Latest news with #SenateBill50
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legal Analyst: NC Gov. Stein to consider constitutional carry bill
CHARLOTTE () — North Carolina lawmakers passed Senate Bill 50 (also known as 'Freedom to Carry NC'), which would remove the requirement for concealed carry permits in the state, sending it to Governor Josh Stein for his approval. Chief Legal Analyst Khalif Rhodes discusses the bill and what it would mean for North Carolina if passed. READ MORE | Gov. Stein considers immigration, concealed carry bills Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Controversial bills await action from Governor Stein
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A trio of controversial bills are awaiting action from Governor Josh Stein after they were passed out of the General Assembly in Raleigh this week. The question many are asking is if they could be the first to be vetoed by Stein. Senate Bill 153 and House Bill 318 both look to increase cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials. Senate Bill 50 allows for those 18 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit. With only five months on the job and a lot of his work focused on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, Stein has enjoyed a mostly amicable relationship with the GOP-controlled legislature. That could change if Stein were to reject any of the three pieces of legislation. 'Certainly the Republicans will use that as messaging for their base…parties are always looking for opportunities to dent the other side,' said Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at UNC Charlotte. Heberlig told Queen City News that Stein will have to weigh whether he has enough votes for his vetoes to stand, as he will need every single democrat on his side. A three-fifths vote is required in both chambers to override. Democrats hold 49 seats in the House, the exact number needed to reject such a vote. 'Second thing he has to think about is his ongoing relationship with Republican leadership. Is it worth taking them on at this point and perhaps poisoning the well for future negotiations,' said Heberlig. For now, Stein nor his staff are revealing how he will act. 'The Governor will continue to review the bills. He has made clear that if someone commits a crime and they are here illegally; they should be deported,' a spokesperson told Chief Political Correspondent Andy Weber. Stein has until the end of next week to sign or veto all three of the bills. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
If Stein vetoes gun bill, NC House doesn't have the votes to pass it — for now
Good morning and welcome to Under the Dome. I'm Ronni Butts. Here's your update on North Carolina politics. First up, a dispatch from Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan, who covered the controversial vote in the House on Senate Bill 50. The Senate easily approved a bill that would eliminate the law requiring a permit for concealed carrying of handguns. But the bill stumbled in the House, even as it moved forward. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein is likely to veto the bill sent to his desk on Wednesday. If it becomes law, it would would mean anyone age 18 and older could carry a concealed gun, without getting a permit that includes firearms training and a background check. House Republicans are one vote short of a supermajority, which is the three-fifths needed to overturn a veto from Stein. That means Republicans need every one of them to vote for the bill, as well as one Democrat. That didn't happen Wednesday when the bill passed the House after passionate debate. Instead, all Democrats voted against it. They were joined by two Republicans who also voted against it. Ten Republicans were absent and didn't vote. House Speaker Destin Hall acknowledged to reporters that the math doesn't add up to make the bill become law over Stein's objections. You can read more about why Republican Reps. Ted Davis and William Brisson opposed the measure in my story from Tuesday, when the bill went through committee, and then my latest from the floor debate and vote itself. Lawmakers always say they should vote their conscience, constituents and caucus, in that order, which means they should have the freedom to vote how they personally want, and what the people in their district want, before what their party wants. But some lawmakers have previously been threatened with having opponents in their next primary election if they break from their caucus. I asked Stein's office for comment on the bill but did not hear back by the end of the day. — Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan Students from North Carolina's historically Black colleges and universities spoke alongside lawmakers Wednesday to advocate for increased funding for HBCUs as well as for voting rights initiatives. Rep. Zack Hawkins and Sen. Gladys Robinson, who co-chair the bicameral HBCU Caucus, have both sponsored legislation to appropriate funds to several of the schools, but the bills haven't gotten a hearing. 'It's the ability for us to have a bold and comprehensive piece of legislation that addresses the infrastructure, deferred maintenance and needs holistically for HBCUs,' Hawkins said at a press conference. Robinson, who is a member of the committee that's supposed to work out a deal on the state budget, said that while their bills may not pass, she's confident the budget will fund some HBCU improvements. Students at Wednesday's press conference also spoke against gerrymandering and advocated for the legislature to adopt an independent redistricting process. The General Assembly needs 'to take action to establish a redistricting process that is truly by the people and for the people of North Carolina,' said Mackenzie Grant, an N.C. A&T State University and HBCU Student Action Alliance fellow at Common Cause NC, a voting rights group. She mentioned that a previous electoral map had split her university campus in half between two different voting districts. Nyla Hankins, an NC A&T student and fellow with Common Cause NC, spoke out against a House bill that would make disseminating official voter registration forms as part of registration drives a misdemeanor. Instead, organizations would have to present voters with sample forms. 'We should be maintaining and widening access to voter registration,' Hankins said. 'Not merely banning it, as this bill proposes to do.' The bill in question, House Bill 127, has not gotten a committee hearing. It was scheduled to be heard in an elections committee last week, but lawmakers canceled the meeting shortly before it was set to begin. — Ronni Butts and Kyle Ingram Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy is bringing Michael Regan, the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Joe Biden, to its campus as a Polis Distinguished Fellow. Regan, a North Carolina native, served as Secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality under then-Gov. Roy Cooper. Polis Distinguished Fellows are experts in public service, organizing or politics who work with students on a project to address a specific political issue, according to Duke's website. Beginning in August, Regan will participate in the Civil Discourse Project, which aims to 'promote civil discourse through modeling or teaching the capacities and virtues necessary to engage in healthy exchange across difference.' While at the EPA, part of his work focused on addressing climate change and environmental justice through the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. ▪ Accuracy in Media, an activist media organization, posted a video Tuesday of a former Western Carolina University administrator implying to undercover reporters that diversity, equity and inclusion efforts will continue to be made at the university, despite recent state and federal policies banning DEI policies in educational institutions. Korie Dean reported that the university released a statement assuring that it complies with those policies. Officials say the now-retired administrator in the video had no authority to enforce DEI policies. This is the third video posted by Accuracy in Media in recent weeks of UNC System administrators who made similar DEI comments. ▪ A bill to expand the use of ignition locks is awaiting a vote in the Senate, weeks after House approval, Richard Stradling reported. Under the bill, ignition locks could be used voluntarily by those awaiting a court date with charges of driving while impaired to help reduce punishment. Ignition locks, which require a driver to blow into a device to detect alcohol content before starting their vehicle, are already required for some charged with a DWI. 'The main intent behind this bill is to give people an avenue to take accountability when they screw up or make mistakes,' Rep. Mike Schietzelt said at a press conference on Tuesday. ▪ Lawmakers are considering requiring all North Carolina public school teachers to complete a criminal background check before being hired, T. Keung Hui reported. Currently, it is optional for North Carolina public schools to run criminal background checks on prospective teachers. Some Democrats are leery about the bill because of concerns about costs. North Carolina received an F score from USA Today for teacher screening in 2016. ▪ Karen Brinson Bell spoke with politics reporter Kyle Ingram about her reflections on her six years as the North Carolina State Board of Elections director. She was ousted from her position last month after the General Assembly transferred the power to appoint board members to State Auditor Dave Boliek. Brinson Bell recounted how she and the board navigated unexpected challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Helene and the six-month-long battle over a State Supreme Court seat between Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin. Sam Hayes, the North Carolina House speaker's general counsel since 2021, took her place after a 3-2 vote of the new board. ▪ The Trump administration has renewed support for a new bridge under construction over the Alligator River, which will connect the Outer Banks and the rest of the state. The construction is partially funded by a $110 million federal grant using money from the infrastructure bill passed under former President Joe Biden. President Donald Trump's administration says the grant was backlogged under the Biden administration and will now move ahead. The new bridge, which is set to be complete in 2029, will replace the current 60-year-old Lindsay C. Warren Bridge. Richard Stradling has more. Today's newsletter was by Ronni Butts, Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan and Kyle Ingram. Check your inbox Friday for more #ncpol. Not a subscriber? Sign up on our website to receive Under the Dome in your inbox daily.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Constitutional carry bill clears final House committee, heads to floor
(Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor) The North Carolina House Rules Committee voted 12-10 Tuesday afternoon to pass a controversial bill that would allow individuals to carry concealed firearms without a permit. Senate Bill 50, 'Freedom to Carry NC,' would allow individuals who are U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, and not otherwise prohibited by law, to carry concealed weapons without applying for a permit. It's backed by Republican leadership and would make North Carolina the 30th state to approve of so-called 'constitutional carry.' The bill has already cleared the Senate and now heads to the House floor for consideration by the full chamber. The measure is one of the most contentious topics of the legislative session. While the House Judiciary 2 Committee voted along party lines on the bill last week, Tuesday's roll call vote highlighted the panel's disagreement. Some Republicans, like Rep. Ted Davis of New Hanover, voted against the measure. Others chose not to vote, hinting at their disapproval but unwillingness to deviate from party expectations. Discussion was short, lasting about 10 minutes. Members of the public were not called upon to testify. Primary sponsor Sen. Danny Britt (R-Hoke, Robeson, Scotland) presented the bill to the committee. Rep. Cynthia Ball (D-Wake) expressed worry. 'There are no guardrails for someone who has those convictions to continue to carry, because we're not requiring anything of them until they get caught,' she said. 'That gives me and the people who've been reaching out to me great concern, because the guardrails we have, we hope are somewhat helpful, but having none is a problem.' Ball added that Democratic Gov. Josh Stein is opposed to the legislation in its current form. Rep. Blair Eddins (R-Alexander, Wilkes) brought up how under current law, an 18-year-old cannot purchase a pistol from a gun store. However, if they were to receive it from their grandfather, they could open carry the weapon anywhere they want to go in the state of North Carolina. 'In every circumstance and scenario that's been brought before you today in this committee, the gun has already been purchased,' Eddins said. 'It simply addresses a way that a law-abiding citizen can carry the gun.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislators advocate for bill banning ghost guns, untraceable firearms
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday considered a federal firearm regulation aimed at reining in ghost guns, untraceable, unregulated weapons made from kits. In this photo, a ghost gun is displayed before the start of an event about gun violence in the Rose Garden of the White House April 11, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) Lawmakers and community members held a press conference Tuesday morning to back legislation prohibiting ghost guns and other untraceable weapons. Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) organized the event to garner support for Senate Bill 409: 'Ban Ghost Guns & Undetectable Firearms.' This measure would prohibit the sale and possession of ghost guns, which are firearms without a unique serial number. Undetectable firearms can be purchased in separate components and assembled at home, or manufactured through a 3D printing process. Chaudhuri filed the bill in March, when it was initially introduced to the legislature and assigned to the Senate Rules Committee. The bill has not moved since then. 'At the time when the General Assembly is set on passing permitless concealed carry bills… we're ringing the alarm bell about the need to address a real 21st century firearms threat: ghost guns,' Chaudhuri said. Senate Bill 50, 'Freedom to Carry NC,' would remove the permit process for individuals to carry concealed firearms. This legislation will be heard in the House Rules Committee Tuesday afternoon. Sen. Val Applewhite (D-Cumberland) collaborated with Chaudhuri on SB 409. She emphasized that the measure is not about infringing on gun ownership. 'This is about untraceable, unserialized weapons, often assembled in basements or garages that are increasingly finding their way into the hands of people with no intention of using them responsibly,' Applewhite said. 'These are weapons with no paper trail, no accountability, and no way for law enforcement to do their jobs effectively.' Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, a Fayetteville city council member and appointed member of the governor's crime commission, spoke at the conference as a grieving parent. Banks-McLaughlin lost her 15-year-old daughter, Coryonna Treasure Young, to a ghost gun. This week, Young would've graduated high school with her peers with her family cheering her on, Banks-McLaughlin said. She had dreams of joining the Air Force and becoming a pilot. 'No parent should have to stand right where I'm standing, no community should have to grieve a child who has a name that will never be called again at a dinner table,' Banks-McLaughlin said.
