Orange County 2026 Priority Legislative Issues

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10 • GOAL — Support statewide funding to research and combat invasive species. TALKING POINTS/LOCAL IMPACT • Native, natural ecosystems are important to Orange County's environmental, social and economic quality. Orange County's native plants and ecosystems provide ecological benefits including wildlife habitat and forage, erosion control, nutrient reduction/uptake, carbon sequestration, and water and air filtration. • The primary threat to the native flora of Orange County and the greater central Piedmont region is non-native, invasive plants. This is in large part due to deliberate or accidental introduction of these non-native species in development projects and landscaping (residential, commercial, utilities and roads). The patterns of population growth and development have helped increase the amount of non-native, invasive species in Orange County landscapes. These species can quickly overwhelm the landscape and often form a monoculture, devoid of species diversity and unable to support the local wildlife and other major benefits of the natural ecosystems. • Invasive species in Orange County threaten local ecosystems by choking out native plants and harming wildlife, with major offenders including Privet (Asian Varieties), Autumn Olive, English Ivy, Wisteria (Asia Varieties), Japanese Stiltgrass, and Japanese Knotweed. • Aquatic areas are threatened by hydrilla, while Tree-of-Heaven and Porcelain Berry are common in residential and wooded areas. • The costs of removing these invasive species are borne by the County and towns. GENERAL GOVERNMENT (NCACC Legislative Advocacy Goal Category) Orange County faces rising housing costs, aging homes, and shrinking affordability, pushing workers and families out of the community. • GOAL—Seek legislation to expand workforce housing programs for public employees. (Strategic Plan Priority 3, Objective 6) TALKING POINTS/LOCAL IMPACT • Many County employees live outside Orange County due to high housing costs. • The County has never operated a homebuyer or downpayment assistance program. • GOAL — Seek legislation to increase funding for affordable rental units, including low barrier and supportive housing. (Strategic Plan Priority 3, Objectives 2 & 3) TALKING POINTS/LOCAL IMPACT • Federal cuts will reduce rental assistance, increasing homelessness risk. • Permanent Supportive Housing is an evidence-based model facing significant federal funding reductions. • GOAL — Maintain or increase direct funding to rural and smaller transportation agencies.