Under the Dome: DEI initiatives in NC government face the chopping block under this bill
Good morning and welcome to the Under the Dome newsletter. I’m Emmy Martin.
Republican House Majority Leader Brenden Jones filed a bill Friday to end all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in state and local government.
Titled “Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI,” House Bill 171 would terminate state agencies’ DEI initiatives, including positions, offices, training programs or employment processes focused on DEI.
The bill also says that no local or state government agency or non-state entity may use state funds to “promote, support, fund, implement, or maintain” DEI initiatives. It bars these agencies from accepting federal funds that require compliance with DEI policies. Violations could result in criminal charges, civil penalties or removal from office if passed.
Jones’ bill falls in line with President Donald Trump’s executive order “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” signed last month.
And it echoes what the new state auditor and labor commissioner have already done to remove internal DEI policies.
“Taxpayer dollars should fund merit, not woke agendas and identity politics,” Jones said in a post on X about the bill Friday. “This bill upholds equal opportunity and ensures employment and contracts are based on qualifications, not quotas.”
Republican House Speaker Destin Hall supported the bill on Friday too, writing in a post on X that “this bill ensures employers prioritize merit and qualifications.”
Republican Reps. Neal Jackson, Jarrod Lowery and Blair Eddins were also primary sponsors of the bill.
K-12 educators and schools in North Carolina have already been affected by federal DEI cuts. Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced it had ended more than $600 million in federal grants that it said were being used to train teachers in “divisive ideologies.”
North Carolina educators said the cuts will hurt efforts to recruit teachers to work in high-needs schools, T. Keung Hui reports.
BERGER FILES IMMIGRATION BILL
Senate leader Phil Berger filed a bill Monday that would require state law enforcement agencies to cooperate with immigration laws and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Senate Bill 153, titled “North Carolina Border Protection Act,” is modeled on President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, Republican senators said.
“North Carolinians made it clear that they will no longer tolerate sanctuary policies that put them at risk,” Berger said in a statement. “We must send an equally strong message by requiring Gov. (Josh) Stein’s administration to cooperate with immigration officials.”
The bill would also direct the UNC System to cooperate with immigration officials, prohibiting institutions in the system from adopting policies that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. It would also waive local immunity so citizens can sue municipalities that keep what state law describes as sanctuary policies.
The bill will move quickly. According to a meeting notice, the chair expects SB 153 to be added to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s agenda for Wednesday. Republican Sens. Warren Daniel and Buck Newton, co-chairs of the committee, are also primary sponsors of SB 153.
“Now that we have a federal government that is taking border control seriously, we need to do our part at the state level and ensure that our citizens are protected from criminal, illegal immigrants,” Daniel said in a statement.
Newton added that “it’s past time for North Carolina cities and counties to be held accountable for harmful Sanctuary City policies.”
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS INCREASE GOES TO HOUSE FOR A VOTE
A bill to increase the maximum weekly unemployment benefit to $450 moved easily through the House Rules Committee on Monday and will be on the floor Tuesday during the House’s voting session at 4 p.m.
Republican Rep. Julia Howard, who chairs the Finance Committee, said the $450 amount in House Bill 48 is as much as she wants to raise it in this legislation, after Democratic Rep. Tim Longest asked her about increasing the amount. The current maximum benefit is $350 a week.
“I probably am one of the most conservative members of the General Assembly, but after spending three solid months several years ago trying to fix this issue, I sure don’t ever want to see us go back there, where we would have to increase the employer’s contribution or decrease the amount of the weekly benefits,” Howard said.
North Carolina paid off its debt to the federal government for unemployment insurance a decade ago, after slashing benefits.
You can read more in my previous coverage about how a Democratic amendment in a Finance Committee earlier this month led to the $450 amount, as well as what Senate leader Phil Berger said about raising unemployment benefits.
– Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan
HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE PROCESS
Republican Rules Chair John Bell, who served previously as House majority leader, told Rules Committee members on Monday that he plans to only move bills through Rules that have already been amended or turned into a PCS, which stands for proposed committee substitute.
By not allowing bills to be changed in Rules, any changes need to be made in lower-level committees, as Rules is the last stop for bills before they go to the floor for a vote. Most, but not all, bills can be amended on the floor.
– Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan
LEGISLATORS TURN ATTENTION TOWARD PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR DISABLED VETERANS
Republican Sens. Benton Sawrey, Michael Lazzara and Todd Johnson introduced Senate Bill 128 on Friday to expand property tax relief for disabled veterans in North Carolina.
Titled the “Heroes Homestead Act,” the bill would raise the property tax Homestead Exclusion for disabled veterans from $45,000 to $76,500, which means that disabled veterans could exclude $31,500 more of appraised residence value from their taxes.
The Disabled Veteran Homestead Exclusion is one of three property tax relief programs that counties offer to residents who meet certain demographics.
“Our veterans put everything on the line for our freedoms, and it’s our duty to make sure they are taken care of when they come home,” Lazzara said in a statement. “The Heroes’ Homestead Act ensures that North Carolina remains the most military-friendly state in the nation by reducing the financial burden on those who have already given so much. This is more than tax relief — it’s a promise kept.”
Johnson added that “our disabled veterans shouldn’t have to worry about losing their homes due to rising property taxes.”
SB 128 was not the first to focus on property tax relief this legislative session.
Republican Rep. Erin Paré introduced House Bill 59 earlier this month, which would expand another one of the three programs: the Elderly and Disabled Homestead Exclusion program. Anna Roman has more on HB 59.
Other tax relief bills to keep an eye on:
House Bill 181, titled “Tax Relief for Working Families Act,” would reenact the Earned Income Tax Credit, which ended in 2014.
House Bill 179, titled “Labor Org. Membership Dues Tax Deductible,” would create a tax deduction for labor organization membership dues.
CLARENCE HENDERSON HONORED WITH AWARD BY RNC
The Republican National Committee awarded Clarence Henderson, who participated in the 1960 sit-in at a Woolworth’s lunch counter while attending North Carolina A&T State University, with a 2025 Black Republican Trailblazer Legacy Award.
The award is presented to individuals who demonstrate impact on “Republican Party principles locally, statewide, or nationally.” Henderson, who supports Donald Trump, spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2020.
“I know that with the help of leaders like Byron Donalds, Diante Johnson, and Clarence Henderson, our successful efforts to share Republican values and expand our big tent Party will only continue,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement.
Today’s newsletter was by Emmy Martin with Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol.
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This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.