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Governance
The short session in the NCGA begins April 24. Republican Speaker of the House Tim Moore indicated that a priority for the NC House would be passing a bill defining antisemitism as a hate crime, suggested that raises for state employees and teachers might be considered when the budget is drafted, and mentioned illegal immigration as a target issue. He also said the NC House would not take up any bills further restricting abortion during this session.
Voting Rights
On Tuesday a three-judge Superior Court panel unanimously ruled that NC Republican legislators’ changes to how elections boards are appointed are unconstitutional. The law, which the NCGA passed along party lines, took appointment power away from the governor and assigned it to the legislature, a change that the judges ruled would infringe on the governor’s constitutional duties. The Republican leaders of the NCGA are appealing the ruling.
On Wednesday a U.S. District judge denied a summary judgment request that would have stopped a trial over the constitutionality of North Carolina’s voter ID law. The trial over the NAACP’s challenge to the law will take place as scheduled beginning May 6. The same judge, Loretta Biggs, had issued a preliminary injunction in 2019 blocking the law from going into effect, but that decision was reversed by an appeals court, and the photo ID requirement went into effect last fall.
Economic Policy
On Monday a new law legalizing online sports gambling in North Carolina went into effect. The law allows anyone 21 or older who is physically based in North Carolina to bet on sports online. The first $2 million generated by sports betting will be allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services to address problem gambling.