Dear North Carolinian,
I would like to thank you all for electing me to office and allowing me to serve you in the North Carolina Legislature for a third term. It truly has been a pleasure getting to know and hearing from many of you, my employers, on issues that concern you most. The work of a representative is to be a public servant to those who have elected him, and that is what I hope to do everyday in the state legislature. I strive to focus on issues that directly address problems within our state and its existing laws, issues that once fixed will directly impact my constituents positively. My goal in every legislative session is to drive down the cost of living and doing business in our state and pass laws that help to protect our state and the great people living in it. I am wrapping up my 5th year of service and have many updates to report concerning legislation passed this session.
During the 2009 Session, I helped to introduce 16 Bills and had 7 bills passed by the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. This year alone, my colleagues voted 1119 (yes) 14 (no) and 35 (absent) for these bills. I would like to greatly thank many of you who presented ideas and information on the bills I ran. Below is a summary of many bills introduced and passed this session along with disappointments that would have truly helped this state, if they had been given a fair chance or had passed.
Education
* Simplify Building Standards for Pre-K Classes- This bill saves the state and property tax payers money because Pre-K classrooms will not have to be refitted or renovated if they already meet the building standards for Kindergarten classrooms. HB 1031 was passed by the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. (Primary Sponsors: Folwell, Carney, Goforth, Dollar)
* Schools Notified of Gang Violence- This bill authorizes law enforcement agencies to publish criminal intelligence information pertaining to gang violence and activity to a principal of a school affected by gang activity, when there is imminent danger to students, personnel, or property. HB 1327 was passed by the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. (Primary Sponsors: Folwell, Justice, Langdon, Cleveland)
* Nicholas Adkins School Bus Safety- This bill helps to ensure the safety of North Carolina's school children and aids in reducing the number of fatalities caused each year by using video recording systems to detect and prosecute those who pass stopped school buses. HB 440 was named after Nicholas Adkins, a 16 year-old resident from Rockingham County, who was struck and killed by a driver that passed the "Stop" bus sign and hit Nicholas as he was about to board the bus. The bill was passed by the House and Senate unanimously and signed by the Governor. (Primary Sponsors: Folwell, Cole, Mills, Love)
Crime Prevention
* Future Volunteer Firefighters Act- This bill allows uncompensated youths between the ages of 15 and 18 to participate in training through their volunteer Fire Departments and Rescue Squads, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, or the Department of Community Colleges. This bill was enthusiastically endorsed by Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and Assistant State Fire Marshal Tim Bradley. HB 557 was passed unanimously by the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. (Primary Sponsors: Folwell, Pierce, Guice, Stevens)
E-Verify- the online government-run program that allows employers to check the work eligibility of their employees- is considered by many immigration reform activists to be the first step to ending illegal immigration in the country. Despite the program's overwhelming popularity (over 100,000 businesses use the program), immigration reformers have struggled against special interest and ethnic groups to see the program permanently authorized by law. 
