Last week, North Carolina House Democratic Leader Robert Reives and members of his leadership team expressed support for North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s budget priorities.
The Governor’s budget focuses on working families, teachers, and addressing critical needs. Key measures within his priorities include raising starting teacher pay to the highest in the Southeast, providing meaningful tax relief to working families, and investing in public safety, education, child care, workforce development, and health care.
“Governor Josh Stein’s budget proposal reflects a clear commitment to the future of public education and the state of North Carolina,” stated Jason Johnson, 2025 North Carolina Principal of the Year and 2026 National High School Principal of the Year. “This budget represents a strong foundation, beginning with investments in pre-K support and extending throughout the entire public education system to support all facets of our students’ lives.”
The Governor’s budget also makes investments towards crucial programs and services, including fully funding Medicaid, expanding Division of Motor Vehicles services and hours, and supporting free community college tuition for students pursuing non-degree programs.
“With goals this important – building an economy that works for everyone, strengthening our public schools and workforce, supporting families, and keeping people safe and healthy – we cannot afford to waste a penny,” stated Governor Stein in a press release. “We need people to be able to feel how their government is working for them and maximize the value of every taxpayer dollar.”
Governor Stein’s budget priorities come as the Republican-led General Assembly has failed to pass a comprehensive state budget for more than 900 days since the last session – putting North Carolina as the only state in the country without a budget.
“The people of North Carolina deserve better leadership than what they have seen so far from us. Our state’s gone more than 900 days without a comprehensive budget,” stated Reives during a press conference. “The only state in the nation to fail at the most basic responsibility we have.”
On top of the budget delay, state Republicans recently passed a Medicaid funding bill eight months after they dismissed warnings from state health officials about the need to fund the state’s Medicaid program.
According to NC Health News, House Bill 696 makes several changes to state Medicaid law, including new, stringent eligibility requirements. Despite the funding shortfall being addressed, Republicans hid a harmful provision in the bill that would jeopardize the health of U.S.-born children in immigrant families — and others in those households who have legal status to be in the country.
“This law doesn’t just target immigrants; it targets the stability of North Carolina families,” Kelly Morales, a co-director with Siembra NC, said in a statement. “This isn’t about eligibility; it’s about terrorizing parents who just want to take their kids to a doctor.”
While North Carolina Republicans prioritize threatening the safety of our communities, Governor Stein is pushing forward a budget that funds our health care, lowers costs, supports our educators, and invests in the communities that make North Carolina strong.
“North Carolina’s people are our greatest asset, and when they succeed, we succeed,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We must make fiscally responsible decisions now to keep our schools strong, our communities safe, and our economy working for every person. This budget is a balanced, forward-looking plan to secure our future, lower costs, and ensure that every North Carolinian has a shot at real prosperity.”
To view Governor Josh Stein’s recommended budget, visit Governor Stein’s Budget Recommendations 2026-27
