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