Hidden costs in legislative catch-alls

What a long strange trip it’s been.

What began as a five-page bill in March 2023 titled Dental Practice Act Changes, ballooned into a 132-page omnibus bill that included just about everything but its original intent.

The only mention of anything remotely related to dentistry is SUBPART II-H: CAPITAL, Section 2H.1(b). It changes the $1.5 million allocated for a dental hygienist program at Montgomery Community College to include capital improvements or equipment for both the dental and nursing programs at the college.

Instead, State Bill 382l — now law — covers such disconnected ground as deadlines for absentee ballot mailing, limitations on the power of the governor and attorney general, and funds for hurricane relief.

It’s as if every legislator tacked on whatever he or she wanted, making a Swiss Army knife of bills. And when you package it all together in a bow for hurricane relief, who can vote against that?

The law does include a few provisions specific to Burke County:

• $20 million is allocated for site development, pre-construction, and construction activities at the Burke Business Park (originally designated for the Great Meadows industrial site)
• Redirects $3.25 million to Partners Health Management, a local management entity/managed care organization, for construction, planning, and operation of a regional substance abuse treatment facility Burke County
• Funds allocated to the Town of Connelly Springs in Burke County are redirected to Burke County for any water or wastewater project within the county
• Allocates operating and maintenance funds for Joiner Hall and other buildings at Morganton’s North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics’ Morganton campus

We have written news articles about SB 382, and in this edition, we specifically examine its implications for the North Carolina School for the Deaf. You can find this coverage on page 6A. This writing is not directed at any particular provision. It’s the process that troubles us. We have not, and dare we say neither have the legislators, read every word of the tome. And maybe that’s the point.

The “dental” bill (tongue firmly implanted in cheek) sat in conference committee from June 2023 until the committee came out into the light with a revised bill on Nov. 19, 2024, that in no way resembled its original form. The very next day, both the Senate and House adopted the conference report, passing the final version of SB 382.

Some may hail the effort for its efficiency; however, we see serious risks to transparency and accountability. By packaging reforms with universally appealing disaster recovery efforts, controversial measures may pass without adequate debate or scrutiny.

With 499 distinct provisions spanning over 130 pages, Senate Bill 382 leaves little room for voters — or even legislators — to fully comprehend its contents. Important policy changes can easily slip through unnoticed.

Another danger lies in the erosion of accountability. When legislators vote for an omnibus bill, they are forced to either accept or reject the entire package, regardless of its individual merits. A lawmaker who supports disaster recovery funding may feel compelled to approve unrelated provisions they would otherwise oppose.

This all-or-nothing approach blurs the lines of responsibility, making it harder for constituents to understand where their representatives stand on specific issues.

Perhaps most troubling is the potential for political manipulation. Legislators are held hostage and forced to make impossible choices, prioritizing one issue at the expense of another.

We are not suggesting that omnibus bills be abandoned altogether. There are times when bundling is necessary, especially for related issues like budget appropriations. We are, however, against the kitchen-sink philosophy.

Burke County residents deserve better — a government that values clarity, deliberation, and integrity in crafting the policies that shape our state.