NC House Huddle newsletter for the week of March 24
All in State Government
Sen. Berger Files The DAVE Act, to Root Out Government Waste and Increase Efficiency
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) filed a bill creating the Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency in the State Auditor’s office. Further, the bill requires the DAVE to review every state agency’s spending and staffing levels to get a complete picture of how they’re utilizing taxpayer funds and determine if the agency should continue to exist.
Reporting Confirms What We Knew: DEI Bills Just Political Posturing
New reporting from The Assembly confirms what many of us already knew to be true: DEI bills from the General Assembly this Session are simply performative political posturing. This legislation shows Republican leaders are taking the lead from Washington instead of seeking policy changes that would actually improve the lives of working North Carolinians.
Constitutional Carry Bill Clears NC Senate
Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 50, “Freedom to Carry NC,” to allow for the permitless carry of a concealed handgun in North Carolina.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Defends GI Bill for Veterans
RALEIGH – Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 51 other Republican and Democratic Attorneys General asked an appeals court to protect veterans’ rights to receive the full possible educational benefits available to them after they serve in the armed forces.
House Passes Fourth Round of Disaster Relief
Raleigh, NC – Legislators from the North Carolina House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the fourth round of hurricane relief measures.
North Carolina's January Employment Figures Released
Raleigh, N.C. - The state’s seasonally adjusted January 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from December’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.0 percent.
Governor's proposed budget does not fully fund state retirement system
(Raleigh, N.C.) — State Treasurer Brad Briner is responding to the budget proposal put forward by Gov. Josh Stein today:
Governor Stein Signs First Bill into Law, Delivering Resources to Support Western North Carolina's Recovery
(RALEIGH) Governor Josh Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1 – his first bill signed into law. Governor Stein was joined by leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly, members of his Western North Carolina Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, and agricultural leaders.
NC House bill takes aim at insurance company prior authorization practices
Linsi Franklin of Wake County describes her struggles getting her son’s medicine approved at a news conference on insurance company prior authorization. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)
John Hood: Set Clear Priorities for Road Funding
RALEIGH — In recent weeks, I’ve written several columns flagging areas where North Carolina lags behind other states. We don’t do a good job of providing patients access to telehealth services, for example, and our education system — previously among the best in the country in converting public investment into reading and math performance — has tumbled in the rankings since the school shutdowns of the COVID era.
Governor Stein Announces 2025-2027 Budget Proposal to Keep North Carolina Strong
Governor Josh Stein joined State Budget Director Kristin Walker to announce his 2025-2027 budget proposal to keep North Carolina strong. The Governor’s budget makes key investments in the economy, families, education, workforce, health care, and public safety to help ensure every North Carolinian has a shot at a brighter future.
Sen. Berger Files Bill to Enable Law Enforcement Officers to Stay on the Job
Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) filed Senate Bill 320, “LEO Special Separation Allowance Options,” which enables veteran law enforcement officers to stay on the force without risking their special separation benefits.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Announces Money Laundering and Health Care Fraud Sentencing
RALEIGH – Attorney General Jeff Jackson today announced that Wendell Lewis Randall was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to repay more than $2 million after pleading guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of money laundering.
Senate Health Chairs Introduce Comprehensive Proposals to Drive Down Healthcare Costs, Increase Transparency
Raleigh, N.C. – The chairs of the Senate Health Care Committee introduced two bills to bring down the cost of healthcare in the state and increase pricing transparency.
Leader Reives Statement on DEI Legislation
"This Session's focus on DEI is the same tired playbook we have seen year after year from Republican Leadership: Find a cultural issue that national Republicans are using to divide people and bring it to North Carolina,"
John Hood: North Carolina Fails Telehealth Exam
North Carolina has become a national leader in such policy areas as tax reform, school choice, and transportation funding. Unfortunately, we lag far behind in providing telehealth options to patients.
Government Efficiency in North Carolina’s State Budget
Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and former State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson were recognized for their exemplary accomplishments in public health with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Ron H. Levine Public Health Award at the annual North Carolina Public Health Leaders’ Conference on March 13.
NC House Huddle: Latest newsletter from the NC House
House Speaker Destin Hall delivered a powerful live response to Governor Josh Stein’s State of the State address on Wednesday evening.
Former Governor Roy Cooper and Dr. Betsey Tilson Honored with Levine Award for Contributions to Public Health
Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and former State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson were recognized for their exemplary accomplishments in public health with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Ron H. Levine Public Health Award at the annual North Carolina Public Health Leaders’ Conference on March 13.