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2023 Legislative Seminar
May 16, 2023 @ 10:00 am
Whether you are new to policy advocacy or have been engaged in this work for years, the Council’s Legislative Seminar offers a chance to learn about the important discussions during this 2023 General Assembly session. By refracting policy through the lens of faith, we can frame a different conversation that leads to meaningful change together.
The Legislative Seminar is designed to inform people in the Council’s network about crucial issues on the General Assembly’s agenda and, more broadly, about North Carolina’s significant public policy changes. Held biennially when the General Assembly holds its “long session,” the Seminar offers people of faith the factual tools they need to faithfully consider the policy matters that affect our lives and the lives of our neighbors.
Click here to register.
Thank you to our sponsor:
Pastors for North Carolina Children
Workshop Session One
Reproductive Justice & Abortion Policy in NC by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters, Professor at Elon University
This session will review the state of abortion access in the US since the Dobbs decision and the fall of Roe with particular attention to abortion policy in North Carolina. Participants will examine how the frame of Reproductive Justice (RJ) can be used in congregations to educate and empower people to advocate for the health, safety, and well-being of women, children, and families in North Carolina.
Bringing the Parable of the Good Samaritan to Life: Improving Drug Policy in North Carolina by Randy Abbott, Roxanne Saucier, Jordan Scott; Expand Good Samaritan Coalition
Jordan, Randy, and Roxanne will discuss developments at the legislature related to drug policy in North Carolina. This year our nation and our state have seen a record number of drug overdose deaths. Twice as many people now die in the United States from overdose than died at the peak of the AIDS crisis. In recent years many have declared that “we cannot arrest our way out of this problem.” Yet, at the very same time that overdose death rates amongst Black and Indigenous people have overtaken rates among white people, we are seeing a return to punitive approaches to deal with this health issue.
This legislative session has been a mixed bag when it comes to drug policy. On the positive side, there are proposals for money flowing into North Carolina from the Federal government and from opioid settlements to be used for health and harm reduction approaches to drug use. Our coalition has championed long-needed changes to expand the state’s Good Samaritan law, to better protect those who call for help in overdose emergencies. On the negative side, laws are advancing to increase penalties for drugs and to make it easier to charge those who share drugs with murder when an overdose death occurs.
We’ll discuss the latest policy developments and share talking points about the way forward for compassionate drug policy in our state.
Answer the Call: Stand Against Anti-Immigrant Legislation by Edgar Vergara Millán, Iglesia La Semilla
This workshop will explore the history of anti-immigrant legislation in North Carolina and take a close look at its most recent effort: NC House Bill 10. The workshop will invite participants to look at the issue from a biblical/theological lens and will provide an opportunity to hear from community members who are directly affected by this type of legislation.
Our Dollars, Our Future: Updates on the State Budget Process & Ways to Engage Year Round by Alexandra Sirota, Suzy Khachaturyan; NC Budget & Tax Center
The NC Budget & Tax Center will share an update on where we are in the biennial budget process, how the decisions made to date are impacting our ability to meet people’s priorities and identify ways we can organize to ensure future budgets fund the services and programs our state needs so every North Carolinian – from Boone to Wilmington and all parts between – has what they need to thrive.
Preventing Gun Violence in North Carolina: Advocating for Programs and Policies that Work by Sara Smith, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence
Attendees will learn about the problem of gun violence in North Carolina; evidence-based program and policy solutions; and how to advocate for these solutions at the local, state, and federal levels.
Workshop Session Two
Reproductive Justice & Abortion Policy in NC by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters, Professor at Elon University
This session will review the state of abortion access in the US since the Dobbs decision and the fall of Roe with particular attention to abortion policy in North Carolina. Participants will examine how the frame of Reproductive Justice (RJ) can be used in congregations to educate and empower people to advocate for the health, safety, and well-being of women, children, and families in North Carolina.
The State of LGBTQ+ North Carolina by Artie Hartsell, Equality NC
North Carolina legislators are using attacks on LGBTQ+ youth – especially trans youth – and their families as campaign fodder, but the legislation they are proposing has a serious impact on all of us. In this workshop, we will talk about the current legislative session and what you can do.
Voting Rights by Bob Phillips, Common Cause NC
In this workshop, we will explore the current state of voting rights in North Carolina and the legislation being discussed at the North Carolina General Assembly that could impact those rights. We will dive into the current debates surrounding early voting access and restrictions on mail-in voting, and we will discuss recent NC Supreme Court rulings impacting the rights of voters and the implications that come with it. Participants will learn about the potential consequences of these changes, including the impact on marginalized communities and the potential for voter suppression.
Family Friendly Workplace Policies and Other Workplace Legislation by Clermont Ripley, North Carolina Justice Center
This workshop will cover the various bills introduced in 2023 which would expand access for workers to paid leave, paid sick days, higher wages, and other proposals that would strengthen the economic security of working families. It will also touch on legislation that would restrict workers’ rights and discuss the potential for any of these bills to reach Governor Cooper’s desk.
A Faithful Call to Climate Action by Susannah Tuttle, NC Council of Churches & Ryke Longest, Duke University School of Law
The NC Council of Churches formally intervened in the NC Utility Commission’s docket on the NC Carbon Plan with legal representation by Ryke Longest. This workshop will discuss how the NC Carbon Plan was established through legislation, where we are now in the process of developing the state’s plan, and why community stakeholder engagement is critical to the success of protecting the people and places that we love. We will offer ways to get involved in environmental and climate justice issues as we work together to create a hope-filled, equitable future for all.