North Carolina bill seeks new openness from Council of State

A bill under consideration in the final days of the North Carolina legislative session would seek to bring more transparency to the proceedings of a 10-member panel of statewide elected leaders. A House judiciary committee approved the measure Tuesday, which attempts to bring the Council of State's activities more in line with government bodies that comply with open meetings and public records laws. The council is chaired by Gov. Roy Cooper. One provision would require Cooper to convene the council when he needs formal consent before he issues emergency declarations. Often the governor has asked for such consent from other members via email. State Treasurer Dale Folwell is pushing the measure.