WHAT HAPPENED: The new General Assembly convened for the first time on Wednesday, ceremoniously kicking off a legislative biennium that starts with the 2019 long session.
WHAT IT MEANS: No serious business yet; the convening was mainly organizational. The chambers elected officers and set rules, and members took photos with their families. The filing of substantial bills won't come until later.
ON TAP: The new legislature stands adjourned until noon Jan. 30, and that's when the real work will begin. In the meantime, we do know who will be leading some of the committees. Reps. Jason Saine of Lincolnton, Linda Johnson of Kannapolis and Donny Lambeth of Winston-Salem will head up the House Appropriations Committee, for one. Reps. Julia Howard of Mocksville, Mitchell Setzer of Catawba and John Szoka of Fayetteville will lead the House Finance Committee. Full appointments are ahead.
THE SKINNY: The long session, to take up a good chunk of the year, will involve the development of a new budget and likely a different tone in lawmaking, as Democratic gains in the last election dissolved the veto-proof majority and set a new dynamic for the aisle between parties. According to
Associated Press coverage of the legislature's opening day, re-elected chamber leaders Sen. Phil Berger and Rep. Tim Moore said they're hopeful that lawmakers can come together on big topics like education, disaster recovery and government efficiency. Look for plenty of coverage that matters to North Carolina cities and towns in this Bulletin as the session plays out.