The open meetings law requires all official meetings of public bodies to be open to the public. G.S. 143-318.10(a). However, government bodies can hold closed-door meetings, known as closed sessions, under certain limited circumstances. When in closed session, the public … Read more

In late 2024, I hosted a live webinar featuring expert tax foreclosure attorneys from across North Carolina sharing best practice pointers for local governments who use the foreclosure remedy. That webinar is now available for on-demand purchase and viewing.  (Note … Read more

Many of the confidentiality laws that apply to North Carolina’s social services agencies, mental health facilities, healthcare providers, local health departments, and substance use disorder treatment providers permit disclosure of confidential information with client or patient consent. However, these confidentiality … Read more

It’s bad enough that employment laws have such confusing acronyms – FLSA, FMLA, ADEA, ADA – but why do they have to use different terms for the same thing? Don’t “serious health condition” and “disability” refer to the same thing? … Read more

The North Carolina General Assembly amended state law to greatly restrict local government discretion to amend local zoning ordinances. The statutory provision, amended as part of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 – Part III, Session Law 2024-57 (S.B. 382), … Read more

I’ll be the first to admit that my annual property tax calendar, while useful, can also be sleep inducing.  To help keep you awake while reading the newly published 2025 calendar, below I highlight some of the more “exciting” (loosely … Read more

Following the Senate, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted to override Governor Cooper’s veto on Session Law 2024-57 (Senate Bill 382) last week. The legislation effects sweeping change to the executive and judicial branches and elections law. It marks … Read more

A new Court of Appeals case sheds some light on the previously unsettled question of whether the open meetings law applies to email exchanges between a majority of a public body. In NC Citizens for Transparent Government, Inc. v. Village … Read more

During Hurricane Helene, many local governments in Western North Carolina experienced significant damage to their administrative buildings that rendered them unusable. As local governments prepare to repair damaged buildings or construct new ones, they must also determine how to manage … Read more

As they say, time flies when you are having fun dealing with lots of federal grant compliance requirements. The American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund’s (ARP/CSLFRF) obligation deadline is December 31, 2024. That means that all counties … Read more

While the response to Hurricane Helene continues, local governments are looking ahead to the long road to recovery. In a report issued by the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM), Hurricane Helene Recovery Recommendations: Preliminary Damage and … Read more

Several months ago, I released a blog post on the new North Carolina law that prohibits local governments, state agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch from allowing pornography to be viewed on their networks or devices (Section 7 … Read more

Property tax collection remedies are not limited to the collection of property taxes.  This blog provides an overview of how local governments may collect other taxes and fees.  For more details, please see this bulletin. Note that the collection rules … Read more

Floodplain regulations are essential elements of public safety and community resilience. Floodplain regulations are also a complex web of technical standards and inter-governmental coordination. As communities seek to recover after a flood and as communities seek to plan for future … Read more

As part of the 2024 revisions to the Uniform Guidance, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expanded the list of targeted businesses for socioeconomic contracting consideration to include veteran-owned businesses. The revised language of 2 C.F.R. 200.321 encourages local governments that are … Read more

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina General Assembly took action with recovery legislation, enacting the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 (Part I), Session Law 2024-51, and the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 – Part II, Session Law 2024-53. Understandably these … Read more

Failure to perform a cost or price analysis is one of FEMA’s “Top 10” procurement mistakes made by recipients and subrecipients. Due to Hurricane Helene, many local governments in Western North Carolina are already or will be entering into contracts that require … Read more

Part 1 of this series discussed the spread of misinformation and threats on social media. This post will analyze misinformation and threats at public meetings, particularly during public comment periods. What can a local government do when misinformation is shared or … Read more

Misinformation about western North Carolina has spread rapidly in the wake of Hurricane Helene. As the New York Times reported last week, this surge of online misinformation has included false statements about the hurricane and the government’s response, calls for … Read more

In state fiscal year 2022-2023, county departments of social services in North Carolina received 35,400 reports alleging the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. Fifty-six counties across the state have addressed this problem through creating adult protection multidisciplinary teams … Read more