As of September 22, the General Assembly approved House Bill 259, a budget for the current and upcoming fiscal years. The budget bill, which will become law on October 3 without Governor Cooper’s signature, includes three notable changes to public … Read more

With glowing references, top-notch productivity, and all-around likability, Shifty Sam seemed like Aboveboard Town’s most valuable employee (name aside). When Shifty Sam is arrested, his coworkers are shocked and dismayed. The Aboveboard Town Council wants to learn more about Sam’s … Read more

The quorum requirement is a fundamental principle of parliamentary procedure. Quorum refers to the minimum number of people who must be present for a governing body to conduct official business. Taking official action without a quorum present could prompt potential … Read more

My last post introduced parliamentary procedure and local rules of procedure generally. This week, we’ll explore the procedural rules surrounding motions. A motion is a formal proposal by a board member that invites the body to take some action. (RONR … Read more

What do the General Statutes say about whether a motion at a board meeting was proper? When multiple motions are pending during a board meeting, which motion should the board address first? What laws govern how to rescind an action … Read more

This post is Part 9 of a multi-part series co-authored by Kristi Nickodem and Kristina Wilson. For a more detailed explanation and legal analysis of the issues discussed in this blog post series (including citations to cases referenced in the … Read more

This post is Part 8 of a multi-part series co-authored by Kristi Nickodem and Kristina Wilson. For a more detailed explanation and legal analysis of the issues discussed in this blog post series (including citations to cases referenced in the … Read more

This post is Part 7 of a multi-part series co-authored by Kristi Nickodem and Kristina Wilson. For a more detailed explanation and legal analysis of the issues discussed in this blog post series (including citations to cases referenced in the … Read more

Does this person need to take an oath of office? This is by far the most frequent oaths of office question I receive. My colleagues Trey Allen and David Lawrence have written excellent blogs (here and here) on this very … Read more

On July 11, 2022, Governor Cooper’s office published a press release indicating that the statewide state of emergency will end on August 15, 2022.  At that point, Section 166A-19.24, which provides explicit authority for remote meetings, will expire. Many elected … Read more