(The Center Square) – Five bills are to be presented to the North Carolina governor for signing into law on Monday, four bills got his signature on Thursday, and 14 more were presented on Thursday and await a decision.
Included in the latter is the state budget. First-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has a busy week ahead coming out of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Through the weekend, Stein had not given indication on his intent for the state budget. He has chance to change trend; Monday represents Day 1,692 since the state’s governor signed a budget, a tenure mainly tied to U.S. Senate candidate and former two-term Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Cooper, a politician over five decades dating to the 1980s, in an eight-year run signed just one two-year spending plan (2021-22) and one midterm adjustment (2022). He vetoed each of the first two biennium budgets he saw and midterm adjustments in 2018 and 2024.
The state’s last budget, tardy on passage in the fall of 2023, was allowed to become law without his signature.
Bills presented to the governor, per general statutes, have 10 days for an action. The governor may sign, veto or allow to become law without a signature after 10 days. Day of presentation is Day 0.
Stain on Thursday signed into law Revise Laws on Minors/Human Trafficking (House Bill 83); Water/Wastewater Affordability & Capacity Act (HB376); Pay Exceptions/Special Separation Allowance (HB481); and Various Revenue Laws Changes (Senate Bill 595).
Headed to Stein on Monday are Jaleeyah’s Law (HB1173); Improve IVC Process and Enhance Public Safety (HB1104); Public Workforce Modernization Act (SB1041); Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Prot. Act (HB920); and 2026 Wildlife Resources Changes (HB747).
All bills sent to Stein on Thursday line up for Day 10 to be Sunday of the coming weekend.
The headliner is the state budget, known formerly as 2026 Appropriations Act (SB257).
Also at his desk is 2026 Budget Technical Corrections (HB56); NC Farmland and Military Protection Act (HB133, SB504); Parking Lot Reform/Stormwater Control (HB162); DPS/Other Changes (HB206); Home-Based Business Fairness Act (HB372); Drug-Free Zones/Unauthorized Public Camping (HB437).
Also, Modify Nonprofit Corp. Act/Charitable Org. (HB517, SB489); Ferry Div. Audit/DOT Omnibus (HB1094); 2026 DST Admin./Technical/Clarifying Changes-AB (HB1126, SB936); Support the Dept. of Adult Correction-AB (SB355); Adjust Counties/Reappraisal Moratorium (SB474); Winter Sports Safety and Accidents (SB648, HB620); and GSC Update Funeral Board and DOI Licensing (SB857).
