State GOP Proposals Could Affect Schools, Gun Safety, Government Authority

North Carolina lawmakers are considering several legislative proposals that could affect public schools, gun laws, environmental regulations, and the authority of state officials.

These bills, introduced by Republican senators, address issues such as concealed carry laws, student participation in public school activities, and restrictions on legal challenges to presidential executive orders. Supporters argue they provide necessary reforms and opponents raise concerns about their potential consequences.

Among the proposals, Senate Bill 58 would limit the attorney general’s ability to challenge executive orders, raising questions about separation of powers. Senate Bill 48 seeks to allow private and home-schooled students to participate in public school activities, prompting discussions about fairness and resource allocation. Senate Bill 50 would permit concealed carry without a permit, with debate centered on public safety and law enforcement challenges. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 20 aims to ban mass balloon releases, citing environmental concerns, and Senate Bill 14 proposes repealing the unenforced literacy test from the state constitution.

As these bills move through the legislative process, their potential impact remains a key focus for lawmakers and residents alike. With each bill still under committee review in the legislative session at this writing, the coming months will determine their future and how they may shape North Carolina’s laws and policies.

Senate Bill 58: AG/Restrict Challenge to Presidential EOs

The Point: North Carolina GOP senators want to prevent Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson from joining litigation against President Donald Trump's executive orders.

The Pushers: Sens. Eddie D. Settle, Bobby Hanig, Timothy D. Moffitt.

The Concerns:

• Separation of Powers: If passed, this could undermine the balance between the executive and legislative branches.
• Legal Autonomy: The attorney general's office is meant to operate independently, making decisions based on legal merits rather than political directives.
• Precedent for Future Restrictions: If enacted, this bill could set a precedent for further legislative encroachments on the powers of elected officials.
• Public Perception and Trust: Such actions can erode public trust in the state's commitment to fair governance. Power grabs like this can fuel skepticism about the integrity of governmental institutions and their leaders (and maybe that's a feature - not a bug - of the legislation).

The Status: [As of Feb. 8, 2025] Referred to Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

Senate Bill 48: Access to Sports and Extracurriculars for All

The Point: North Carolina GOP senators want to force public high schools to accept private and home-schooled students into their interscholastic athletic programs or extracurricular activities if those students don't have access to similar programs at their educational institutions. The legislation would allow public schools to charge fees for their participation.

The Pushers: Sens. Ralph Hise, Carl Ford, Amy Galey.

The Concerns:

• Resource Allocation: Public schools may face challenges in accommodating additional participants from other schools, possibly straining existing resources such as coaching staff, equipment, and facilities.
• Equity and Fairness: Allowing non-enrolled students to participate could lead to perceptions of unfairness, particularly if letting them in displaces enrolled students from teams or activities due to limited spots.
• Accountability and Oversight: Ensuring private and home-schooled students meet the same eligibility criteria, such as academic standards and oversight requirements, may prove challenging for public schools. That could result in inconsistent enforcement.
• Financial Implications: Although the bill allows for charging participation fees, these may not fully cover the incurred additional costs, possibly affecting public school district budgets.
• Legal and Policy Considerations: Integration of non-enrolled students into public school programs raise concerns about liability, insurance coverage, and adherence to state athletic association regulations.

The Status: [As of Feb. 8, 2025] Referred to Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

Senate Bill 55: Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices

The Point: North Carolina GOP senators want to require all public school districts to establish a policy on student use of wireless communication devices such as smartphones and laptops during instructional time. The bill includes exceptions for educational purposes, emergencies, and specific student needs.

The Pushers: Sens. Michael V. Lee, Jim Burgin, Lisa S. Barnes.

The Concerns:

• Overreach into Local Authority: Obviously, schools want to minimize classroom distractions. But do they need the GOP-controlled state legislature - which does a horrible job funding public schools in North Carolina - telling them how to manage local issues like this? A statewide mandate could limit the flexibility of school districts like Durham Public Schools to tailor policies that best suit their unique student populations and educational environments.
• Implementation Challenges: Enforcing policies like this across all schools could present practical difficulties. Determining appropriate disciplinary actions and managing exceptions for educational and medical needs could result in inconsistencies and potential disputes.
• Unintended Consequences: Strict prohibitions might drive students to find covert ways to use their devices, leading to disciplinary issues.

The Status: [As of Feb. 8, 2025] Re-referred to Education/Higher Education Committee after withdrawal from the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

Senate Bill 50: Freedom to Carry NC

The Point: North Carolina GOP senators want people to have the right to carry a concealed handgun without a permit.

The Pushers: Sens. Danny Earl Britt Jr., Warren Daniel, Eddie D. Settle.

The Concerns:

• Public Safety: Eliminating the permit requirement could lead to more gun-related incidents. A permitting process with background checks and training helps ensure that individuals who carry concealed weapons are responsible and knowledgeable about firearm safety.
• Law Enforcement Challenges: Without a permitting system, it may become difficult for police to determine whether individuals are legally allowed to carry concealed weapons, complication enforcement efforts.
• Public Opinion: Absence of a permitting process could lead to a perception of decreased public safety, and that could affect tourism, business investment, and quality of life around North Carolina.

The Status: [As of Feb. 8, 2025] Referred to Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

Senate Bill 20: Prohibiting Certain Mass Balloon Releases

The Point: Republican Sen. Jim Burgin wants to impose a $250 fine on anyone who performs a mass balloon release that isn't working on behalf of a government agency or through a contract for scientific or meteorological purposes. Such events pose harm to North Carolina's scenic beauty and can be dangerous to wildlife and marine animals, the bill states.

The Pusher: Sen. Jim Burgin.

The Concerns:

• Enforcement Challenges: Finding and penalizing people involved in balloon releases could require extensive resources.
• Impacts on Traditions and Celebrations: Balloon releases can be part of cultural or personal events, including memorials and celebrations. Opponents of the bill worry that it could infringe upon these traditions.
• Scope and Exceptions: Is it fair to allow government or scientific entities to release balloons while private citizens are penalized?
• Legislative Overreach: Several local governments in North Carolina, such as Currituck and Dare counties, enacted similar bans. Perhaps it's best to leave this to municipalities?

The Status: [As of Feb. 8, 2025] Referred to Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

Senate Bill 14: Constitutional Amendment Repealing the Literacy Test

The Point: North Carolina GOP senators want a referendum this year to amend the state constitution so that the literacy test found in Section 4 of Article VI is repealed. This part of the constitution - unenforced these days thanks to the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 - demands that anyone registering to vote should be able to read and write any section of the constitution in English.

The Pushers: Sens. Bobby Hanig, Ralph Hise, Timothy D. Moffitt.

The Concerns:

• Legislative History: This aspect of the North Carolina State Constitution is a blight and ought to be removed, but surprisingly efforts to repeal it in the past have failed. In 1969, Henry Frye, the state's first African-American state representative, introduced a bill to repeal the literacy test. Amendment 7 failed by 70,000 votes. In 2013, the House passed HB 311 to repeal the test, but the Senate failed to advance the bill. Other efforts went nowhere in 2018, 2021, and 2023.

The Status: [As of Feb. 8, 2025] Referred to Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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