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Attachment 3 <br /> 1 <br /> 1 DRAFT MINUTES <br /> 2 ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 3 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 4 LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST <br /> 5 March 23, 2026 <br /> 6 8:30 a.m. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a breakfast meeting with the Orange County <br /> 9 Legislative Delegation on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center <br /> 10 in Hillsborough, NC. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jean Hamilton, Vice-Chair Amy Fowler, and Commissioners <br /> 13 Jamezetta Bedford, Marilyn Carter, Sally Greene, and Earl McKee <br /> 14 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Phyllis Portie-Ascott <br /> 15 COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> 16 COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin Fenhagen, and <br /> 17 Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) <br /> 18 LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION PRESENT: Representative Renee Price and Representative Allen Buansi <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Chair Hamilton called the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 The Board of County Commissioners, legislative delegation, and staff introduced themselves. <br /> 23 Commissioner Carter introduced the legislative issues packet. She thanked staff for their work in <br /> 24 preparing the information. She explained how the packet was developed. <br /> 25 Commissioner Carter reviewed the items on the Board's list of priority legislative issues: <br /> 26 <br /> 27 AGRICULTURE (NCACC Legislative Advocacy Goal Category) <br /> 28 <br /> 29 - GOAL—Seek legislation to protect and expand farmland preservation programs. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Commissioner Carter said the county was seeking support from the state to continue to invest in <br /> 32 these programs to preserve farmland. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 GENERAL GOVERNMENT(NCACC Legislative Advocacy Goal Category) <br /> 35 <br /> 36 - GOAL — Seek legislation to increase funding for preserving and repairing existing affordable <br /> 37 housing. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (NCACC Legislative Advocacy Goal Category) <br /> 40 <br /> 41 - GOAL — Seek legislation to expand behavioral health treatment resources and crisis system <br /> 42 capacity. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Commissioner Carter said the county currently lacks the capacity to help people stay out of the <br /> 45 judicial system, and live safely in the community. She said the county is constructing a crisis diversion <br /> 46 facility with no committed state funding. She said without a facility, there are long waits for treatment <br /> 47 and limited options for patients. She said the county's PORT and CARE Teams rely on grant funding which <br /> 48 will on June 30, 2026. <br />