A bill that would trim back local governmentsâ authority to regulate the removal of trees from private property resurfaced in the General Assembly this past week. State Rep. Jamie Boles, who represents most of Moore County, is one of the primary sponsors who introduced the bill on Monday. Titled âProperty Ownersâ Rights/Tree Ordinances,â the bill is similar to one introduced in April 2019 that listed state Sen. Tom McInnis as one of its co-sponsors. The earlier bill drew support from developers, while opposition came from both environmental groups and organizations like the N.C. League of Municipalities that framed it as an attempt to arrogate the authority of local governments. But it was hastily withdrawn from consideration due to a nearly even split on the issue among legislators.