“Everything you wanted to know about nonprofits and elections…but were afraid to ask.” By David Heinen, North Carolina Center for Nonprofits. From the Article: “As yard signs are beginning to show up in lawns across North Carolina in preparation for the March 3 primary election, the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits has been fielding many questions about the types of election-related activities nonprofits can and can’t do. To save you the trouble of a phone call or email, we’re sharing some thoughts (and even a few answers!) on some of the most common questions we’re hearing.”

“Argument preview: Justices to consider whether the Appalachian Trail blocks proposed natural gas pipeline.” By Noah Sachs, February 18, 2020, SCOTUSblog. From the Article: “On Monday, February 24, the Supreme Court will hear argument in U.S. Forest Service v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association and Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association. These consolidated cases pit a pipeline developer and the U.S. Forest Service against environmental groups that want to halt the pipeline’s construction and protect the Appalachian Trail.”

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“IRS outlines new tax law effect on tax exempt organizations.” Jan. 28, 2020, IRS. From the Article: “The Internal Revenue Service wants tax-exempt organizations to know about recent tax law changes that might affect them. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act, passed on December 20, 2019, includes several provisions that may apply to tax-exempt organizations’ current and previous tax years.”

“Attorney General Josh Stein Sues to Prevent Release of 3-D Firearm Files.” Jan. 24, 2020, N.C. Department of Justice. From the Press Release: “Attorney General Josh Stein joined a federal lawsuit to challenge the federal government’s latest effort to allow 3-D printed firearm blueprints to be released online. These files would allow plug-and-play access to 3-D printed unregistered, untraceable, hard-to-detect firearms, also known as ‘ghost guns.'”

“City Obligations for Providing Services to Annexed Areas.” By Frayda Bluestein, Jan. 30, 2020, UNC School of Government. Questions Presented in the Article: “What services must be provided to annexed areas? Is there a standard level of services that a city must meet? If a city provides utilities, does the law require a city to extend those utilities to all satellite areas?”

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We’d like to highlight the University of North Carolina School of Government Survey. For those unfamiliar, the School of Government provides a wealth of information and resources for attorneys in our section. The survey should only take a few minutes and closes Friday, November 22, 2019.

“Electronic Records Day 2019: Social Media as a Public Record.” Mark Holland / October 10, 2019, Resources, State Archives of North Carolina. From the Article: “This year the Archives is focusing on social media.  Just like records in any other format, if social media posts (on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) are created during the transaction of public business by state, local, or university governments, then they are considered to be public records by law.”

“Sales Tax 101 for Local Governments.” Chris McLaughlin / October 31, 2019, UNC School of Government. From the Article: “The one sales tax issue on which I frequently get questions from local governments concerns their liability to pay or charge sales taxes on their own purchases and sales.  The N.C. Department of Revenue (the “DOR”) recently released updated guidance on this issue, along with many others, in its Sales and Use Tax Bulletin (June 2019)(the “SUTB”). This blog summarizes what local governments need to know about the SUTB and about sales taxes in general.”

“Chapter 160D and Other Zoning Legislation.” Adam Lovelady / September 19, 2019, UNC School of Government. From the Article: “The General Assembly has enacted significant legislation affecting planning and development regulations in North Carolina. A newly released legislative bulletin summarizes the changes already enacted. The most significant land use legislation is the adoption of Chapter 160D, a new chapter of the General Statutes that consolidates the prior city- and county-enabling authority and implements a range of consensus clarifications and reforms. These changes will require updates to all local government development regulations by 2021.”

By Amy O’Neal

As we have officially entered the fall season (despite the deceiving outside temperatures), it is a great time to consider submitting an article for publication on the Government and Public Sector Blog. Our blog posts are sent to GPS Section members and are available to all attorneys who are members of an NCBA Section. Send proposed articles to this year’s Communications Committee Co-Chairs, Amy O’Neal ([email protected]) and Matt Sommer ([email protected]).

Whether an introductory article or an in-depth piece, your proposed articles are welcome and would be much appreciated. We are looking for articles about:

• Government and Public Sector law basics
• Recent cases or case law
• Proposed rules or legislation
• Recently passed rules or legislation
• Practice tips for those interacting with government agencies, boards, commissions, etc.
• Information and news about government agencies, boards, commissions, etc.
• Other areas of the law that intersect with the Government and Public Sector (e.g., administrative law)
• Book reviews

In addition to original content, feel free to submit recent third-party articles or news stories that may be interesting or helpful to GPS Members. Please reach out to Amy or Matt if you have any questions or any suggested topics that you would like to see covered by the GPS Blog.

By Paige Worsham
The Government & Public Sector Section is joining forces with the Administrative Law, Juvenile Justice & Children’s Rights, and Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Law Sections to bring you a 6.0 credit hour CLE this fall, titled “Riding the Waves of Change: 2019 Legislative Review.” The CLE will take place at the N.C. Bar Center in Cary from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2019.  While it will be available by webcast and On Demand, we encourage you to attend live to enjoy the networking that is sure to occur during the breakfast and lunch, both of which will be provided.  The four co-planning Sections combine their expertise to provide updates and answers regarding the 2019 legislative actions. Learn what the North Carolina General Assembly has (or has not) changed and the practical effects of those changes. Brush up on your legislative procedure knowledge and skills. Hear about the most debated and followed bills of the current legislative session.