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2 S <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 states 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 collaboration 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 I40 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 hi-nit 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 30 , 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 fiend 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 /> J <br />