(The Center Square) – At least one of the 14 vetoes issued by Gov. Josh Stein appears to have dodged the powerful North Carolina Republican override machine.
The legislation on expedited eviction of squatters, with stiff penalties if rightful property owners wrongly accuse, got a late amendment before going to the governor in the form of House Bill 96. He cited the possible enabling of puppy mills in the bill language, rejected it July 9, and on Thursday will receive Expedited Removal of Unauthorized Persons – a bill by the same name – in the form of Senate Bill 55.
He’s expected to sign it. If so, the law would go into effect Dec. 1.
Under the legislation, a hearing before a magistrate would be required within 48 hours of a complaint filed by a property owner. Similar legislation was originally sponsored last year, passed the House but not the Senate.
Passage in the House was 110-8 and the Senate concurred 49-0.
Stein issued 14 vetoes in the 20 days between June 20 and July 9. Eight were overridden on Tuesday in both chambers, with the Senate also overturning four others that originated in the upper chamber. Of the six that did not get an override from both chambers, the squatters veto would now be moot via Senate Bill 55 and five would remain alive for veto override – all getting their next action, if any, in the House.
