North Carolina House member back in leading committee position 3 years after removal

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The current longest-serving North Carolina House member is back at her former position leading a prominent committee more than three years after she was removed during a intra-party dispute in the chamber over tax legislation.

Republican Rep. Julia Howard of Davie County was elevated Wednesday by Speaker Tim Moore to a senior chair position on the House Finance Committee. The announcement and traditional handing of gavel to Howard happened quickly during a floor session.

Howard, now in her 18th two-year term, had been a senior chair on the committee in 2021 when Moore and other GOP chamber leaders took the post away from her. They said Howard hadn’t moved a tax measure related to COVID-19 loans used by businesses as “expeditiously” through her committee as the House Republican Caucus expected.

At the time, Howard defended her actions, saying she was trying to rework the bill so that it stood a better chance of Senate passage. She also expressed concerns because colleagues who received the loans could also benefit from the legislation.

Howard’s standing improved in 2023 when Moore placed her on the second tier of the finance committee’s leadership — labeled a chair. She now will serve as a senior chair — four other members hold the title — through at least the end of the year. General Assembly work will be limited through December.

Howard, who turns 80 later this month, is running for reelection this fall in the 77th House District. Moore decided to run for Congress and won’t return to the state House in January.

Wednesday marked other comings and goings within the General Assembly. House Appropriations Committee senior chairman Jason Saine of Lincoln Conty gave a farewell address on the floor.