC legislative champion, she won the primary election with 85% of the vote. She is favored to win the general election. Rep. Cunningham has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Rep. Destin Hall (GOP / Caldwell, Watauga) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Hall is the Rules Chair and incoming Speaker of the House.
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Rep. Kyle Hall (GOP / Forsyth, Stokes) – An AANC legislative champion and sponsor of AANC-supported HB 551 (/SB 553): Landlord-Tenant and HOA Changes; no primary election and is favored to win the general election.
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Rep. Jon Hardister (GOP / Guilford) – An AANC legislative champion and sponsor of AANC-supported HB 551 (/SB 553): Landlord-Tenant and HOA Changes, Rep. Hardister did not secure his bid to become the NC Commissioner of Labor.
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Rep. Ray Pickett (GOP / Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Pickett has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Rep. Robert Reives (Dem / Chatham, Randolph) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Reives is the Democratic Leader in the House.
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Rep. Sarah Stevens (GOP / Surry, Wilkes) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Stevens has consistently supported AANC’s issues, including playing an integral role in working with AANC to improve the summary ejectment process.
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Rep. Shelly Willingham (Dem / Bertie, Edgecombe, Martin) – Won the primary election with 79% of the vote and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Willingham has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Rep. Matthew Winslow (GOP / Franklin, Vance) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Winslow a deputy conference chair and a home builder.
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Rep. Michael Wray (Dem / Halifax, Northampton, Warren) – In a potential upset, incumbent Rep. Wray is down by 42 votes. He has the option to call for a recount. He has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Rep. Jeff Zenger (GOP / Forsyth) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Rep. Zenger is a general contractor and developer and has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Sen. Dan Blue (Dem / Wake) – Secured 86% of the primary vote and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Blue is the Democratic Leader of the Senate.
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Sen. Danny Britt (GOP / Hoke, Robeson, Scotland) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Britt has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Sen. Dave Craven (GOP / Anson, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Union) – An AANC legislative champion and sponsor of AANC-supported SB 553 (/HB 551): Landlord-Tenant and HOA Changes no primary election and is favored to win the general election.
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Sen. Warren Daniel (GOP / Buncombe, Burke, McDowell) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Daniel has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Sen. Todd Johnson (GOP / Cabarrus, Union) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Johnson has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Sen. Michael Lee (GOP / New Hanover) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Lee has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Sen. Paul Lowe (Dem / Forsyth) – Secured 65% of the primary vote and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Lowe has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Sen. Tim Moffitt (GOP / Henderson, Polk, Rutherford) – An AANC legislative champion and sponsor of AANC-supported SB 553 (/HB 551): Landlord-Tenant and HOA Changes no primary election and is favored to win the general election.
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Sen. Buck Newton (GOP / Greene, Wayne, Wilson) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Newton has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Sen. Paul Newton (GOP / Cabarrus) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Newton is the Majority Leader and has consistently supported AANC’s issues.
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Sen. Bill Rabon (GOP / Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover) – No primary election and is favored to win the general election. Sen. Rabon is the Rules Chair of the Senate.
On the federal side, GCAA member and current NC House Representative John Bradford, ran for U.S. Congress, but did not secure the bid. Representative Bradford has been a consistent advocate for the rental housing industry across North Carolina.
AANC PAC RAFFLE
The AANC PAC Board of Trustees is preparing for the PAC raffle that will be held during the AANC 2024 Education & Legislative Conference. The raffle is our largest PAC fundraising effort each year and it is especially important this year since it is an election year. This fundraiser helps us have a strong PAC, which is vital to our political efforts here in North Carolina.
Previous year contributions include items such as: restaurant and Visa gift cards, wine baskets, Apple watches, Yeti coolers, Kate Spade totes, a Peloton, and many more.
If you are interested in contributing, email Sarah DuBose (sdubose@mwcllc.com) to confirm your contribution. Please include whether you plan to bring the item with you to conference or will mail it directly to Sarah at: 501 Fayetteville Street, Suite 500, Raleigh, NC 27601.
Note: State law requires that all contributions to the PAC raffle be completed by individuals. They may not be purchased by your employer or another organization.
Thank you for your consideration and for supporting the AANC PAC efforts!
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COALITION OF NORTH CAROLINA
Going into the 2024 general election, the leadership of Multifamily Housing Coalition of North Carolina will be working to identify issues that affect the rental housing industry and elevate candidates who support the important role that the rental housing industry plays in providing housing for North Carolinians. If you would like to learn how to support the MHCNC, please contact Jon Lowder at jon@aanconline.org.