Immigration bill mandating ICE cooperation advances in NC House despite opposition
Good morning and welcome to Under the Dome. I’m Sophia Bailly.
If you thought you saw Gov. Josh Stein on “Late Night with Stephen Colbert” last night – you did. Stein intended to bring awareness to Western North Carolina business during “Open for Business Week.” Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan addressed some of Stein’s biggest talking points during his late-night television moment.
Talks of storm recovery and tourism were mixed with a photo show-and-tell of first lady Anna Stein canoeing near Boone.
Now, here’s what’s happening at the General Assembly.
IMMIGRATION BILL MANDATING ICE COOPERATION ADVANCES IN NC HOUSE
House Republicans on Tuesday advanced a bill that seeks to compel further state cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prevent unauthorized immigrants from receiving state benefits, Kyle Ingram reported.
“These are common sense things that we can do to ensure that at the state level, we’re addressing illegal immigration and protecting our citizens,” Sen. Buck Newton, a Wilson County Republican and one of the bill’s sponsors, said.
The bill, Senate Bill 153, would require four state law enforcement agencies to participate in the federal 287(g) program, which allows state officers to carry out immigration actions usually done by federal ICE agents.
The four agencies are the N.C. Departments of Public Safety and Adult Correction, the State Highway Patrol and the State Bureau of Investigation.
It was heard in a House judiciary committee Tuesday, where it passed over Democratic opposition.
Rep. Deb Butler, a New Hanover County Democrat, said the bill creates a “culture of fear” and conflates undocumented immigrants with criminals.
“I’ll just say to the migrant and undocumented community and folks who are living here as good citizens, you have my apologies for the way we are vilifying you,” she said.
SB 153 would also direct state agencies to ensure noncitizens do not receive a variety of state-funded benefits, such as housing assistance or unemployment.
Janssen White, the legislative affairs director for the state Department of Health and Human Services, said noncitizens are already largely ineligible for the benefits the agency provides.
“If enacted, we believe this bill could drive up administrative costs for the state and local governments and could chill participation by lawful residents in need of critical health benefits,” she said.
SB 153 would also allow local governments who approve sanctuary policies for immigrants to be sued if an undocumented person commits a crime in their jurisdiction.
Rep. Charles Smith, a Cumberland County Democrat, called this section an “unprecedented” expansion of liability for local governments.
“I understand that at the state (level), there may be some opposition to these types of policies — (but) I don’t think this is the way to address it at the local level,” he said. “Allow the local folks to make decisions for themselves. If there are people in that area that disagree with the policies of local government, run for office, elect someone else to that position, raise support for your position, but to come down from the state… I think that’s just antithetical to the idea of limited government.”
SB 153 already passed the Senate along party lines, but will have to be adopted by the House before going to the governor’s desk.
— Kyle Ingram
NC LAWMAKWERS CALL FOR ACTION ON BILL TO RAISE TOBACCO PURCHASE AGE TO 21
House and Senate lawmakers gathered for a press conference Tuesday to call for the passage of what’s known as “Solly’s Law,” named in memory of a North Carolina teenager who died from tobacco-related illness, The N&O’s Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi reported.
The proposed legislation — House Bill 430 and Senate Bill 318 — would raise the minimum age to purchase nicotine and tobacco products to 21.
“Seven hundred seventeen days ago, my stepson died because of vaping. This Thursday would have been Solomon’s 17th birthday,” said Charlene Zorn, Solomon Wynn’s stepmother.
Zorn told lawmakers and supporters at the legislative building that Solomon was “a healthy, active teenager” before he began vaping, which led to his death at 15 from complications.
“Instead of planning a birthday celebration for him, I’m standing here talking to you about my son and the problems we have with youth vaping and nicotine in North Carolina,” she said.
The bills were filed in mid-March with bipartisan support but have not yet received a committee hearing. Because the bills include funding, they were not subject to the General Assembly’s May 8 crossover deadline, which requires most legislation to pass one chamber to remain eligible.
Rep. Donnie Loftis, a Republican from Gastonia and a primary bill sponsor, said North Carolina is one of just seven states that have not passed a law raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 to bring the state into compliance with federal law. The bills would also establish a tobacco retailer permitting system aimed at strengthening enforcement.
Loftis said the issue is especially urgent now that the state has lost most of its funding for tobacco use prevention. The News & Observer previously reported details on what the Trump administration’s funding cut means, including scaling back anti-tobacco campaigns.
Sen. Gale Adcock, a Democrat from Cary and primary sponsor, said her decades of experience as a family nurse practitioner showed her the need for guardrails that help protect youth.
“They need structural support created by adults to help them make better short-term choices until their own decision-making capacity can catch up with their physical growth,” Adcock said. “This bill gives our youth a fighting chance.”
There were several other lawmakers in attendance, as well as students and members of various organizations, including the North Carolina Healthcare Association.
— Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi
WESTERN NC MAKES PUSH AT CAPITOL TO SPEED UP HURRICANE RECOVERY EFFORTS
Community members from Swannanoa in Buncombe County traveled to the Legislature Tuesday to speak with House and Senate members about continued efforts to rebuild the town after Hurricane Helene.
Swannanoa Jody Dunning spoke of continued efforts to rebuild her 18-year-old barbecue business, Okie Dokies Smokehouse, while Jeanne Sommer addressed concerns about reopening her wedding venue, Hidden River Events, which she wants families to be able return to with their children and grandchildren.
The Swannanoa group urged the General Assembly to move forward with a separate funding bill to help with hurricane relief, especially as businesses try to make ends meet and regain a steady flow of tourism.
WHAT ELSE WE’RE WORKING ON
- Sen. Thom Tillis announced key members for his re-election campaign ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The newcomers include Tim Saler, the campaign’s data consultant who previously served as chief data consultant for President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. Saler’s voter targeting was part of 21 winning U.S. Senate campaigns and 14 governors’ races.
- Alamance County residents are stirred up over a proposed budget plan from the board of commissioners that would hand the responsibility of funding public libraries over to municipalities. Public comment at Monday night’s board meeting neared four hours over budgetary concerns, especially those pertaining to public education.
Today’s newsletter was by Kyle Ingram, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Sophia Bailly. Check your inbox Thursday for more #ncpol.
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