North Carolina House

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 lawmakers return to Raleigh as votes on the state budget, which includes income tax reductions and raises for teachers and state employees, approach. The last budget was passed in 2023, and the new one is set to take effect July 1.

The North Carolina House voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of an immigration bill (Senate Bill 153) and several Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) bills. The immigration bill mandates state law enforcement cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, restricts certain public benefits for undocumented immigrants, and prohibits UNC institutions from becoming sanctuary campuses. Gov. Stein criticized the legislature for prioritizing divisive issues over passing a budget.

The North Carolina House approved legislation to create a statewide review team for high-risk child welfare cases, expand social worker training, and increase oversight of child abuse and neglect investigations following the death of a Charlotte girl.

The North Carolina House passed the 'Dominique Moody Safety Act' to establish a state-run child welfare escalation team under the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill requires counties to escalate cases involving children with extensive abuse or neglect reports to the regional team, which will override local decisions if needed. The legislation follows the 2025 death of 6-year-old Dominique Moody, who was allegedly beaten, tortured, and starved despite multiple calls to social services.

The North Carolina House seeks to legalize happy hour promotions and expand availability of canned cocktails, while the Senate advances a more limited alcohol reform bill. The Senate's version excludes major House-backed reforms and focuses on technical corrections and infrastructure, such as a $310 million loan for a new ABC warehouse.

The North Carolina House is set to debate a bill proposing significant election changes, including requiring candidates to be affiliated with a political party for at least one year before running under that party. The bill also mandates nonmilitary overseas voters to submit a photocopy of their ID with ballots and bans U.S. citizens who have never lived in the United States from voting.

The North Carolina House approved a bill to regulate data centers and promote nuclear power, aiming to address rising electricity costs and grid reliability. The legislation, titled the Ratepayer Protection Act, faced bipartisan discussion, with Democrats expressing concerns about over-reliance on nuclear energy and advocating for solar, wind, and battery storage as alternatives.