Politics

The North Carolina General Assembly has seen a number of bills being introduced ranging from education policy to governmental powers. This week, North Carolina Republican Senators in the Rules Committee moved along legislation that: prohibits phones from being on during classroom instruction, requires state officials to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and restricts the state’s Attorney General from taking legal action against the executive orders of President Donald Trump.

Taking a cue from President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, Republican state lawmakers in North Carolina are beginning to probe state agencies. 

Republicans have been in full control of state government spending in North Carolina for the last 14 years. However, the allegations of fraud and waste made by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, have grabbed the attention of conservative politicians.

Despite his claims of independence, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has emerged as a reliable MAGA supporter in Congress. Tillis voted in favor of all of President Trump’s most controversial nominees, including vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and pro-Putin National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard.  

But the most telling vote involved Tillis’ decision to confirm Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has an extensive list of misconduct allegations as well as a history of troubling comments reflecting his opposition to women serving in the military.

Less than a month into the 2025 session, North Carolina lawmakers have introduced nearly 300 bills, with hundreds more expected before next month’s filing deadline. However, given the state’s divided government, not all proposals will survive the legislative process.  

Following the 2024 election, Republicans fell just one seat short of a supermajority, meaning Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has the power to veto many GOP-backed bills. Despite this dynamic, several key proposals are gaining attention.