/>iUPCOMING EVENTS
September 30
October 18
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
HOUSE BILL 10 SENT TO GOVERNOR
On Wednesday, by a vote of 67-43, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill focusing on private school vouchers and requiring sheriffs’ cooperation with ICE. The bill, House Bill 10, started as a measure for Sheriffs to work with ICE but evolved into a compromise bill that included significant spending measures.
The spending plan, a mini-budget amendment to the state's fiscal plan, will allocate:
- $463 million to Opportunity Scholarships, which can be used for school choice options including private schools;
- $95 million in education initiatives for K-12 enrollment increases;
- $24.7 million in recurring funding for the North Carolina Personal Education Student Accounts for Children with Disabilities Program to address the current waitlist;
- $64 million for community college enrollment growth;
- $277 million in recurring funding and $100 million in nonrecurring funding for Medicaid to meet increased costs;
- $150 million for transportation improvements at the Randolph County megasite; and
- $55.1 million for economic development infrastructure in Chatham County.
Additionally, the bill mandates that sheriffs cooperate with ICE, which is necessary to ensure statewide compliance with immigration laws. House Bill 10 also allocates funds for rural broadband internet expansion, allowing the state to qualify for $1.5 billion in federal broadband funds.
The bill is now awaiting Governor Roy Cooper's decision to sign, veto, or let it become law without his signature.
Read more by The News & Observer
Read more by The Center Square
MORE VETO OVERRIDES
The North Carolina House voted to override Governor Cooper's veto of a bill reforming building codes and reducing the governor's appointment power. Including this override, four of Cooper's vetoes were overridden this week, with the Senate overriding five bills on Monday.
The new laws are:
- House Bill 155 - allowing the DMV to issue title certificates for off-road vehicles;
- House Bill 556 - amending landlord tenant law and preventing discrimination based on income source;
- House Bill 690 - banning state agencies from accepting central bank digital currency payments; and
- Senate Bill 166 - changing building codes and the building code council membership.
The fifth bill overridden by the Senate, Senate Bill 445, which contains provisions like exempting court-filed documents from formatting requirements, had a scheduled override vote in the House on Wednesday but was withdrawn. The bill also changes the appeals process for small claims cases, including evictions and complaints under $10,000. This bill has been placed on the House calendar for a vote on Oct.9.
Read more by The Charlotte Observer
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- Under the Dome Podcast
- Do Politics Better Podcast
- WUNC Politics Podcast
- Carolina Newsmakers Podcast
- NC Capitol Wrap Podcast
