In this report, we evaluate several opportunities for making the North Carolina General Assembly more transparent, effective, and responsive to the public. Specifically, areas under consideration include leadership term limits,…
North Carolina has tremendously benefited from tax reforms begun over a decade ago. Energy efficiency mandates that began in the late 2000s and continued into the early 2010s created an…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering two regulatory changes that would drastically alter the market for combustible tobacco products. With its proposed very low nicotine (VLN) standard,…
North Carolina state government alone spent $10.4 billion in 2022–23 to educate 1.5 million public school students. Public education is of paramount importance to North Carolina, backed by state constitutional…
North Carolina boasts nearly 43,000 farms covering over 8.1 million acres of farmland, producing $18.7 billion in agriculture product sales (eighth in the nation in 2022). Even more impressive, output…
North Carolina has a lot to brag about when it comes to its tax climate. Over the past dozen years, state legislators have transformed it from one of the least…
The purpose of the North Carolina Budget, Tax, and Economic Highlights guide is to equip the legislator, as well as the layman, with updated data to better understand state fiscal…
Central to North Carolina’s economic output is its position on the Eastern Seaboard and utilizing that geography to its advantage through its seaports. The Tar Heel State’s two seaports stand…
The increased interest in renewable energy has led to the implementation of biofuel incentives and mandates by many state governments in the United States. Production of biofuels using edible crops,…
Many properties outside of incorporated cities in North Carolina are located on roads that are not maintained by any state or local government. Some of these roads may have no…
It has been several decades since North Carolina produced a set of congressional and state legislative redistricting maps that have survived for an entire decade. Courts have struck down many…
As “the birthplace of American Forestry,” North Carolina is often recognized for its early role in establishing research-backed forest management techniques, and it continues to offer a refreshing perspective. The…