Today Governor Josh Stein signed 9 bills into law. He also vetoed 3 bills.
Governor Stein made the following statement on signing Senate Bill 479:
“No matter where you live in North Carolina, you should be able to access affordable health care and medications. This bill increases accountability and protects community pharmacies from Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ unfair business practices that make prescription drugs more expensive for patients. It will help independent pharmacies promote access to health care, particularly in rural areas. And critically, it will lower the amount consumers pay at the pharmacy counter by making sure discounts are passed on to them.”
Governor Stein made the following statement on signing Senate Bill 429:
“This bill makes it easier for certain victims of domestic violence to have their day in court and obtain a restraining order, and it increases penalties for the sale of fentanyl to get this deadly drug off our streets. It also makes clear that, just as with other organizations, religious organizations can be held liable for sexual abuse by their employees.
“I am concerned that this bill increases penalties on people for their addiction when it is already a felony to possess narcotics and that it punishes organizations providing civil legal services to low-income North Carolinians. I urge the General Assembly to responsibly address addiction and to protect funding for Legal Aid and other organizations.”
Governor Stein made the following statement on signing Senate Bill 311:
“This bill cracks down on a variety of crimes, including burglary, retail theft, reckless driving, hit-and-run offenses, and protects utilities and communications workers on the job.”
Governor Stein made the following statement on signing Senate Bill 118:
“North Carolina is home to approximately 100,000 active-duty service members. Moving to a new deployment can be disruptive for their families, and we must do what we can to smooth that transition. This bill will make it easier for military families to enroll their kids in school and renew their drivers’ licenses remotely. However, I have concerns that certain businesses that claim to help servicemembers secure benefits will instead use this bill as cover to overcharge them. I encourage the General Assembly to find ways to support servicemembers and their families and protect them from those who want to take advantage of them.”
Governor Stein made the following statement on vetoing House Bill 193:
“This bill would make our children less safe. Just as we should not allow guns in the General Assembly, we should keep them out of our schools unless they are in the possession of law enforcement. Law enforcement officers receive more than 800 hours of public safety education, including firearms training. On top of that, School Resource Officers receive additional training to know how to respond to crises and how to deescalate conflicts, a requirement I supported when I was Attorney General. We cannot substitute the protection offered by well-trained law enforcement officers by asking teachers and school volunteers to step in and respond to crises while armed. Just last year, an employee at a religious school in Goldsboro left a gun in a bathroom that was later found by an elementary school student.
“I support, however, the provision in this legislation to better protect local elected officials from threats to their safety, and I urge the General Assembly to send me a clean bill with those protections so I can sign it.”
Governor Stein made the following statement on vetoing Senate Bill 416:
“Our democracy works best when people are well-informed. This bill reduces transparency and creates more opportunity for dark money in our politics, especially relating to candidates’ legal funds. Furthermore, it makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the Department of Revenue to identify and crack down on certain types of tax fraud.”
Governor Stein made the following statement on vetoing House Bill 96:
“This legislation originally addressed squatters, and I supported it. At the last moment, however, an unrelated amendment was added that prohibits local governments from regulating pet stores. This bill would facilitate inhumane puppy mills in North Carolina. Without this provision, I would sign the legislation. With it, I cannot support it.”
Governor Stein also signed the following bills into law:
- Senate Bill 375
- House Bill 850
- House Bill 694
- House Bill 1003
- House Bill 992