Our Freshman Year
In her first term of office, Representative Belk focused on funding our schools, introducing an innovative Opioid Opt-Out program, and encouraging small business growth across our state. She currently serves on the Transportation, Banking, Local & State Government, and Judiciary Committees, as well as the Justice & Public Safety Appropriations Subcommittee.
One of the first major issues Representative Belk helped address when she got to Raleigh was the #ClassSizeChaos created by the unfunded GOP mandates on K-3 class sizes. There was a risk elementary schools would lose their ‘special subject’ teachers and still not have space to meet the new requirements. She stood with parents and school administrators from across the state who demanded more time and funding to hire teachers, build classrooms, and implement the policy in a reasonable time frame. With the Democratic caucus unified under the leadership of Governor Cooper, the legislature passed a compromise that funds the special subject teachers, gives districts time to build, and fully funds the SmartStart waiting list starting in 2019.
Representative Belk has championed Medicaid Expansion as the most obvious and effective way to secure additional healthcare funding, especially for those suffering from substance misuse disorders. She introduced the Opioid Opt-Out bill to support patients in long term recovery and their physicians. If passed, it would create a standard form that indicates a patient does NOT want to receive opioid medications unless there is no other option. Both Medicaid Expansion and the Opioid Opt-Out have bipartisan support in the NC House, but it looks like we’ll need a change in leadership before these issues get the attention they deserve.
Not many first year legislators get a bill passed in the House, but Representative Belk was able to assemble bipartisan support for a bill that assisted Bed & Breakfast owners who wanted to grow their business. HB754 changes the rules so that B&Bs could also offer optional lunch and dinner meals to their guests. As a partner in a small hospitality company, she understood how well meaning rules of the past sometimes need to be updated to keep mom & pop establishments competitive in an Air BnB world.
Representative Belk has been an advocate for the students, families, and entrepreneurs of District 88 for a year and a half, and she looks forward to the work that has yet to be done. More than anything, she is convinced that a new Democratic majority in the House is the greatest single step we can take to success on any number of issues. Will you help her build it?
One of the first major issues Representative Belk helped address when she got to Raleigh was the #ClassSizeChaos created by the unfunded GOP mandates on K-3 class sizes. There was a risk elementary schools would lose their ‘special subject’ teachers and still not have space to meet the new requirements. She stood with parents and school administrators from across the state who demanded more time and funding to hire teachers, build classrooms, and implement the policy in a reasonable time frame. With the Democratic caucus unified under the leadership of Governor Cooper, the legislature passed a compromise that funds the special subject teachers, gives districts time to build, and fully funds the SmartStart waiting list starting in 2019.
Representative Belk has championed Medicaid Expansion as the most obvious and effective way to secure additional healthcare funding, especially for those suffering from substance misuse disorders. She introduced the Opioid Opt-Out bill to support patients in long term recovery and their physicians. If passed, it would create a standard form that indicates a patient does NOT want to receive opioid medications unless there is no other option. Both Medicaid Expansion and the Opioid Opt-Out have bipartisan support in the NC House, but it looks like we’ll need a change in leadership before these issues get the attention they deserve.
Not many first year legislators get a bill passed in the House, but Representative Belk was able to assemble bipartisan support for a bill that assisted Bed & Breakfast owners who wanted to grow their business. HB754 changes the rules so that B&Bs could also offer optional lunch and dinner meals to their guests. As a partner in a small hospitality company, she understood how well meaning rules of the past sometimes need to be updated to keep mom & pop establishments competitive in an Air BnB world.
Representative Belk has been an advocate for the students, families, and entrepreneurs of District 88 for a year and a half, and she looks forward to the work that has yet to be done. More than anything, she is convinced that a new Democratic majority in the House is the greatest single step we can take to success on any number of issues. Will you help her build it?