This is Part 1 of a two-part interview.
RALEIGH — North State Journal sat down with North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) to talk about his first year as speaker, as well as priorities for the upcoming short session.
Hall, 38, is the first millennial to have held a top leadership role as House Rules chair before making history again as the first of his generation to be sworn in as House speaker last year — when he also welcomed his first child; his son Henry was born during session in April.
“My speakership is only slightly older than Henry, our son. He was born during session on April 15, on tax day,” said Hall, calling being a father the “best thing” he’s ever done and “everybody should do it.”
“We need more kids in this country — (it) gives you a better perspective on life,” said Hall.
Hall said there were “no real surprises” in his first year as Speaker, citing his experience as preparing him for the role.
“The good thing was I was Rules chair for about five years before becoming speaker,” said Hall. “And so I had a good idea of what the job was coming in. And I can’t say that there was much that surprises me — when you spend enough time around this place, very little surprises you anymore.
“But you know, it’s somewhat different than being the Rules chair in that you’re not dealing as much in committees and with your own bills as you are trying to help other members.”
For the upcoming short session, said affordability will be a focus for the legislature.
“I think, broadly, our caucus is going to do all we can to lower costs for folks,” Hall said. “In North Carolina, we saw, under Joe Biden, inflation go through the roof. Thankfully, with President (Donald) Trump, that’s cooled down now and inflation is not as bad, but we’re trying to do what we can from a state level.”
Hall referenced Republicans implementing tax cuts over the years and continuing to do that work, though he said they are now exploring a new area: property taxes.
“We’re looking right now at property taxes at the county and municipality level,” said Hall. “It’s a hot-button issue for folks because property values are going up, inflation is going up, and there are a lot of local governments who budget conservatively, but there are some who we’ve identified, and we’re learning more about that are probably spending more money than they should.
“And so what we want to do is make sure that property tax system is fair; their folks aren’t being overburdened. And it seems very clearly in some parts of the state, at least right now, that people are being overly burdened with property tax.”
Hall said the select committee he formed last December to look at solutions to property tax burdens will examine the issue with an eye toward providing “property tax relief to taxpayers while balancing potential impacts on local government revenues.”
“Ultimately, what we want to see out of that is some legislation that’s going to result in folks keeping more of their hard-earned money, lowering those property taxes,” said Hall.
“The property taxes affect a lot of different things, including mortgage payments because the money goes into escrow with your mortgage company, and people have seen their monthly payment jump by hundreds of dollars. And that affects their bottom line — their monthly budgets — and so we want to do all we can to lower that property tax burden and help out with those monthly expenses for folks.”
In part two, Hall’s property tax initiative ties into broader economic concerns both in North Carolina and nationally.
