NC Republicans pass law shifting government power, overriding Cooper’s veto

North Carolina lawmakers approved a wide-ranging bill to shift executive power in state government on Wednesday, cementing a Republican override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto a month before new elected officials are sworn in.

The GOP override passed the House 72-46, after moving through the Senate last week. It now becomes law, though many of its sections do not take effect for months.

Legislative leaders were able to flip three GOP votes in the House — a trio of members from western North Carolina who initially objected to the bill’s branding as Hurricane Helene relief.

Senate Bill 382 strips offices soon to be held by Democrats of appointment power, redirecting much of that authority to Republicans. And it makes a litany of changes to election administration, including stricter deadlines for absentee voting, and other parts of government.

And while it does lay out more money for relief in the mountains, it is less than prior aid packages — and much of it has not yet been allocated for specific purposes.

Republicans have touted the law as another measured step in Helene aid, while making needed fixes across state government.

“I hope you will override this veto,” said Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell), who is set to become the next Speaker of the House. “I know there will be much more to come in storm relief in North Carolina.”

The state constitution “gives this body the ability to make certain decisions,” Hall said. Among the concerns he made explicit were those with the state elections board.

“I simply disagree with the way that the current State Board of Elections has handled things,” Hall said.

When he remarked that the legislation was “not about politics,” protesters seated in the gallery above laughed.