GAC Update - August 7, 2026

joannalwise4
4 days ago
3 min read

House:

The House adjourned the short session after a couple of bills passed, and indicated that they do not plan to return until after the election in November.

The House passed:

H268- Budget Technical Corrections, passed House 79-28
S445- Regulatory Reform Act Of 2026, passed House 84-26
H834- SBOE Administrative Changes, passed House 74-35
H958- Election Law Changes, passed House 62-47
S1092- House and Senate Appointments, passed House 71-38

The House did not take up the controversial H328, which would ban most THC and hemp sales after advocates came to the NCGA on Tuesday to oppose it and law enforcement came to the NCGA to support it. Speaker Hall told reporters on Tuesday evening he was confident that there was a middle ground members could get to on the bill.

The House also did not take up veto overrides on:

H437- Drug Free Zones/Unauthorized Public Camping.
S50- Freedom to Carry NC. The House does not have the votes to override.

Governor Stein tweeted Tuesday night that he will veto H958. Speaker Hall stated that they would not return to override the veto until after the election, so the election changes in that bill will not become law until at least November.

Adjournment Resolution

Proposed return dates for possible votes after August 6th below:

-Aug. 31 to Sept. 2

-Sept. 28 to Sept. 30

-Oct. 26 to Oct. 28

-Nov. 16 to Nov. 19

-Nov. 30 to Dec. 18* This is the session where substantive work will likely occur.

Senate:

The Senate came into town this week to pass its final priorities and adjourned on Wednesday afternoon. Senator Berger said after Wednesday's session that he did not expect the Senate to return until after the election in November. We want to break down what happened this week, what needs House action next week, and what topics remain unresolved. Note: Bills in conference report format cannot be amended. Bills that passed with amendments or changes must return to the other chamber for concurrence. If the House disagrees with the changes, it will send the bill into a conference committee, which would essentially kill it until after the election since Berger said the Senate wouldn't return.

Conference Reports (Cannot Be Amended) That the Senate Voted On and the House Also Needs To Address:

H268- Budget Technical Corrections, passed Senate 34-8
S445- Regulatory Reform Act Of 2026, passed Senate 37-0
H562- Healthcare Investment Act, passed 34-3

Bills that Passed Senate but are not Conference Reports

H834- SBOE Administrative Changes, passed Senate 42-0
H958- Election Law Changes
SJR1091- Adjournment Resolution
S1092- House and Senate Appointments

Unresolved:

8 bills remain in conference that have not adopted a conference report. These stem from ABC laws, to criminal law changes to social media bills.

Vetoes:

H437- Drug Free Zones/Unauthorized Public Camping. Since this originated in the House the veto must first be overridden in the House. Even if the House overrides next week, it is uunlikely that the Senate will return to override prior to the election.
S50- Freedom to Carry NC. The House does not have the votes to override.