North Carolina is currently the only state running without a state budget.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ After Trump mentioned the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska and crime in Charlotte in his 2026 State of the Union address, North Carolina state senator Caleb Theodros said without a state budget, public safety, crime and violence cannot be properly addressed.ย
Trump invited Anya Zarutska, mother of Iryna Zarutska, to the State of the Union and described Iryna’s death to disparage Democratic lawmakers and boost tough on crime legislation.ย
“We have made incredible strides, yet dangerous repeat offenders continue to be released by pro-crime Democrat politicians again and again,” Trump said. “Iโm asking this Congress to pass tough legislation to ensure that violent and dangerous repeat offenders are put behind bars, and, importantly, that they stay there.”ย
North Carolina state senator Caleb Theodros said without a state budget, public safety cannot be addressed with urgency.ย
North Carolina is currently the only state in the country without a state budget. Gov. Josh Stein and the Republican-led General Assembly have been negotiating the budget for nearly a year, however, a finalized budget has yet to pass through. North Carolina was the only state to enter 2026 without a budget.ย
โViolence in any community is unacceptable. Families across North Carolina deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods, on public transit, and in public spaces,” Sen. Theodros said in a statement. “If public safety is going to be elevated on a national stage, then it must also be prioritized here at home.”ย
Sen. Theodros says Republicans has not prioritized public safety at a local level despite hawking legislation at the national level.ย
โInstead of delivering a responsible budget that strengthens prosecutors and community safety systems, the NC GOPโs legislative energy has been directed toward advancing divisive culture-war proposals, including anti-DEI legislation, seemingly more focused on appeasing the Trump regime than delivering real public safety solutions for Mecklenburg County and communities across North Carolina.โ
The senator calls on the General Assembly to:ย
- Pass a comprehensive state budget, not political messaging bills, that funds prosecutors, mental health services, victim support programs, violence prevention initiatives, transit safety, and local governments.
- Provide direct funding support for the Mecklenburg County District Attorneyโs Office to reduce case backlogs.
- Expand access to mental health and crisis response services.
- Invest in community-based violence prevention and transit safety personnel.
Sen. Theodros represents senate district 41, northwest Charlotte and parts of east Charlotte.ย
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