Now that the 2009 session of the General Assembly has adjourned, I thought I would use this month's column to discuss some of the laws passed and ratified this session that are effective as of October 1. This is just a sample and you can see the entire list on the General Assembly's website at www.ncga.state.nc.us.

Senate Bill 882- Statute of Repose. NC has a law known as the statute of repose which states that a consumer cannot sue a manufacturer over a defective product if the defect occurred six years after the product was originally sold. This time period is now doubled to twelve years; which is still one of the shortest in the US.

House Bill 686-Modernize Do Not Call Procedures. This is an act to modernize notice requirements for protections for telephone subscribers who wish to stop unwanted telephone solicitations and for consumers who enter into telemarketing transactions. A telephone provider will be required at least annually to provide a subscriber notice of the "Do Not Call Registry" and how to use it.

House Bill 203-Increase Small Estate Amount. This law increases the size of estates, from $10,000 to $20,000, that may be administered under the small estates provisions of the general statutes. Small estates may be administered in a simplified manner saving a family time and money. This change applies to estates of persons dying on or after October 1.

House Bill 186-Local Government Objections to ABC Stores. An act to allow local governments to object to the location of alcoholic beverage control stores if the local government follows certain procedures. This bill was supported by several of the local towns who would like some voice in the location of these stores.

House Bill 630-Summary Ejectment/Trials. The change to this law provides that the trial in a summary ejectment proceeding may commence no sooner than two business days after service of the complaint and summons on the defendant. This law was changed to make sure that people had proper notice before being evicted from their residence.

House Bill 182-Traffic Calming Devices. This act allows the placement of traffic tables or traffic calming devices on portions of state roads within a residential subdivision. Seventy percent of the owners of property in the subdivision must agree to the installation and the owners or Homeowner's Association must pay for the installation and post a bond to cover removal if ever needed.

I will host my next Town Hall meeting on Thursday October 29th at 7 p.m. at the Zebulon Municipal Complex. I will be answering questions about this past session as well as listening for ideas for next year's short session. In the meantime, I hope you will contact me with your concerns. You can email me at darren.jackson@ncleg.net or feel free to call my office at 733-5974. My legislative assistant, Angela McMillan, or I are here to help with issues regarding the State of North Carolina and state agencies.