General Assembly

With the passage of Mecklenburg's transit bill appearing likely, Mecklenburg County commissioners could vote in early September to place a referendum on a 1-cent sales tax increase on the ballot for November.

As both chambers of the General Assembly negotiate a budget to send to Gov. Josh Stein, we examine the major sticking points in the House and Senate versions. Last Friday, Stein signed six bills into law, but did not take action on a concealed carry bill or two immigration bills. Since taking office, he has yet to issue a veto.

A bill allowing concealed handguns inside private schools passed the state House on Thursday. Republicans defended the bill, saying “good guys” with guns can stop tragedies. Democrats disagreed. Rep. Julie von Haefen voted against the proposal.

Right now, North Carolina's state treasurer cannot choose to invest in digital assets like cryptocurrencies.

Mecklenburg County state representative Jordan Lopez filed a bill Monday to legalize the sale and use of cannabis.

The fight over whether Republicans keep their supermajority in the General Assembly will come down to just a handful of legislative districts. There are 120 seats in the House. Almost all are preordained in terms of who will win.

North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday overrode vetoes of two bills Gov. Roy Cooper had said would hurt the state's environmental and climate efforts.

Lawmakers in Raleigh are considering a bill that could make it easier to permit new nuclear plants and extend deadlines for Duke Energy to clean up coal ash dumps at its North Carolina plants.

North Carolina won't be revising its outdated energy efficiency rules for new homes anytime soon. On Wednesday, the House and Senate both voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of House Bill 488. The new law blocks the state Building Code Council from updating key sections of the state building code until 2031. Some parts of the current code date from 2009. The law also reorganizes the council and limits the governor's appointment power.

Two former federal emergency management officials say they're concerned that a bill to block some updates to North Carolina's residential building code could disqualify local communities from federal grants to make buildings stronger and safer.