Destin Hall

The North Carolina legislature has unfinished business after delayed budget discussions, with key issues including election law changes, hemp regulations, and constitutional amendments. They will return on July 27 to address bills like House Bill 958 on election reforms and House Bill 328 on hemp restrictions, which face differing views between the House and Senate.

North Carolina lawmakers passed a $34 billion state budget after a yearlong delay, including raises for state employees, teachers, and law enforcement, along with income tax reductions. The Republican-controlled General Assembly approved the budget on July 2, sending it to Gov. Josh Stein for final approval.

North Carolina's $34.4 billion state budget cleared initial legislative votes but faced opposition from two Republican senators over new ferry tolls. The budget includes teacher raises, tax relief, and controversial policies like DEI cuts, with Republicans emphasizing fiscal responsibility and Democrats criticizing delays and policies.

The North Carolina House passed House Bill 958, an elections bill criticized by Democrats for enabling ballot challenges, audits, and voter registration removals. The bill cleared the House in a party-line 66-47 vote and will now move to the Senate. Key provisions include granting the Republican auditor authority to conduct post-election audits and allowing the Board of Elections to hire private attorneys.

North Carolina's $34 billion budget includes cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Medicaid funding, and provisions for state employee raises. The budget process bypasses committee hearings, allowing only floor votes, drawing criticism for limited public input. Key changes include eliminating the Office of Health Equity and the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses.

The North Carolina House of Representatives is set to vote on House Bill 958, a controversial election reform bill that passed the House Rules Committee with Republican support but faced opposition over restrictions on overseas voters. The bill includes provisions requiring voter identification for military and overseas voters and allows post-election challenges to early votes, though some contentious elements like a ban on ranked-choice voting were removed.

The Carolina Hurricanes, including head coach Rod Brind’Amour, team captain Jordan Staal, and others, brought the Stanley Cup to the North Carolina General Assembly to emphasize unity and teamwork during the state's ongoing budget process. Legislators compared the team's collaborative success to their efforts to finalize the delayed budget.

North Carolina legislators are working to resolve differences between the House and Senate on a state budget, with leaders expressing cautious optimism about finalizing an agreement by the end of June. Discussions include provisions for state employee and teacher raises, tax cuts, and Hurricane Helene relief, though state agencies did not receive all requested funding.

The North Carolina House Election Law Committee advanced a sweeping elections bill with provisions expanding voter challenge windows, granting new powers to the state Auditor, and increasing secrecy in legal hiring by the elections board. Critics, including Democrats, argued the bill creates obstacles for eligible voters, while Republican sponsors claimed it aims to improve election integrity. The bill faces uncertainty in the Senate, where leaders have not yet reviewed its details.

North Carolina's House Bill 958 introduces requirements for overseas voters, including documentation and photo ID, and allows the state Elections Director to appoint political staff. The bill also modifies provisional ballot procedures and shifts legal responsibilities from the state Attorney General's office to the elections board.

NC Republican leaders have delayed the state budget's expected release from mid-June to possibly the end of June. Despite a May framework agreement addressing tax policy and salary increases, no bill text has been released, with delays linked to disagreements over property tax measures and local budget concerns ahead of the June 30 deadline.

North Carolina Democratic senators and advocates warned that access to contraception could be at risk, citing challenges to reproductive rights following the 2021 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision. They co-sponsored Senate Bill 413 to codify contraceptive access into state law, while a separate Republican-backed bill proposed defining life as beginning at conception, though it faced criticism and lacked widespread support.

North Carolina lawmakers face uncertainty over meeting a mid-June budget deadline, with Gov. Josh Stein expressing cautious optimism. A proposed deal includes raises for teachers, state workers, and law enforcement, but details remain unfinalized. Stein also emphasized the need for additional Hurricane Helene relief funding for western North Carolina.

Republican North Carolina senators proposed a bill to reduce the early voting period from 17 days to 10 days by moving its start date. The bill, Senate Bill 1084, is sponsored by Warren Daniel, Brad Overcash, and Mark Hollo. The legislation echoes a 2013 law that limited early voting to 10 days, which was later struck down for disproportionately affecting African American voters.