RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) -- On Wednesday, July 9, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein took action on 12 bills, signing nine and vetoing three others, his office announced.
House Bill 193 aimed to allow certain employees and volunteers to carry a concealed handgun on private school property with permission from the property owner. The bill also included provisions that aimed to increase the punishment for threats or assaults against elected officials.
Stein made the following statement on his decision to veto House Bill 193:
"This bill would make our children less safe. Just as we should not allow guns in the General Assembly, we should keep them out of our schools unless they are in the possession of law enforcement. Law enforcement officers receive more than 800 hours of public safety education, including firearms training. On top of that, School Resource Officers receive additional training to know how to respond to crises and how to de-escalate conflicts, a requirement I supported when I was Attorney General. We cannot substitute the protection offered by well-trained law enforcement officers by asking teachers and school volunteers to step in and respond to crises while armed. Just last year, an employee at a religious school in Goldsboro left a gun in a bathroom that was later found by an elementary school student. I support, however, the provision in this legislation to better protect local elected officials from threats to their safety, and I urge the General Assembly to send me a clean bill with those protections so I can sign it."
Senate Bill 416 aimed to prohibit public agencies from "collecting, disclosing, or releasing personal information" about individuals associated with 501(c) nonprofits, with exceptions allowed by state or federal law.
Stein stated the following on his decision to veto Senate Bill 416:
"Our democracy works best when people are well-informed. This bill reduces transparency and creates more opportunity for dark money in our politics, especially relating to candidates' legal funds. Furthermore, it makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the Department of Revenue to identify and crack down on certain types of tax fraud."
House Bill 96 aimed to set a legal procedure that would remove "unauthorized persons," or squatters, from private residential property. The bill was later amended, however, with a provision that would bar North Carolina counties, towns and cities from banning or restricting the sale of animals by pet shops.
The pet shop provision was Stein's reason for vetoing House Bill 96.
The governor stated, "This legislation originally addressed squatters, and I supported it. At the last moment, however, an unrelated amendment was added that prohibits local governments from regulating pet stores. This bill would facilitate inhumane puppy mills in North Carolina. Without this provision, I would sign the legislation. With it, I cannot support it."
Senate Bill 479, also known as the SCRIPT Act, plans to support "community retail pharmacies" and improve transparency regarding the prescription drug market. The bill intends to support independent North Carolina pharmacies, regulate Pharmacy Services Administration Organizations (PSAO) and require drug manufacturers to disclose any price increases or changes.
Stein made the following statement on his decision to sign Senate Bill 479:
"No matter where you live in North Carolina, you should be able to access affordable health care and medications. This bill increases accountability and protects community pharmacies from Pharmacy Benefit Managers' unfair business practices that make prescription drugs more expensive for patients. It will help independent pharmacies promote access to health care, particularly in rural areas. And critically, it will lower the amount consumers pay at the pharmacy counter by making sure discounts are passed on to them."
Senate Bill 429 addresses a variety of criminal laws within the state, specifically ones regarding domestic violence, drug trafficking and exposing children to controlled substances. The bill also looks to "increase the punishment for committing the offense of solicitation of minors by computer."
Stein made the following statement on his decision to sign Senate Bill 429:
"This bill makes it easier for certain victims of domestic violence to have their day in court and obtain a restraining order, and it increases penalties for the sale of fentanyl to get this deadly drug off our streets. It also makes clear that, just as with other organizations, religious organizations can be held liable for sexual abuse by their employees. I am concerned that this bill increases penalties on people for their addiction when it is already a felony to possess narcotics and that it punishes organizations providing civil legal services to low-income North Carolinians. I urge the General Assembly to responsibly address addiction and to protect funding for Legal Aid and other organizations."
Senate Bill 311 implements a variety of changes to the state's criminal laws, including increasing the punishment for assaulting a utility or communications worker and increasing the penalty for reckless driving or street racing, among others. The bill also highlights increasing penalties for larceny, shoplifting, burglary and more.
Regarding Senate Bill 311, Stein said, "This bill cracks down on a variety of crimes, including burglary, retail theft, reckless driving, hit-and-run offenses, and protects utilities and communications workers on the job."
North Carolina Rep. Mike Schietzelt reacted to the bill via X post, writing: "North Carolinians are safer today than we were yesterday[...] It was an honor to work on provisions of this bill protecting NC drivers and critical supply chain infrastructure."
Senate Bill 118, the Military and Veteran Support Act, intends to "make various modifications to laws pertaining to military service members and veterans," and to "authorize sheriffs to send notice of expiration of concealed handgun permit via electronic mail."
This bill reduces the concealed handgun permit application and renewal fees for veterans who were "discharged honorably or under general honorable conditions."
Gov. Stein commented on the passing of Senate Bill 118:
"North Carolina is home to approximately 100,000 active-duty service members. Moving to a new deployment can be disruptive for their families, and we must do what we can to smooth that transition. This bill will make it easier for military families to enroll their kids in school and renew their driver's licenses remotely. However, I have concerns that certain businesses that claim to help servicemembers secure benefits will instead use this bill as cover to overcharge them. I encourage the General Assembly to find ways to support servicemembers and their families and protect them from those who want to take advantage of them."
North Carolina Rep. Allen Chesser reacted to the bill's passing via X post, writing in part: "This bill cuts a lot of red tape and provides common-sense quality of life changes for our veterans and active-duty military personnel in NC."
Rep. Grant Campbell also took to X to react to the bill:
Senate Bill 375, or Harrison's Law, aims to "revise the criminal offense of hazing and to publish the total compensation and position information for central office employees." The bill is named after Harrison Kowiak, a student at Lenoir-Rhyne University who died in 2008 after a head injury caused by hazing.
House Bill 850 implements a "moratorium on insurance of certificates for certain surface water transfers."
House Bill 694 directs the Environmental Finance Center at UNC Chapel Hill to study water and wastewater regionalization, as well as its "benefits, costs, and financial, statutory or regulatory obstacles."
House Bill 1003 makes several adjustments to the laws concerning funeral services and cremation in the state.
House Bill 992 creates a "timeshare trustee foreclosure process for certain delinquent assessments" for North Carolina timeshares. The bill also changes the process for establishing paternity for children born out of wedlock.