General Assembly
North Carolina state legislature activities
Latest stories
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Popular Netflix show leaves North Carolina after change to film incentive program
State officials said changes to the state’s incentives program led to the departure of the Netflix series “The Hunting Wives,” which was filmed in North Carolina.
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Henderson man gets nearly 27 years for fentanyl trafficking as NC laws give prosecutors new options
A Henderson man who prosecutors say led a major fentanyl and heroin operation was sentenced to nearly 27 years in federal prison. Prosecutors say North Carolina’s tougher fentanyl penalties are giving them more options to pursue serious cases in state court.
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Coastal Republican resigns from North Carolina Senate
State Sen. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck, is stepping down and is retiring from the General Assembly. Hanig, a former Currituck County commissioner, first joined the legislature in 2019. He lost in a GOP congressional primary this year.
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‘Stop politicizing our courts’: Stein vetoes bill letting NC chief justice suspend judges
House Bill 377 would essentially let North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby suspend any trial court judge without pay. Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the bill, saying it "would have a chilling effect on judicial independence."
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Stein approves budget additions, expands access to ‘granny flats’ in NC cities
Stein signed what’s known as a regulatory reform bill, as well as technical corrections and additions to the recently approved state budget Tuesday.
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‘Barely making it’: Who should raise Wake’s teacher pay?
Wake County pays its teachers less than school districts in nearby metropolitan areas of similar costs of living, WRAL reported Monday. Who’s more responsible for improving North Carolina’s — and Wake County’s — teacher pay ranking depends on whom you ask.
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North Carolina GOP picks Balkcom to replace Edwards as congressional nominee
The North Carolina Republican Party picked state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards as the GOP nominee in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, which covers western North Carolina. Edwards dropped out of the race last week amid allegations of sexual harassment.
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Can NC Democrats gain legislative power in November elections? Races to watch.
Democrats have their best chance in years to take control of at least one state legislative chamber. Even if they don’t, they’re hoping to make Gov. Josh Stein’s veto stronger.
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NC Republicans aim to replace Edwards on ballot next week; top NC senator weighs bid
A top state senator says he’s interested in becoming the Republican nominee in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards on Wednesday announced an end to his reelection bid.
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Inside Historic state Capitol, NC lawmakers commemorate state’s role in US independence
From the Halifax Resolves to today's General Assembly, North Carolina House lawmakers celebrated the state's role in American independence during a ceremony inside the old State Capitol building.
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House leaders delay NC hemp ban as they weigh arguments from law enforcement, businesses
Republican leaders in the North Carolina House of Representatives were prepared to vote on a bill banning nearly all intoxicating hemp products. But they shelved those plans Tuesday after hundreds of protesters swarmed the legislature.
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NC hemp industry fights bill that could wipe out most THC products
Hemp businesses call the hemp-ban bill an existential threat to the industry, as House lawmakers return this week.
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NC political investigation expanding to include new target, Wake DA says
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman says the scope of a criminal investigation into allegations of political corruption keeps growing. She hasn’t ruled out bringing charges against state lawmakers.
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NC court interpreter walkout begins Friday. Could court proceedings be affected?
Many certified court interpreters across North Carolina will stop accepting assignments Friday after higher pay wasn't funded. The action could disrupt court proceedings starting Friday as interpreters push for higher compensation.
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NC budget moves endangered ankle-monitoring program under SBI
The move comes about a year after the Criminal Justice Information Network, a quasi-governmental group, relied on an emergency infusion of cash from the state Department of Public Safety to avoid suspending its GPS system.
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Can North Carolina lower health care costs? New bipartisan commission gets to work
Health care costs keep rising, and North Carolina leaders say the status quo isn't sustainable. A new bipartisan commission, created by Gov. Josh Stein, met for the first time Tuesday with one mission: find ways to make medical care more affordable for millions of North Carolinians.
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Colleges get more money for workforce development, athletic departments in NC budget
North Carolina’s new state budget provides some realignment for the state's colleges and universities, reflecting higher enrollment, a greater emphasis on workforce readiness, and a need to cut costs at the university level.
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NC Republicans roll back DEI policies in new state budget
North Carolina’s new budget eliminates or restructures DEI programs across state government, including changes at DHHS and state agencies.
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Soaring ticket prices cause NC lawmakers to ban the bots
A new provision in North Carolina’s budget creates tougher ticket protections, requiring upfront prices and cracking down on bots after Hurricanes fans reported problems buying Stanley Cup Final tickets. The law applies to tickets sold or resold on or after Oct. 1, 2026, for live entertainment.
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Stein vetoes homelessness bill, signs other laws including new ban on China buying NC land
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said House Bill 437 is “poorly constructed” and makes it harder for homeless people to get back on their feet.
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Stein signs $34B NC budget, ushering in tax cuts and raises for state employees after GOP agreement
The $34 billion plan was authored by Republican legislative leaders who reached a deal last week after months of bickering over tax cuts and capital projects. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein objected to parts of the plan but said state employees can’t wait any longer for raises.
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New criminal justice laws crack down on gangs, clarify where mental health evals are conducted
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signed four Republican-led bills Monday updating mental health laws, increasing penalties for gang-related crime, amending local parking requirements and making technical changes to state agency operations.
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Prediction market betting would be authorized in NC’s new budget. What it means for sports betting
Tucked into the state budget is a proposal that could have massive implications for how prediction markets operate in North Carolina. Some lawmakers say it’ll create a new revenue stream. Others worry it’ll cost the state millions.
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'Difficult' decisions dominated local government budgeting. Will they continue?
Across the Triangle and beyond this spring, local government leaders echoed one another in describing their spring budgeting seasons as "difficult" and, often, the most difficult any of them had ever experienced.
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'Difficult' decisions dominated local government budgeting. Will they continue?
Across the Triangle and beyond this spring, local government leaders echoed one another in describing their spring budgeting seasons as "difficult" and, often, the most difficult any of them had ever experienced.
