Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
27 <br /> Commissioner Bedford thanked Brenda Bartholomew for the presentation and for the rX <br /> card option for employees. <br /> Commissioner McKee thanked staff for these cost-saving options. He said the resulting <br /> increase is more reasonable. <br /> Chair Hamilton said she thinks it is important to invest in employees and help them do the <br /> best job that they can do for the county. <br /> b. Orange County's Proposed 2026 Priority Legislative Issues <br /> The Board reviewed and discussed the proposed Orange County 2026 Priority Legislative Issues <br /> as developed by the Legislative Issues Work Group (LIWG), and approved the Top 5 Orange <br /> County 2026 Priority Legislative Issues and the full list of twenty-one (21 ) Priority <br /> Legislative Issues for submittal to Orange County's legislative delegation. <br /> BACKGROUND: Orange County's Legislative Breakfast with Orange County's legislative <br /> delegation, in conjunction with the 2026 North Carolina General Assembly session, is scheduled <br /> for March 23, 2026. The Board of Commissioners has historically approved a set of priority <br /> legislative issues each year for presentation to/discussion with the delegation. <br /> The Board historically has designated two members to work with staff on a Legislative Issues <br /> Work Group (LIWG)to develop a proposed legislative priorities document. Based on the work of <br /> the LIWG, the BOCC has then reviewed and approved a package of legislative items to present <br /> to Orange County's legislative delegation. Commissioners Phyllis Portie Ascott and Marilyn Carter <br /> are serving on the 2026 LIWG and have worked with staff on the attached 2026 legislative <br /> materials. <br /> As the LIWG considered its approach for this year, the Group determined to identify a list of <br /> Legislative Priority Issues in conjunction with: <br /> • The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Legislative Advocacy <br /> Goals; and <br /> • Orange County's Strategic Plan Goals/Priorities. <br /> During its review, the Group identified twenty-one (21) Priority Legislative Issues (Attachment 2). <br /> From that list, the Group determined its "Top 5 Priority Legislative Issues" (Attachment 1). It is <br /> recommended that the Board review the proposed Top 5 Legislative Issues as well as the full list <br /> of twenty-one (21) items, consider modifying both documents as may be necessary based on <br /> discussion, and consider any other potential revisions. <br /> It should also be noted that the LIWG has been developing an expanded document regarding the <br /> Orange County 2026 Priority Legislative Issues that provides background information and talking <br /> points for the priority issues. Upon completion, that document will be shared with Board members <br /> and staff for use as pursuit of the Board's adopted Legislative Priority Issues moves forward. <br /> Following discussion of and any amendments to Attachments 1 and 2, the Board is asked to <br /> approve both documents. Staff will then work with the Chair to share the approved documents <br /> with Orange County's legislative delegation in preparation for discussion at the March 23, 2026 <br /> Legislative Breakfast. <br /> The work of the Legislative Issues Work Group to this point is based on the current information <br /> available for the 2026 General Assembly Session. The issues addressed by the Group may <br />