(The Center Square) – Six bills from the Republican majority General Assembly were signed into law Friday by first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.
Four others remained on his desk where state law says he can sign, veto or after 10 days allow to become law without his signature. Among these are Freedom to Carry NC (Senate Bill 50) that arrived Friday and The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act (House Bill 318) that came on Tuesday.
The long session of the two-year cycle for lawmakers on Jones Street in Raleigh is headed toward the July 1 start of the fiscal year and a new two-year spending plan. While the budget is yet to be finalized, earlier appropriations signed by Stein related to Hurricane Helene recovery were previously the only bills he had signed.
Stein also has on his desk Revise Voluntary Ag. District Laws (House Bill 126, Senate Bill 59) that arrived Friday, and the North Carolina Border Protection Act (Senate Bill 153) that was delivered to him Tuesday. Day of delivery for a bill is Day 0 on the 10-day window.
The 2025 State Investment Modernization Act.-AB (HB506) creates a five-member investment authority to assist the state treasurer in managing return retirement fund investments. It was one of two bills originating in the upper chamber Stein signed and begins implementation immediately, more structurally on July 1, and all parts will be fully implemented on Jan 1.
The other starting in the Senate was Birth Certificates for Persons Adopted (SB248, HB818). This law, effective Jan. 1, makes access to new birth certificates for persons adopted similar to persons that are not adopted.
The governor also signed:
• LEO Special Separation Allowance Options (HB50, SB320). This provides additional special separation allowance options for state and local law enforcement officers with 30 years or more of creditable service. It becomes effective July 1.
• Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact (HB231, SB155). The law reduces burdensome and duplicative requirements associated with holding multiple licenses, thereby improving interstate social work practices. It becomes effective Oct. 1.
• Retirement Death Benefits Rewrite-AB (HB477, SB359). This law will recodify and standardize laws relating to the death benefit plan for the teachers and state employees retirement systems; local government employees retirement system; consolidated judicial retirement system; legislative retirement system; and funding for line of duty death benefits. It is effective July 1.
• DNCR Agency Bill-AB (SB477). Statute changes for the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, as recommended by the department, are adopted in this legislation. The law became effective with Stein’s signature.
