Register for Lobby Day 2019 – April 16

Land for Tomorrow will host it’s annual Land and Water Conservation Lobby Day on Tuesday, April 16.

Register today!

NEW MORNING LOCATION! Lobby Day will begin with a Welcome Briefing at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, 4^th Floor Environmental Conference Room.

We will again offer a Pre-Lobby Day Orientation Webinar to be held on Friday, April 12 at 11:00 am to prepare our advocates with guidance on Land for Tomorrow’s 2019 legislative agenda and to answer frequently asked questions about the event.

We look forward to having you join us in Raleigh to advocate for land and water conservation that’s critical to your organization and region of the state.

Cooper’s Budget Makes Strong Commitment to Land and Water Conservation

The Land for Tomorrow coalition praised Gov. Cooper’s proposed budget, which increases appropriations to the state’s conservation trust funds and provides additional personnel for the state park system.

“Land and water conservation are important to North Carolina’s economy,” said Bill Holman, NC State Director for the Conservation Fund and chair of the Land for Tomorrow Executive Committee. “Tourism, agriculture, and the military are all dependent on land and water conservation. That’s the reason that conservation has always been supported by both sides of the aisle. This is a good beginning; we look forward to working with the N.C. General Assembly on a final budget that supports conservation.”

Gov. Cooper’s budget:

Increases recurring appropriations to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) by $6.8 million and a one-time appropriation of $5 million. CWMTF’s 2019 total appropriation would be $25 million.
Increases recurring appropriations to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) by $3.7 million and a one-time appropriation of $5 million. PARTF’s 2019 total appropriation would be $25 million.

The governor’s budget recommends $1.75 million to hire additional park staff who will work at new park facilities that were funded by Connect NC Bonds that were approved by North Carolina voters three years ago. It also recommends several additional trail projects and a continued partnership with Conservation Corps in the state park system.

Land for Tomorrow is a statewide coalition of community leaders, conservation, and wildlife organizations, and parks and recreation advocates with a common goal: increasing land and water conservation in North Carolina.

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RELEASE: March 7, 2019

Media Contact: Debbie Crane (919) 794-4373

3/6/19 — Support House Bill 14: Reconstitute Various Boards and Commissions

SITUATION:

We’re working to SUPPORT House Bill 14: Reconstitute Various Boards and Commissions.

As you may recall, these two boards, along with four others, were the subject of litigation, which was only recently resolved. However, there is still some ongoing uncertainty regarding the appointments to these two boards. Legislation is needed to bring the boards into compliance with those court decisions.

SOLUTION:

Our request is that House members hear the bill to fix these boards as soon as possible. The language in House Bill 14 would provide an immediate fix to these boards and would allow CWMTF and PARTF to continue their important work.

SAMPLE EMAIL:

Dear Representative,

I write to ask for your support for House Bill 14, which permanently fixes the constitutional defects in the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF). As you know, these trust funds are critical to the work our organization does in our region of the state, and currently our highest priority is getting these boards fixed to resolve any ongoing uncertainty.

House Bill 14, which is cosponsored by Representatives McGrady, Torbett, Ross, and Harrison, would fix all six boards in question, including CWMTF and PARTF. The bill has been referred to Judiciary and State/Local Government, however the bill hasn’t been calendared for a hearing yet. I would appreciate you reaching out to the Judiciary Committee Chairs, Rep. Davis and Rep. Stevens, to let them know you support this bill, and to ask them to hear the bill as soon as possible.

Thank you for your ongoing support for local parks and recreation, state parks, and land and water conservation.

SAMPLE SOCIAL:

#NCGA please SUPPORT HB 14 so the #CWMTF and #PARTF boards can be fixed. This bill provides the solution we need to protect North Carolina’s beautiful spaces, clean water and clean air.#ncpol
#NCGA please support House Bill 14 to provide a fix to the conservation trust fund boards that would allow these funds to continue their important work. #ncpol

12/18 — Senate Bill 821 (Sunset Unconstitutional Boards and Commissions)

SITUATION:

We’re working to OPPOSE Senate Bill 821 (Sunset Unconstitutional Boards and Commissions). This bill is damaging to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund because:

While the six boards and commissions listed in the bill were recently found unconstitutional, this bill does not fix the problem.
Conservation groups will be hesitant to start new conservation projects without knowing that there will be boards in place next year,
The appropriations committees will be reluctant to appropriate funds to these trust funds with this cloud of uncertainty hanging over them.

SOLUTION:

Our request is that legislators fix these boards as soon as possible. The language in House Bill 1120 (Reconstitute Various Boards and Commissions) would provide an immediate fix to these boards and would allow CWMTF and PARTF to continue their important work.

SAMPLE EMAIL:

Dear Representative,

I’m reaching back out to you regarding the various pieces of legislation that would sunset six different boards and commissions, including the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. As you know, those two trust funds are absolutely critical to the work that we do in our part of the state. These trust funds have enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support over the last few legislative sessions, and have in fact received increases almost every year for the last six years thanks to support from members like you.

It is my understanding that Senate Bill 821 (Sunset Unconstitutional Boards and Commissions) is currently being considered by the North Carolina House of Representatives. I respectfully request that you oppose this piece of legislation. While the six boards and commissions listed in the bill were recently found unconstitutional, this bill does not fix the problem, and instead it kicks the can down the road. I’m concerned that not fixing these boards now will create a chilling effect on the important work of these trust funds. Conservation groups like ours will be hesitant to start new conservation projects without knowing that there will be boards in place next year, and I’m concerned that your appropriations committees will be reluctant to appropriate funds to these trust funds with this cloud of uncertainty hanging over them. For those reasons, I would request that you fix these boards as soon as possible. The language in House Bill 1120 (Reconstitute Various Boards and Commissions) would provide an immediate fix to these boards and would allow CWMTF and PARTF to continue their important work.

I appreciate your ongoing support for conservation, and for the reasons stated above, I hope that you will oppose S821, and instead pass the language in H1120 so that the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and Parks and Recreation Trust Fund can continue their important conservation work across our state.

SAMPLE SOCIAL:

#NCGA please OPPOSE NCSB 821 — Sunset Unconstitutional Boards and Commissions. This bill is damaging to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund that protect North Carolina’s beautiful spaces, clean water and clean air.#ncpol
#NCGA please support House Bill 1120 — Reconstitute Various Boards and Commissions — to immediate fix to the conservation trust boards and would these funds to continue their important work. #ncpol