Neighbors on Call’s NC Policy Update for 04/29/24

Governance

• NC Gov. Cooper presents his budget as the legislative “short session” begins – Lynn Bonner, NC Newsline

• NC General Assembly’s “short session” convenes today [April 24, 2024] – Staff, NC Newsline

• With $1 billion budget surplus, NC lawmakers return to Raleigh for 2024 session: State worker raises, Medicaid, child care, private school vouchers and more could be part of the 2024 budget debate as the short session kicks off April 24. – Will Doran, WRAL

• Marijuana, immigration, election laws: NC's 2024 legislative session not just about the budget: State lawmakers will use the 2024 session to spread around a $1 billion budget surplus and possibly tackle contentious policy debates around immigration, marijuana, child care and changes to election laws ahead of the November election. – Will Doran, WRAL
  

Education Policy

• Bill seeks to speed Wake schools' hunt for university partnership with leadership academies: The proposed legislation follows the Wake County Public School System's decision to end the leadership academy programs' partnership with Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh amid accreditation struggles. – Will Doran, WRAL

Gun Violence Prevention

• Gun safety advocates again call on lawmakers to consider red flag law in NC:  Proposed legislation would give a judge the power to take guns away from someone deemed to be at risk of harming themselves or others. Opponents say it would violate due process. – Laura Leslie, WRAL
  

• NC Republicans face pressure to eliminate concealed carry permit requirement – Michael Hyland, CBS17

Immigration

• Under the Dome: Lawmakers to quickly take up mandate for sheriffs to help ICE  – Avi Bajpai, The News & Observer