Unveiled: NCFREE’s 2023-2024 Legislative Business Ratings

We are thrilled to announce the release of the 2023-24 Legislative Business Ratings (LBR), a pivotal tool for assessing the commitment of North Carolina’s state lawmakers to free enterprise principles.

But before we dive into the LBR, we are excited to showcase NCFREE’s new and improved brand design, and the special meaning behind it.

The Meaning Behind the New Logo: A Beacon of Free Enterprise

The new logo of the North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation (NCFREE) is a powerful representation of our mission and vision for the state of North Carolina. At its heart, the logo features a lighthouse, symbolizing NCFREE’s role as a guiding beacon in the state’s policy landscape.

The light beams emanating from the lighthouse are more than just a visual element: they are meticulously woven together. This imagery underscores the strength and resilience that comes from the interconnection of NCFREE’s core outputs and measures of success. The three strands of light on the left side represent our foundational outputs:

• Business Intelligence and Research: Providing free enterprise leaders with deep insights into the political landscape.
• Topical Data: Equipping free enterprise leaders with the most relevant and up-to-date data on key issues.
• Situational Awareness: Ensuring that free enterprise leaders are well-informed about the dynamics that could impact their businesses.

These strands are the tools we use to empower business leaders, enabling them to operate with the freedom that comes from minimal government interference.

On the right side, the three beams of light symbolize the key outcomes by which NCFREE measures its success. When these strands are woven together with our outputs, they combine to form the beacon of light that NCFREE aspires to be for North Carolina:

• Increase Influence of Free Enterprise Leaders: Equip leaders to bring policy ideas to the General Assembly, run for office themselves, and support free enterprise candidates for office.
• Impact on Legislative Outcomes: Improved chamber averages in the Legislative Business Rating (LBR).
• Giving and Engagement: Growing number of free enterprise leaders who are financially connected to NCFREE.

NCFREE’s new logo embodies our unwavering commitment to being a source of light and strength for North Carolina’s business community, guiding them through the complexities of the political environment while championing the cause of free enterprise.

Unveiling the 2023-2024 Legislative Business Ratings

The LBR stands as a nonpartisan, deeply respected resource within North Carolina’s business community, designed to empower business leaders, media professionals, and the voting public with clear insights into how well legislators support free enterprise and pro-business policies.

“Our state’s business climate is shaped by the decisions made in the General Assembly,” said Alex Baltzegar, NCFREE’s Executive Director.

A Comprehensive and Transparent Evaluation

This year’s ratings offer a thorough analysis through three key components:

• Objective Score: Derived from legislators’ voting records on pivotal business-related bills.
• Subjective Score: Informed by surveys from business and government affairs leaders across the state.
• Bill Sponsorship Component: Assesses the net number of bills a lawmaker sponsored that favors free enterprise.

“Since our founding in 1983, NCFREE has been a steadfast advocate for accountability in the North Carolina legislature,” stated Mike Rusher, Chairman of NCFREE’s Board of Directors. “The Legislative Business Ratings are an indispensable resource for voters and business leaders dedicated to preserving and advancing a free-market economy. Our methodology ensures a clear, accurate picture of each lawmaker’s commitment to free enterprise values.”

NC Senate: 2023-2024 LBR Scores

District	Home County	Name	Party	Objective	2023-24 LBR Score
26	Rockingham	Phil Berger	R	100.0	99.4
48	Henderson	Timothy D. Moffitt	R	100.0	99.3
9	Sampson	Brent Jackson	R	100.0	99.3
34	Cabarrus	Paul Newton	R	100.0	99.3
8	Brunswick	Bill Rabon	R	100.0	99.3

Senate Leader Phil Berger earned the highest mark in this year’s NC Senate ratings with a score of 99.4. Sens. Tim Moffitt, Brent Jackson, Paul Newton, and Bill Rabon also scored above 99 and round out the top 5 in the Senate. NCFREE bestowed awards to each at a breakfast ceremony on Thursday morning.

“This award is a great honor,” Berger told the Carolina Journal. “Low taxes and streamlined regulations have done wonders for North Carolina’s business climate.”

NC House: 2023-2024 LBR Scores

District	Home County	Name	Party	Objective	2023-24 LBR Score
87	Caldwell	Destin Hall	R	100.0	99.7
97	Lincoln	Jason Saine	R	100.0	99.7
98	Mecklenburg	John R. Bradford, III	R	100.0	99.4
37	Wake	Erin Pare	R	100.0	99.0
7	Franklin	Matthew Winslow	R	100.0	99.0
55	Union	Mark Brody	R	100.0	98.9
64	Alamance	Dennis Riddell	R	100.0	98.9
10	Wayne	John R. Bell, IV	R	100.0	98.9
74	Forsyth	Jeff Zenger	R	100.0	98.9
69	Union	Dean Arp	R	100.0	98.8

In the North Carolina House, Rules Chairman Destin Hall received the highest score with a 99.7. House Speaker Tim Moore, who also scored well with a score of 98, accepted Hall’s award Thursday morning in his top lieutenant’s stead.

To read the full report, visit the 2023-2024 Legislative Business Ratings.

Alex Baltzegar, Executive Director