NC Senate will vote to override Stein’s vetoes on concealed guns, DEI and immigration next week

Republicans in the North Carolina Senate will vote to override Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes next week, Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said Monday.

The governor, a Democrat, has issued seven vetoes on bills that originated in the Senate. Among them are one to allow permitless carry of handguns, two new immigration enforcement measures, two banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices in schools and a rollback of an emissions goal for Duke Energy.

Berger, in a news release, said Stein’s vetoes indicate “that he is out of touch with the people of North Carolina.”

“I look forward to leading Senate Republicans in overriding these harmful vetoes and putting North Carolina families first,” Berger said.

Veto overrides require approval from three-fifths of members in both chambers. Senate Republicans, who hold a 30-20 veto-proof supermajority, will meet that threshold if all members are present and voting.

The vote counting is more precarious in the House, where the GOP holds a 71-49 advantage. Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) has said the override motions can be called up at any time when the House is in session. But all Republicans, as well as one Democrat, will need to vote yes to confirm an override, if all members are present and voting.

Stein has also vetoed several prominent House bills. Those include a ban on DEI within state agencies and a bill that recognizes exclusively male and female sexes and restricts changes to birth certificates for transgender people. If the House overrides Stein’s vetoes on those bills, they will go to the Senate for final action.

Both chambers are set to come into session next week.