Governor Roy Cooper (D) vetoed five bills from July 3-9. The five bills are below:
S49, which would have “enumerate[ed] the rights of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their minor children.”
- Cooper said, “Parents are the most essential educators for their children and their involvement must be encouraged, but this bill will scare teachers into silence by injecting fear and uncertainty into classrooms. This ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill also hampers the important and sometimes lifesaving role of educators as trusted advisers when students have nowhere else to turn. The rights of parents are well established in state law, so instead of burdening schools with their political culture wars, legislators should help them with better teacher pay and more investments in students.”
- Sens. Amy Galey (R) and Michael Lee (R), two of the bill’s sponsors, said, “Parents know what is best for their children. Gov. Cooper continues to mislead the public about the Parents’ Bill of Rights so he can drum up manufactured outrage and rake in donations. This bill encourages collaboration, promotes transparency, and keeps classrooms focused on educating, not indoctrinating. The Democrats and Gov. Cooper think the government can co-parent, but Republicans will always stand strong to defend parents and families.”
- The North Carolina House voted 66-47 to approve the bill on June 28. The North Carolina Senate voted 26-13 to approve the bill on June 29. Sens. Amy Galey (R), Michael Lee (R), and Lisa Barnes (R) introduced the legislation on Jan. 31.
H574, which would have supported the protection of “opportunities for women and girls in athletics.”
- Cooper said, “We don’t need politicians inflaming their political culture wars by making broad, uninformed decisions about an extremely small number of vulnerable children that are already handled by a robust system that relies on parents, schools and sports organizations. Republican governors in other states have vetoed similar bills because they hurt their states’ reputation and economy and because they are neither fair nor needed.”
- Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R), one of the bill’s sponsors, said, “Women have fought for decades for equal opportunities in this country, and Governor Cooper is shamelessly putting politics over protecting our female athletes and ensuring they compete on an equal and safe playing field. … Why stand in the way of fair, common-sense legislation that simply levels the playing field for females to compete without risk of injury? Women deserve better, and I will not be on the wrong side of history and science. That is why I filed HB 574 and why I will continue to advocate for women’s sports.”
- The North Carolina House voted 62-43 to approve the bill on June 22. The North Carolina Senate voted 31-17 to approve the bill on June 20. Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R) and co-sponsors introduced the legislation on April 5.
H808, which would have prohibited gender transition procedures for minors.
- Cooper said, “A doctor’s office is no place for politicians, and North Carolina should continue to let parents and medical professionals make decisions about the best way to offer gender care for their children. Ordering doctors to stop following approved medical protocols sets a troubling precedent and is dangerous for vulnerable youth and their mental health. The government should not make itself both the parent and the doctor.”
- As of July 11, Ballotpedia could not identify a response from the bill’s sponsors.
- The North Carolina House voted 67-46 to approve the bill on June 28. The North Carolina Senate voted 29-16 to approve the bill on June 27. Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R) and co-sponsors introduced the legislation on April 18.
H488, which would have “reorganize[ed] the Building Code Council and create[d] the Residential Code Council, … amend[ed] various provisions of the North Carolina State Building Code and land development regulations, and … increase[d] the project cost minimum for applicability of general contractor licensing requirements.”
- Cooper said, “This bill stops important work to make home construction safer from disaster and more energy efficient, and ultimately will cost homeowners and renters more money. The bill also imperils North Carolina’s ability to qualify for FEMA funds by freezing residential building code standards. Not only does the bill wipe out years of work to make homes safer and more affordable, it also violates the Constitution by rigging the way rules are made.”
- As of July 11, Ballotpedia could not identify a response from the bill’s sponsors.
- The North Carolina House voted 93-26 to approve the bill on June 27. The North Carolina Senate voted 33-12 to approve the bill on June 22. Rep. Mark Brody (R) and co-sponsors introduced the legislation on March 27.
H618, which would have “convert[ed] the Charter Schools Advisory Board into the Charter Schools Review Board, …shift[ed] the authority to approve charters from the State Board to the Review Board, and …create[d] a right of appeal to the State Board of Education from Review Board decisions.”
- Cooper said, “The North Carolina Constitution clearly gives the State Board of Education the oversight authority for public schools, including charter schools. This bill is a legislative power grab that turns that responsibility over to a commission of political friends and extremists appointed by Republican legislators, making it more likely that faulty or failing charter schools will be allowed to operate and shortchange their students. Oversight of charter schools should be conducted by education experts not partisan politicians.”
- As of July 11, Ballotpedia could not identify a response from the bill’s sponsors.
- The North Carolina House voted 77-42 to approve the bill on June 27. The North Carolina Senate voted 30-18 to approve the bill on June 20. Rep. Tricia Ann Cotham (R) and co-sponsors introduced the legislation on April 13.
Overriding a gubernatorial veto requires a three-fifths vote from both chambers of the legislature. North Carolina is one of seven states to require a three-fifths majority.
Cooper has issued five vetoes in 2023. During the week of July 3-9, the nation’s governors issued 16 vetoes. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) issued the most with 11. Governors in 48 states vetoed no legislation. Democratic governors issued all 16 vetoes.
Cooper has served as governor since Jan. 1, 2017. He vetoed six bills in 2022. Governors have issued 521 vetoes in 2023. Republican governors issued 263, while Democratic governors issued 258. North Carolina is a divided government, meaning neither party holds trifecta control.
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