North Carolina lawmakers consider vetoes, constitutional amendments as work session draws to a close

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina General Assembly rushed Wednesday to advance legislation before finishing its main work session of the year — even though lawmakers know they could return later this summer to resolve outstanding matters.

This work that must continue will likely include adjustments to the second year of the already adopted biennial state budget. While House and Senate Republicans have proposed competing spending measures for the fiscal year that begins next week, discussions have broken down on resolving the differences.

Senate Leader Phil Berger said his chamber was set to leave Raleigh after Thursday, and House Speaker Tim Moore said a “little cool down” might be in order.

The General Assembly signaled that legislation regarding protesters and campaign finance, juvenile delinquent prosecutions and transportation would soon become law despite vetoes from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

The House voted Wednesday to override Cooper’s three vetoes so far this year, and similar votes in the Senate are expected Thursday. Republicans hold a narrow veto-proof majority in both chambers.

A bill provides tougher penalties for people wearing a mask when committing a crime or for those who block a road during a demonstration. These changes were made in light of recent protests against the war in Gaza.

The measure still allows people to wear “medical or surgical grade masks” to prevent the spread of disease, but police and property owners can ask someone to temporarily remove them for identification. Cooper’s veto message had focused on unrelated campaign finance provisions that would in part allow federally registered political organizations to donate money to state political parties using funds from individuals who can make unlimited contributions.

The other vetoes overturned by the House were on bills that would ensure more youths accused of serious crimes are automatically tried in adult court and expand the areas where billboard owners can cut down vegetation along roadsides.

A host of proposed constitutional amendments could appear on North Carolina voters’ ballots this year, depending on how the General Assembly acts in the coming days. If approved by a simple majority of votes in November, the amendments would become law.

Constitutional amendments require 72 votes from the House and 30 from members of the Senate to place on the ballot, and the governor has no veto over them. Of the four proposals submitted to the House or Senate, two achieved the most success.

They clarify that only U.S. citizens can vote and that a photo ID is required for all types of voting, not just in-person voting. The House and Senate introduce separate versions of bills containing the same language.

The House of Representatives supported the citizens-only amendment in an initial vote of 104-12. But it’s unclear what the Senate will do, as its version includes a third proposed amendment that would cap tax rates. State income tax at 5%, instead of the current 7%. More amendment votes were expected Thursday.

Another House amendment would limit the governor’s appointment power when filling vacancies on the Council of State. The governor would be required to choose from a list of three candidates provided by the state party with which the outgoing official was affiliated when elected.

The Senate and House are about $300 million apart on how much to spend over the next 12 months, with the House seeking to spend the higher amount.

Much of the House’s additional spending would increase salaries for public workers and teachers beyond what the current second year of the budget already provides. The Senate wants to stick with the second-year raises — an average increase of 3 percent for teachers and 3 percent for all employees.

Competing plans agree on spending $487 million on programs that provide money for K-12 students to attend private schools or receive other services. The money would eliminate waiting lists for two programs. The House and Senate budget bills also call for spending $135 million on child care subsidies that will no longer be provided by the federal government starting next month.

While hopes for a comprehensive deal by the end of the week were dim, House Republicans advanced a separate bill Wednesday that would allocate $67 million for child care subsidies for the six next months. The Senate should also agree.

A group organized by the North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign and others came to the Legislative Building to loudly demand action on child care funding.

Around noon, eight protesters were arrested after police said they refused to stop chanting in the rotunda between the House and Senate chambers.

A few dozen people associated with the group entered the building. Officers received noise complaints and arrested people after they were asked three times to tone it down, General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock said.

The arrested protesters, who were led away with plastic ties around their wrists, were expected to be charged with second-degree trespassing and violating building regulations, Brock said.

The General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a bill that would define anti-Semitism in state law based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition. The bill now goes to Cooper’s office.

The Senate also approved a bill to make several election changes, including requiring campaign ads to disclose the use of artificial intelligence and requiring county election boards to issue certain vote challenges. This bill also now returns to the House.