RALEIGH — The crossover at the NC General Assembly is complete.

State lawmakers had to meet a self-imposed deadline this week to complete all work that began in their own chamber. And by 2:30 p.m. Thursday, the House had sent all of its bills to the Senate and the Senate did the same for the House.

Lawmakers worked long hours in committees on the floor debating and voting to get hundreds of pieces of legislation approved by their respective chambers.

Legislators were working to meet the crossover deadline when anything that started in the House had to be sent across the hall to the Senate, and vice versa before midnight Thursday. Otherwise, the legislation died for the year.

While it may have resulted in a few late nights, it was an early adjournment Thursday.

“I think our members have done a very good job this week, staying here when we need them, paying attention to what has to get done, and controlling their exuberance in trying to push things that they know there is not a lot of support for,” said President Pro-Tem Sen. Phil Berger.

In the last week, bills have cleared chambers that get rid of some environmental restrictions that lawmakers say aren’t working, fix the several hundred million dollar hole in medicaid funding, and restricts some coverage of abortions.

“It expands the number of people who can take part now in denying healthcare to women and it prevents women from purchasing insurance on the healthcare exchange with abortion coverage,” said Rep. Alma Adams, a Guilford County Democrat.

Leaders said they are pleased with the efficiency lawmakers used to over 100 bills through this part of the process. However, long hours and decisions to restrict some debate did bother some lawmakers.

“That we have undermined the functions of this House. The House is here to debate the issues of our communities, 120 of us to cut off debate after two three speakers is outrageous,” said Rep. Paul Luebke, a Durham County Democrat.

With crossover complete, the calendar is now essentially set for the rest of the legislative session, except for some bills that deal with finance issues. Legislative leaders say they believe they have accomplished what they needed and wanted to this session.

“The bills that we’ve passed are bills that do have some, or a good deal of support on the senate side and our bills that our members feel are good policy,” said Sen. Berger.

Any bills revolving around spending or creating revenue are not subject to crossover and legislators do have safeties built into the rules to allow other bills to be considered if they need to be.

- Loretta Boniti

RALEIGH–State lawmakers are looking to relax some smoking bans put into effect.

North Carolina officially went smoke free in many public areas a few years ago and since then everyone from local communities to community colleges added some outdoor bans to the law.

However, now a proposal is on the move in the State Senate that would snuff out some of these bans.

Currently in North Carolina, state law dictates it is illegal to smoke in many public buildings. Many local laws say it is also against the rules to take a puff outdoors as well.

“There are thousands of them at the local level and there are 56 of 58 community colleges that have taken some sort of action to regulate smoking on their campuses,” said Pam Seamans with the NC Alliance for Health.

Some state lawmakers say the regulations are taking the desire to snuff out smoking too far.

“I think if you are walking down the sidewalk, you ought to be able to consume a tobacco product. I think if you are in a park outdoors I think you ought to be able to consume a tobacco product if that is what you choose to do,” said Sen. Buck Newton, a Wilson County Republican.

Sen. Newton is sponsoring legislation that says localities and others cannot implement laws that are more restrictive than the state law. That means community college campuses that are currently smoke free- even outdoors, would no longer be able to keep that designation.

Also, community events could not tell folks they are not allowed to smoke.

“You can’t even bring your family to an outdoor event that is sponsored by the city or town and feel safe for your children,” said Sen. Angela Bryant, a Nash County Democrat.

Newton said he beleives by the very fact someone is outdoors, the smoking ban should not be in place because in open air there is an ability to get away from the smoke.

“What i am really trying to address is the blanket ban and turning into a criminal using a legal product, and using it outdoors really shouldn’t be offensive,” said Sen. Newton.

But others question that if the added bans are working, then why should the state remove them.

“In a sense, you are taking away rights from local areas and local schools to determine their own policy. I mean if they are happy with the way it is, what is the point of us changing,” said Sen. Austin Allran, a Catawba County Republican.

Many senators said they would like to see some changes to the bill, such as allowing designated smoking areas in some outdoor situations. It is a modification that the bill sponsor said he would consider.

The bill advanced to a second committee for consideration. Due to deadlines to move legislation, the bill will need full Senate approval before the end of the week if it wants to remain in consideration during this year’s session.

- Loretta Boniti