Page 2 - 2023 Session News Today

North Carolina lawmakers plan to vote Tuesday to override Gov. Roy Coopers vetoes on five bills. The Republican supermajority is expected to make quick work of the votes, passing election rule changes, other bills, into law.

The new state budget is also now law, after Cooper allowed it to go into effect without either signing or vetoing it on Monday. He also signed a number of bills into law, in addition to his vetoes.

Included in North Carolinas new $30 billion state budget is at least $3 billion for economic development. Megasites, NCInnovation, Global TransPark and infrastructure are among the biggest earmarks.

Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 -- It is no exaggeration to say the seven justices of the N.C. Supreme Court will determine if the General Assembly is the devils playground or a temple of democracy.

Republican lawmakers are holding a series of public hearings this week on the states redistricting process. They also changed the states open records laws last week, shielding information about the General Assemblys map-making process.

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 -- The GOP-led legislature may seize control of state and local election boards from the Democratic governor, fueling a feud that could resonate in 2024.

North Carolina lawmakers are preparing to redraw their own voting districts ahead of the 2024 elections, as well as the states 14 U.S. House of Representatives seats. But first, theyre holding a series of public meetings to hear from voters.

Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 -- The 2023 "budget bill" is far less about state spending than it is a legislative garbage truck - a vehicle for scores of non-spending legislation the leadership wants hidden from their constituents so theres no discussion, debates or full disclosure.

Language in a budget draft would let lawmakers decide whether to release their records to the public. It is "the deepest cut to the public records act since it was enacted," one lawyer says.

House Bill 600 is the General Assemblys near-annual regulatory reform bill - a grab bag of changes backed by the chambers Republican majority as a common sense way to help keep the states strong business climate humming.