NC lawmakers return from break with budget pending. Catch up on what they’re doing
North Carolina legislators will return to Raleigh on Monday after a weeklong Memorial Day break, with budget negotiations and an expanding slate of constitutional amendments still in motion. Here’s a look at where major issues stand as the short session continues.
- Lawmakers took a week off during Memorial Day while top budget writers continued work behind the scenes, with leaders aiming to finalize a budget bill in mid-June.
- Republican leaders announced a framework budget deal that includes an average 8% teacher raise, a 3% state employee raise, bonuses, and larger raises for law enforcement, ending a nearly year-long stalemate.
- A constitutional amendment capping the state personal income tax at 3.5% cleared both chambers and is headed to voters this November, despite opposition from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who called it a “financial straightjacket.”
- Lawmakers also advanced a constitutional amendment to limit local property tax increases, which will appear on November ballots; the specific cap amount would be decided in 2027 if voters approve.
- The House voted to override Stein’s veto of a private school tuition tax break bill tied to a federal school-choice program, sending the measure to the Senate for its own override vote.
- The Senate advanced a “right to work” constitutional amendment that would enshrine existing state labor law into the constitution, with the measure now moving to the House.
- A bipartisan bill to ban social media for children under 14 and require parental consent for ages 14 and 15 is advancing in the Senate after passing the House with near-unanimous support last year.
- Legislation requiring mental health training for middle and high school coaches is being pushed forward, building on a recent state athletic association mandate for high school head coaches.
- Lawmakers are weighing a proposal to allow ready-to-drink canned cocktails to be sold in grocery stores, with supporters citing consumer demand and opponents warning of lost local ABC board revenue.
- A controversial abortion bill declaring life begins at fertilization drew significant backlash but is unlikely to advance, with one sponsor withdrawing and House leadership signaling no interest in similar bills of years past.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists, including politics editor Jordan Schrader. The source reporting referenced above is by Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Kyle Ingram and Esther Frances.
Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan
The News & Observer
Esther Frances
The News & Observer