Neighbors on Call’s NC Policy Update for 05/20/24

Education Policy

• On Monday the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees voted to cut $2.3 million that is allocated to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives in the next school budget. The vote comes as the UNC System Board of Governors is in the midst of considering repealing and replacing the system’s existing DEI policy and is part of a broader trend of right-wing attacks on diversity and social justice programming on campuses. One board member, a Republican currently running for state auditor, suggested that the cut funds should be reallocated to campus law enforcement.
  

Economic Policy

• State legislators from Durham have filed companion bills in the NC House and NC Senate that would allow for the building of workforce housing for teachers, law enforcement officers, and first responders on public land. HB 1067 and SB 905 aim to address rising housing prices in the area that price out members of the local workforce. Legislative permission is required due to existing laws that prevent governments from competing with the private sector, and though there is ample precedent for the legislature’s granting such permission to other municipalities and counties, the Republican-led legislature has refused to take up similar bills from Durham lawmakers since at least 2017.

Immigration

• On Wednesday the NC House rejected the NC Senate’s version of a bill requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE over an amendment that would have allowed people to file complaints about non compliant sheriffs with the state attorney general. The House voted 108-3 not to concur with the proposed Senate changes, and opponents of the bill celebrated its (temporary) defeat. A conference committee will now attempt to rework the bill.

Justice

• On Wednesday the NC Senate voted along party lines to ban people from wearing masks in public, including for medical reasons. Republicans supporting HB 237 cited concerns about criminals and protestors hiding their identities. Democrats, public health advocates, and disability rights advocates spoke forcefully against the bill, saying it would harm disabled people or others who wish to wear masks for health reasons and potentially chill their speech by deterring them from gathering for protests. The bill now goes back to the House for approval.

• On Wednesday the NC Senate approved a bill that would treat juvenile offenders as adults in many felony cases. HB 834 rolls back protections for many juveniles – called Raise the Age – that passed five years ago with bipartisan support.

• On Thursday the NC Senate approved a bill that would outlaw the use of nude photos – including AI-generated photos – for “sexual extortion” and would outlaw AI-generated CSAM (child sexual abuse material). HB 591 has already been approved by the NC House, and it now returns to the House for final approval before going to the governor.