News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

North Carolina bill reins in attorney general opposing presidential orders | North Carolina

Published

2 months ago

February 18, 2025

www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-02-18 14:51:00

(The Center Square) – Restricting the state’s attorney general from starting, joining or helping lawsuits challenging presidential executive orders is advancing in both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly.

Democrat Jeff Jackson, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, linked the state with four cases in 21 days that opposed directives of second-term Republican President Donald Trump. Jackson and Trump each won close races Nov. 5 in a state with population of 11 million and voter registrations divided in thirds among those unaffiliated, Democrats and Republicans.

While the history of the past month is forefront, a law would potentially last beyond the respective politicians’ four-year terms. Republicans have majorities in both chambers of the Legislature, and have since 2010 midterms, but didn’t for the prior 140 years. Before Trump’s second win, Democrats occupied the White House for 12 of the last 16 years and 20 of the last 32.

AG/Restrict Challenge to Presidential EOs is Senate Bill 58 and House Bill 72. The lower chamber’s legislation last week was in the Committee on Federal Relations and American Indians Affairs and Monday was referred to both Judiciary 1 and to the Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

The Senate version awaits in the chamber’s rules committee.

At just 15 lines, the bill in elite brevity says, “The attorney general shall not, as a party, amicus, or any other participant in an action pending before a state or federal court in another state, advance any argument that would result in the invalidation of any statute enacted by the General Assembly or any executive order issued by the President of the United States.”

Enactment would be immediate upon becoming law. Republicans have majorities in both chambers, standing one member shy of veto-proof majority in the House should one come – as would be expected – from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.

Jackson joined a birthright citizenship lawsuit filed by New Jersey Attorney General Mathew Platkin on Jan. 21. On Jan. 28 he joined New York Attorney General Letitia James in a suit involving the freeze of federal government grants and funding.

He’s also with a James litigation trying to block Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department records. On Feb. 10, he joined the suit of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell that challenges the Trump administration of stopping cuts to medical research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health.

On Nov. 5 in North Carolina, Trump won his election over Democrat Kamala Harris by 183,048 votes of 5,699,141 cast. He won 78 of 100 counties. Jackson won his election that day over Republican Dan Bishop by 159,549 votes of 5,590,371 cast, scoring in urban areas while Bishop won 76 counties.

According to the State Board of Elections, as of Saturday, unaffiliated registrations are 37.5% of the more than 7.4 million. Democrats make up 30.9% and Republicans 30.5%.

The House bill has sponsorship from Republican Reps. Ben Moss of Richmond County, Keith Kidwell of Beaufort County, Wyatt Gable of Onslow County, Blair Eddins of Wilkes County, John Blust of Guilford County, Jake Johnson of Polk County, Jeffrey McNeely of Iredell County and Bill Ward of Gates County.

The upper chamber legislation has sponsorship from Republican Sens. Timothy Moffitt of Henderson County, Eddie Settle of Wilkes County, Bobby Hanig of Currituck County, Carl Ford of Rowan County, Ralph Hise of Mitchell County and Benton Sawrey of Johnston County.

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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

NIL legislation advances, has exemption for public records laws | North Carolina

Published

11 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

www.thecentersquare.com – By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 21:25:00

(The Center Square) – Authorization of sports agents to sign North Carolina’s collegiate athletes for “name, image, and likeness” contracts used in product endorsements is in legislation approved Wednesday by a committee of the state Senate.

Authorize NIL Agency Contracts, known also as Senate Bill 229, is headed to the Rules Committee after gaining favor in the Judiciary Committee. It would likely next get a full floor vote.

Last year the NCAA approved NIL contracts for players.

Sen. Amy S. Galey, R-Alamance

NCLeg.gov

“Athletes can benefit from NIL by endorsing products, signing sponsorship deals, engaging in commercial opportunities and monetizing their social media presence, among other avenues,” the NCAA says on its website. “The NCAA fully supports these opportunities for student-athletes across all three divisions.”

SB229 spells out the information that the agent’s contract with the athlete must include, and requires a warning to the athlete that they could lose their eligibility if they do not notify the school’s athletic director within 72 hours of signing the contract.

“Consult with your institution of higher education prior to entering into any NIL contract,” the says the warning that would be required by the legislation. “Entering into an NIL contract that conflicts with state law or your institution’s policies may have negative consequences such as loss of athletic eligibility. You may cancel this NIL agency contract with 14 days after signing it.”

The legislation also exempts the NIL contracts from being disclosed under the state’s Open Records Act when public universities review them. The state’s two ACC members from the UNC System, Carolina and N.C. State, requested the exemption.

“They are concerned about disclosure of the student-athlete contracts when private universities don’t have to disclose the student-athlete contracts,” Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, told the committee. “I feel very strongly that a state university should not be put at a disadvantage at recruitment or in program management because they have disclosure requirements through state law.”

Duke and Wake Forest are the other ACC members, each a private institution.

The post NIL legislation advances, has exemption for public records laws | North Carolina appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The article primarily reports on the legislative development regarding NIL (name, image, and likeness) contracts for collegiate athletes in North Carolina. It presents facts about the bill, committee actions, and includes statements from a state senator without using loaded or emotionally charged language. The piece neutrally covers the issue by explaining both the bill’s purpose and the concerns it addresses, such as eligibility warnings and disclosure exemptions. Overall, the article maintains a factual and informative tone without advocating for or against the legislation, reflecting a centrist, unbiased approach.

News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

N.C. Treasurer names conservative climate skeptic to state Utilities Commission

Published

16 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

ncnewsline.com – Lisa Sorg – 2025-04-30 15:52:00

SUMMARY: Donald van der Vaart, a former North Carolina environmental secretary and climate skeptic, has been appointed to the North Carolina Utilities Commission by Republican Treasurer Brad Briner. Van der Vaart, who previously supported offshore drilling and fracking, would oversee the state’s transition to renewable energy while regulating utility services. His appointment, which requires approval from the state House and Senate, has drawn opposition from environmental groups. Critics argue that his views contradict clean energy progress. The appointment follows a controversial bill passed by the legislature, granting the treasurer appointment power to the commission.

Read the full article

The post N.C. Treasurer names conservative climate skeptic to state Utilities Commission appeared first on ncnewsline.com

News from the South - North Carolina News Feed

‘Crypto-friendly legislation’ clears North Carolina House | North Carolina

Published

17 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 14:47:00

(The Center Square) – Called “crypto-friendly legislation” by the leader of the chamber, a proposal on digital assets on Wednesday afternoon passed the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Passage was 71-44 mostly along party lines.

The NC Digital Assets Investments Act, known also as House Bill 92, has investment requirements, caps and management, and clear definitions and standards aimed at making sure only qualified digital assets are included. House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said the state would potentially join more than a dozen others with “crypto-friendly legislation.”

With him in sponsorship are Reps. Stephen Ross, R-Alamance, Mark Brody, R-Union, and Mike Schietzelt, R-Wake.

Nationally last year, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act – known as FIT21 – passed through the U.S. House in May and in September was parked in the Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

Dan Spuller, cochairman of the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative, said the state has proven a leader on digital asset policy. That includes the Money Transmitters Act of 2016, the North Carolina Regulatory Sandbox Act of 2021, and last year’s No Centrl Bank Digital Currency Pmts to State. The latter was strongly opposed by Gov. Roy Cooper, so much so that passage votes of 109-4 in the House and 39-5 in the Senate slipped back to override votes, respectively, of 73-41 and 27-17.

The post ‘Crypto-friendly legislation’ clears North Carolina House | North Carolina appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The article presents a factual report on the passage of the NC Digital Assets Investments Act, highlighting the legislative process, party-line votes, and related legislative measures. It does not adopt a clear ideological stance or frame the legislation in a way that suggests bias. Instead, it provides neutral information on the bill, its sponsors, and relevant background on state legislative activity in digital asset policy. The tone and language remain objective, focusing on legislative facts rather than promoting a particular viewpoint.