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r <br />ij 11 <br />Environment <br />Million Acres Open Space Goal (SB 1328 — Co- sponsor of House Bill) <br />We approved Gov. Jim Hunt's Million Acre Initiative confirming the state's commitment <br />to preserving one million acres of open space through public and private efforts. The bill <br />provided no money to facilitate this goal. <br />Preserve Farmland /Protect Small Family Farms (HB 1132 — Primary Sponsor) <br />Sets up an incentive program for counties to inventory their farmland and develop a plan <br />to preserve farms in colldboration with landowners. <br />Billboard Moratorium (SB 1275 — Co- sponsor of House Bill) <br />The General Assembly voted to extend a moratorium on new billboards on I -40 east of <br />the Alamance /Orange county line. The one -year moratorium gives lawmakers time to <br />solicit input on regulation of billboards. Some legislators said the moratorium is a <br />prelude to an outright ban on the signs. <br />Emissions Inspections Regulations (HB 1638) <br />This bill established equipment and training requirements for emissions inspections that <br />vary according to the year of the vehicle being tested. <br />Miscellaneous <br />Telephone Solicitation (HB 1493 — Co- sponsor) <br />This new law bans telemarketers from calling between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. Telemarketers <br />must identify themselves, their employers and a number which consumers can call to <br />complain. Also telemarketers cannot block their numbers from caller ID units. <br />Telephone companies must inform customers how to keep telephone solicitors from <br />calling. <br />Video Poker (SB 1542) <br />The House and Senate approved strict regulations to limit the number of video poker <br />machines in North Carolina and set penalties for people found violating those regulations. <br />Machines that were listed for property taxes in January 2000 and legally operating on <br />June 305 2000 are the only machines still allowed in the state. No more than three <br />machines may be in any location, and those machines must be in plain view. <br />Toll Roads (HB 1630) <br />In a major policy shift, this bill allows developers to fund and build one private toll road <br />in North Carolina. The Department of Transportation can use its eminent domain powers <br />to grant right -of -way to the developer only as a last resort and to control access to the <br />construction project. <br />Interlock/ Open Container Changes (HB 1499) <br />This bill put a ban on open wine and beer containers in the passenger areas of cars. It <br />also requires interlock ignition devices on the vehicles of some repeat drunk drivers. <br />