Rep Paul Luebke, D Durham has a few technical amendment, including one at the request of the state treasurer that would allow LGC to charge a fee for some analyses that would be required. Side note: The State Treasurer is the head of the Local Government Commission and there are currently no county representatives on the LGC.  The treasurer has indicated she did not want the LGC to be assigned oversight responsibilities but per an inquiry by Rep Folwell, R-Forsyth, she reportedly has agreed to the financial oversight of the annexations.

Amendment by Rep Hugh Holliman, D Davidson, addresses “the core issue of annexation” by providing a vote of the people. If people being annexed think it is unfair – petition of the voters in the city and annexed area and if 15 percent of the registered voters agree, the proposed annexation would be up for a vote  at the next municipal election.  The annexation could not take effect until after the vote.  Several members have questions including Rep Deborah Ross, D Wake, says in a large city it would be difficult to get 15 percent to oppose the annexation for a small areas – concerns about the one size fits all provision (Essentially what the amendment does is exempt the reality of a referendum in a large city – begins to dawn on committee members). Rep Bill Owens, D Pasquotank, asks what other states do and is reminded that very few states have forced annexation so it’s hard to find a model.

Side note: the word in the halls is that this is a hail Mary move to save Hugh Holliman in his district. If so, his proposing the amendment allows him to claim advocating for a vote, no matter where the amendment goes. See this letter to his hometown newspaper. Rep Dale Folwell asks Holliman if he is proposing the amendment to kill the bill, Holliman says no.

Rep Paul Luebke, D Durham, speaks against the amendment, Rep Earl Jones D Guilford and Rep Bill Faison D Orange speak for.

Starnes calls for ayes and noes on the vote. The amendment passes 16 – 12. 

Details on the amendment to allow affected citizens to vote prior to being annexed:

Voting yes 16:
Curtis Blackwood R Union
John Blust R Guilford
Van Braxton D-Lenoir
Bill Faison D Orange
Dale Folwell R Forsyth
Hugh Holliman D-Davidson
Julia Howard R Davie
Earl Jones D-Guilford
David Lewis R Harmett
Danny McComas R New Hanover
Darrell McCormick R Yadkin
Johnathan Rhyne R Lincoln
Mitchell Setzer R Catawba
Paul Stam R Wake
Edgar Starnes R Wake
Thom Tillis R Mecklenburg

Voting no 12:
Kelly Alexander D-Mecklenburg
Becky Carney D-Mecklenburg
Tricia Cotham D-Mecklenburg
Larry Hall D-Durham
Sandra Hughes D-New Hanover
Dewey Hill D-Columbus
Bill Owens D-Pasquotank
Deborah Ross D-Wake
Paul Leubke D-Guilford
Pryor Gibson D-Anson
William Wainwright D-Craven
Jennifer Weiss D-Wake