NCASLA has been tracking SB-367 (https://webservices.ncleg.net/ViewBillDocument/2019/3071/0/S367-PCS45275-RN-8) since it was introduced. The NCASLA Executive Committee sent letters of opposition to the subcommittee and outlined concerns.

NCASLA is opposed to the bill because it could go against one of ASLA’s code of environmental ethics. Those ethics can be found on the ASLA website ( https://www.asla.org/contentdetail.aspx?id=4308).

NCASLA believes that trees are important to the health and welfare of our environment and that we must be good stewards of that environment.

Great news was received today, April 23, 2019, as: Sen. McInnis announced publicly that he will no longer pursue or push his tree removal ordinance bill! See below for the full statement.

This is a great example of the power of advocacy, from LAs and from all of the other groups that opposed.

We will continue to keep an eye on this and other bills. Please be on the lookout for any legislative alerts that will ask you to write to your representative expressing your concern over this bill.

Tree-Cutting Bill

Sen. Tom McInnis, R-Richmond, has withdrawn controversial legislation that would have prohibited towns and counties from regulating tree removal on private property without the General Assembly's permission. "This bill has been robustly debated and discussed," McInnis said in a statement late Thursday afternoon. "The intention of the legislation was to highlight the need to balance private property rights with the needs of the community." The proposed legislation generated strong opposition from municipal and county government officials. The N.C. League of Municipalities and N.C. Association of County Commissioners argued that it would restrict the ability to protect neighboring property owners from development that could harm property values and take away more local control over development.

The N.C. Urban Forest Council also opposed the measure, contending that local tree ordinances can help address flooding issues, preserve historic districts and allow for utility line maintenance. On the other side, the N.C. Homebuilders Association and NC Realtors backed the legislation, arguing that local tree ordinances can hinder development. McInnis said in a brief interview Friday morning that support and opposition was nearly evenly split. "It was as close to 50-50 as I have ever seen," he said. "We just couldn't reach consensus to get this through." (David Sinclair, THE (Southern Pines) PILOT, 4/22/19)