(The Center Square) – Two bills related to diversity policy and a third on immigration became law in North Carolina on Wednesday through override of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes.
A third bill on diversity policy next goes to the Senate where an expected successful override would also make it law.
“By overriding four more of Governor Stein’s vetoes today, we’re improving public safety and ending taxpayer-funded, divisive DEI policies for good,” said House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell. “Once again, the House has stood firm and ensured Governor Stein and his liberal agenda won’t get in the way of common sense legislation.”
The House of Representatives had votes of 71-47 on each – eclipsing the three-fifths majority needed. Seen earlier in the day within the Legislative Building but absent for the votes were Democratic Rep. Shelly Willingham of Edgecombe County and former Democrat and now independent Rep. Carla Cunningham of Mecklenburg County.
Each of those lawmakers was targeted by the Democratic Party in primaries earlier this year. Cunningham’s bid for an eighth term fell to the Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler of Charlotte in District 106, and Willingham’s bid for a seventh term in District 23 fell to Patricia Smith of Williamston.
Ironically enough, with exception of Cunningham’s excused absence for the diversity bill in higher education, each lawmaker voted no on each bill at passage.
Lawmakers overrode Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), known also as House Bill 171; Eliminating “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)” in Public Education, known also as Senate Bill 227; Eliminating “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)” in Public Higher Education, known also as Senate Bill 558; and the North Carolina Border Protection Act, known also as Senate Bill 153.
One potential veto override on the calendar went without an attempt. That bill would make North Carolina the 30th state to be without permit for concealed carry. Freedom to Carry NC, known also as Senate Bill 50, was missing 10 Republicans by excused absence at passage, and two others unexcused.
In the veto override law, three-fifths majority is needed to overturn a governor’s veto stamp; only one attempt at override is permitted; and the originating chamber of a bill is where it must first be successfully overridden.
In the measure now needing a Senate override, the agencies bill language says it is an act “eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in state and local government and clarifying the penalty provisions of the state budget act and local government budget and fiscal control act.”
In the bills that became law, the K-12 proposal says it is an act “to demonstrate the General Assembly’s intent that students, teachers, administrators, and other school employees recognize the equality and rights of all persons and to prohibit public school units from promoting certain concepts that are contrary to that intent.”
The higher education bill says it is an act “to demonstrate the General Assembly’s intent that students, professors, administrators, and other employees of public institutions of higher education recognize the equality and rights of all persons and to prohibit public institutions of higher education from promoting certain concepts that are contrary to that intent.”
The North Carolina Border Protection Act instructs memorandums of agreement to be extended to the director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from the state’s law enforcement agencies – Department of Public Safety, Department of Adult Correction, State Highway Patrol, and the State Bureau of Investigation. Each would be lawfully ordered to determine immigration status of any person in custody.