Government Affairs Update

The North Carolina General Assembly concluded its main 2024 work session Thursday, June 27, by overriding Governor Roy Cooper’s recent vetoes, placing a constitutional amendment on the November ballot about voting eligibility, and sending numerous bills to the Governor for action. However, it did not pass a comprehensive budget-adjustment measure for 2024-25 and failed to agree on additional constitutional amendments and several contentious bills. Key issues that remain unresolved between the House and Senate include disagreements over state employee and teacher raises and funding for private school scholarships. The General Assembly will reconvene for occasional sessions for the remainder of 2024 to address veto overrides and potentially other matters delineated in the Adjournment Resolution.

Before leaving Raleigh, Republicans succeeded in overriding Governor Cooper’s three most recent vetoes (criminal and election law changes, juvenile justice modifications, and NCDOT legislative changes). In addition, a proposed constitutional amendment clarifying that only U.S. citizens can vote was approved and will be on the ballot in November. Bipartisan efforts led to the passage of bills combating human trafficking and creating new crimes for sex exploitation and extortion. However, negotiators have not agreed on bills requiring sheriffs to comply with federal immigration holds, authorizing video lottery terminals, and legalizing medical marijuana use.

In November, North Carolina voters will decide on a constitutional amendment clarifying that only citizens can vote. Although state law already requires voters to be citizens, proponents say this amendment will prevent local governments from allowing noncitizens to vote. Critics argue it could fuel anti-immigrant sentiments and is a tactic to boost conservative turnout. The amendment passed with bipartisan support. Other proposed amendments, including those requiring voter ID for all voters and lowering the income tax cap from 7% to 5%, still need House approval. Additionally, the House approved an amendment, which is supported by the NCBA, to repeal the Jim Crow-era literacy test for voting, though the Senate has yet to consider it.

As noted above, the legislature has agreed to reconvene once a month until the end of the year to consider certain bills such as veto overrides and conference reports. Although the adjournment resolution approved by both chambers provides that the legislature will meet on July 10, July 29-August 1, September 9-11, October 9, November 19-22, and December 11-13, the legislature is not expected to take up bills and have votes in all of these sessions and may only do so in September and November.