Governor Josh Stein signs bills enhancing public services and vetoes measures he says threaten privacy and education in North Carolina.
RALEIGH, N.C. โ Governor Josh Stein has signed several new laws this week while vetoing others, citing concerns about privacy, education, and the quality of public services in North Carolina.
On Thursday, Stein signed eight bills into law and vetoed four. He criticized the legislature for failing to pass a state budget and instead focusing on what he called โculture wars.โ
โAt a time when teachers, law enforcement, and state employees need pay raises and people need shorter lines at the DMV, the legislature failed to pass a budget and, instead, wants to distract us by stoking culture wars that further divide us,โ Stein said. โThese mean-spirited bills would marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education.โ
The vetoed bills include
Among the bills Stein signed was Senate Bill 600, which allows people to register as organ donors when filing taxes, protects patients from toxic chemicals, and helps schools hire nurses and treat students with severe allergies.
Other bills signed Thursday include
- House Bill 763
- Senate Bill 442
- House Bill 357
- Senate Bill 125
- Senate Bill 655
- Senate Bill 307
- Senate Bill 133
More vetoes over privacy and oversight
On Wednesday, Stein vetoed three bills:
- Senate Bill 266, which proposed changes to energy policy
- House Bill 549, which would expand the state auditorโs power to investigate private individuals and organizations
- Senate Bill 254, which would change how charter schools are overseen
Stein said these bills would harm privacy, the environment, peopleโs finances, and the state constitutionโs balance of power. Republican leaders in the legislature have not yet responded to the vetoes.
New law opens state jobs to more people
On Tuesday, Stein signed Senate Bill 124, a law that makes it easier for people without college degrees to qualify for state government jobs. The law directs the state to review education and experience requirements and speed up the hiring process.
The change comes as North Carolina faces about 14,000 job vacancies in state government. These shortages have led to longer wait times for services, including at DMV offices. A recent study ranked Charlotteโs DMV as the worst among 30 major U.S. cities.
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