Our Government Relations team is the lobbying arm of NCRGEA.  Our lobbyist team and Government Relations Committee are responsible for carrying out the legislative goals and agenda as created and adopted by the NCRGEA Board of Directors.

Legislative News & Updates

NCRGEA Legislative Agenda

Our NCRGEA legislative agenda is created every biennium and reviewed annually by our Board of Directors and our Government Raletions Committee prior to the start of the General Assembly’s long session.  Long sessions occur in odd-numbered years and short sessions in subsequent even-numbered years.

Because the lobbying goals of the association trend around similar issues: healthcare, pension sustainability, cost of living adjustments for retirees, among others – our legislative priorities and goals do not often fluctuate in subject, but in subject matter.  In more recent years, achieving progress toward our legislative goals has become more complex due to the changing political tides and conflicts that make them increasingly more difficult to accomplish

2022 Legislative Goals

As the largest association of retired government employees in the United States, the NCRGEA advocates for the following:

1. Annual cost of living increases or other pension enhancements for state and local government retirees.
   
2. Strengthening the state’s defined benefit plan for current and future state and local retirees.
   
3. Fulfilling the state’s constitutional requirement to fully fundNorth Carolina Retirement Systems and the State Health Plan.
   
4. Increasing access to and quality of health care for retirees across North Carolina.
   
5. Expanding first to last mile access to dependable broadband in underserved areas.
6. Expanding the Bailey tax exemption to all state and local retirees and pursuing other tax exemption opportunities.

NCRGEA Lobbying Efforts

NCRGEA has a team of four registered, contracted lobbyists who are always represented at the General Assembly.  When in session, we attend House and Senate committees, track bills relevant to our agenda, mission, and strategic goals, and meet with legislators and staff to promote NCRGEA’s agenda.  Cultivating relationships with legislators, legislative staff, “sister” groups and government agencies, including the Office of the State Treasurer, are of utmost importance for the lobbying team.

Our lobbying team is also prepared to speak to support or oppose legislation of positive or negative consequence for NCRGEA members.

Ways to Keep Informed

Government Relations Updates and Alerts

When the legislature is in session, your NCRGEA staff compiles and shares this information through email updates, this website, social media posts, and calls to action.  We keep this information up to date to keep you informed. The goal is to provide you with the most current information so you are able to make an informative decision as to how to approach legislators to show your support or opposition on an upcoming issue.

End-of-Session Summary

At the close of each legislative session, your NCRGEA lobbying team will provide a synopsis of the decisions made during that session.  Additionally, our team will analyze trends in pension issues, cost of living adjustments and other fiduciary matters of importance to our association members.

Contact with Local and Legislative Members

Through our website, we provide the tools to help you contact your legislators.  By calling, writing letters, or sending emails, contacting your legislators is crucial to our mission and goals at NCRGEA.  We provide helpful tips and outlines, as well as sample letters to help you advocate for the issues in which you believe.   You are always welcome to contact NCRGEA regarding any thoughts or issues you may have or if you have questions, comments, or concerns.

NC General Assembly

The 2021 session of the NC General Assembly convened on January 13, 2021.  Below are the committees in the NC General Assembly that NCGREA’s legislative efforts will focus on during this session.  We encourage you to contact these committee chairs, as well as your local legislators, during this year’s session to enlist their support for NCRGEA’s efforts on your behalf.

Click on each header box below to view the selected committee members and contact information.

Contact Your Legislators and Congressional Delegation

You can view a full list of Senate or House members or to find and contact the State Legislators in your area of the state. You may also click on the following links to view your House or Senate Representation by County:  House    Senate   then click on the county where you live for a list of the House or Senate legislators.

Click to view and contact your representation in the US Congressional Delegation.

Legislative Updates & Archive