Politics

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein recently rolled out his first full budget proposal — a $67.9 billion plan that puts education, family tax relief, and student well-being at the center. State Senate Republicans have now responded with their own proposal, a $65.9 billion budget highlighting conservative tax breaks, investments in law enforcement, and a surge in infrastructure spending. 

Senator Thom Tillis was among 20 Senate Republicans who voted against bipartisan legislation to expand Social Security benefits for over 2 million Americans, including teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. The bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, passed the Senate in December 2024 in a 76-20 vote and was signed into law by President Biden on January 5, 2025.

NC lawmakers filed almost 2,000 bills for this session, laying out their priorities for the year, ranging from education to public safety and voting changes. Here’s a look at a few of the bills that made it in on the final day of filing.