The General Assembly could turn to passing mini budgets as an alternative, but upcoming leadership changes may complicate things.
RALEIGH, N.C. โ North Carolina lawmakers returned to the state General Assembly this week, still operating without a new budget since 2023, and experts said there’s no way to know when โ or if โ one will pass.
While Republicans control both the House and Senate, the holdup is a disagreement between the two chambers, not between parties. The core disagreement between Republican leadership comes down to the pace of tax cuts.
The budget stalemate means law enforcement and teachers have gone without raises. Thousands of teachers are expected to rally in Raleigh May 1, putting additional pressure on lawmakers to reach a deal.ย
Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, said “the signs suggest” they may come to an agreement in this short session, but there’s no way to know. The General Assembly could turn to passing mini budgets as an alternative, but upcoming leadership changes may complicate that path.
“We have no idea what Phil Berger looks like when he is in a lame duck term, right? For the last 16 years, we’ve known Phil Berger as President Pro Tem of the Senate,” Cooper said. “Does that mean he is more open to pass a budget, or does that mean he has nothing left to lose, and so he’s going to hold more firm? I think we just really don’t know. It’s an uncomfortable position to be in, and it’s not a very satisfying answer to say we don’t know, but we really don’t.”
The lack of a budget also puts Medicaid at risk of running out of money next month. On Wednesday, both chambers reached an initial compromise on a $319 million package to fund Medicaid expenses through June. Final votes are still needed from both the House and Senate before the bill heads to Gov. Josh Stein’s desk.
While Stein has called for full Medicaid funding, the bill includes eligibility requirements that Democrats have criticized.
“There’s some problematic provisions,” Rep. Laura Budd, a Democrat representing parts of Mecklenburg County, said.ย
While Democrats are largely left out of budget negotiations, Budd said she’s hopeful it will be tackled this session.
“The rumor mill running at full tilt is, we will have a budget,” she said. “I am not convinced that the budget is not going to be a series of small budgets. The reality is we are in 2026 working on 2023 dollars.”
Watch the full interview with Chris Cooper on Flashpoint, only on the WCNC Charlotte app starting Sunday at 11 a.m. and always on demand.
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