NC governor signs first bill of 2026 + Stein’s plans for powering state buildings
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Gov. Josh Stein signs $319 million Medicaid bill into law to cover current fiscal costs.
- Stein urged bipartisan cooperation at a bill signing, as lawmakers work toward a budget.
- Stein directed administration department to explore energy‑efficiency in new construction.
Good morning and welcome to our Under the Dome newsletter that focuses on Gov. Josh Stein. I’m Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan.
Stein signed a Medicaid funding bill into law on Thursday, joined by Republican lawmakers —the first bill of the General Assembly’s short session that began less than two weeks ago.
It’s the first significant sign of compromise this year between the GOP-controlled General Assembly and the Democratic governor.
The law funds $319 million needed to keep up with Medicaid costs this current fiscal year, which ends in June.
Read more about the bill, and the deal, from my colleague Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi:
At the bill signing, Stein said: “When it really matters, state leaders of both parties can come together and do the work of the people.”
Lawmakers are beginning to move other bills to Stein’s desk in their short session. They are also taking up several local bills, but by law those do not go to the governor for approval.
Stein — like the rest of North Carolina — is still waiting on a budget deal from House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger. Hall and Berger remained optimistic this past week about reaching a compromise on raises and taxes in the coming weeks.
Stein’s plans for future of energy extends to state buildings
Speaking this week at the State Energy Conference of North Carolina at NC State University, Stein highlighted a provision in his April state budget proposal.
It would direct the Department of Administration “to explore energy-efficiency measures in new construction (e.g., geothermal systems) to achieve additional long-term savings.”
Geothermal energy systems use underground heat to control buildings’ temperatures.
The most recently opened state government building is for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, which is on Blue Ridge Road in western Raleigh. The Bath Building downtown was demolished last year, but there are no plans yet for what is now green space.
As for the administration department itself, it moved out of what was known as the Administration Building a few years ago, and the building has since been demolished. In its place, a new N.C. Education Campus is under construction — but that project is overseen by the legislature, not DOA, a Cabinet agency in Stein’s administration that now occupies space in the Albemarle Building.
Podcast this week with Rep. Erin Paré
Thanks for reading. Be sure to listen to our Under the Dome politics podcast, too. I host a new episode every Tuesday. This week my guest will be state Rep. Erin Paré, a Holly Springs Republican.
Reach me at dvaughan@newsobserver.com or the entire politics team at dome@newsobserver.com.
Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi contributed to this newsletter.
