RALEIGH — The General Assembly completed eight overrides of vetoes issued by Gov. Josh Stein out of the 14 he has issued to date.
The bills with completed overrides listed below will now become law:
Both the House and Senate faced seven vetoed bills, with the Senate successfully overriding all seven.
“Senate Republicans stood firmly against Gov. Stein’s disastrous decision to veto bills that protect our citizens,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) said in a press release.
“His vetoes lay bare his priorities. He wants schools to indoctrinate our children, bureaucrats to control your family, radical Green New Deal schemes to drive up your energy bills, and the government to infringe on your Second Amendment rights,” Berger said. “We won’t allow his radical agenda to take hold in North Carolina.”
In addition to the three Senate bills with overrides completed by the House, the vetoes overridden by the Senate included Senate Bill 50 (Freedom to Carry NC), Senate Bill 153 (North Carolina Border Protection Act), Senate Bill 227 (Eliminating “DEI” in Public Education) and Senate Bill 558 (Eliminating “DEI” in Public Higher Ed).
House Republicans, who are one shy of a veto-proof majority, successfully overrode five of its seven vetoes with the help of one Democrat on each vote.
The two remaining House vetoes, House Bill 96 and House Bill 171, will be taken up on July 30. House Bill 96 provides remedies for removing squatters, and House Bill 171 would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, from state agencies.
Rep. Shelly Willingham (D-Edgecombe) voted with Republicans on House Bills 193, 402 and 549.
Similarly, Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg) was the one vote needed to override the veto of House Bill 318. She also joined Willingham in overriding House Bill 402.
During debate on House Bill 318, which closes loopholes for the cooperation of state law enforcement with ICE officials, Cunningham offered a strongly worded speech about why she supports the bill.
“Today is a new day, but I’d like to take a moment to reintroduce myself to each of you. I am ADAS —American, descendants of slaves. I am a black American, and I am an American,” said Cunningham. “I’m going to present my case in support of House Bill 318, as it is time for my unapologetic truth to be shared with all of you.”
Cunningham argued that immigration policies should prioritize cultural assimilation, stating that immigrants must adapt to U.S. laws, language and constitutional systems rather than maintaining separate cultural practices. She also claimed the U.S. has been “naive” and “exploited” by current immigration tactics, calling for stricter citizenship rules and reduced migration levels to prevent community destabilization.
Cunningham went on to defend herself from attacks she’d sustained over her support for the bill.
“In conclusion, let me share with you all what happens when a woman lawmaker like myself choose to move differently,” she said. “Yes, I was degraded for my vote. Yes, I was called racist for my vote, and yes, I was said I was trash. However, I figured it out.
“They want me to stop elevating my ancestors’ history. They want me to be silent in my country. They want me to line up behind their priorities while my people and communities continue to struggle to in our country.”
House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) intervened as the gallery and members of the chamber began making noise as Cunningham spoke.
“Members, it’s not a kindergarten class,” said Hall. “I look up and I see full-grown adults, many of you senior citizens, and you’re clearly trying to make noise like a young child might when they’re having to sit in a classroom and listen. So please, you’re not doing anything by making these noises.”
Hall singled out but did not name a female member who was making noises and instructed the Sergeant at Arms to remove her if she continued.
The override of House Bill 318 was a priority for Hall, who spearheaded the bill.
“Governor Stein and Democrats side with criminal illegal aliens, but the House stands with North Carolinians,” Hall said in a statement. “North Carolina sheriffs must put public safety above politics and enforce the law, not help criminals escape it.”
On House Bill 805, Mecklenburg’s Rep. Nasif Majeed was the one Democratic vote needed for the override.
When it came to actions on vetoed Senate bills, the same Democrats voted with Republicans to complete the overrides.
Cunningham, Majeed and Willingham helped complete the overrides of Senate Bills 266 and 416.
On Senate Bill 254’s vote, Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford) joined Cunningham and Willingham to override the veto.
