What to know about the General Assembly reconvening next week
Good morning and welcome to Under the Dome. I’m Sophia Bailly, and welcome to Wednesday.
We’re looking ahead to next week, when the Republican-controlled General Assembly could take up 14 bills Gov. Josh Stein previously vetoed. Any override will require perfect attendance from Republicans, and if successful, the overridden bills will be immediately enacted into law.
Here’s a look at what those chamber sessions could entail.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONVENE NEXT WEEK FOR VETO OVERRIDES
The Senate has seven bills on its calendar for July 29. If any of the seven other vetoed bills clear the House, Senate leader Phil Berger indicated his chamber would take those up as well.
Among the most controversial topics, which are facing partisan debate, are changes to the state’s immigration laws, DEI policy and gun rights. This includes:
Senate Bill 50, which would lower permitless concealed carry to 18;
Senate Bill 153, which would expand U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cooperation across the state;
And, Senate Bills 227 and 558, which would restrict DEI in K-12 and higher education.
A three-fifths supermajority is needed in both chambers to override a governor’s veto. Although Republicans hold the majority in both chambers, all party members will need to be present for successful overrides. House Republicans are one vote short of a supermajority, so even with perfect attendance, the GOP will need at least one Democrat to vote on its side.
Also of importance is a Government Operations meeting scheduled for July 30, which is likely to focus on Hurricane Helene relief and recovery.
NC LEGISLATORS PREPARE FOR FEDERAL CUTS TO STATE HEALTH CARE
State lawmakers are continuing to grapple with the reality of losing thousands of dollars in federal funding, which will directly impact Medicaid.
At the same time, the General Assembly is still trying to pass a state budget. For now, the state is operating off the same budget plan from the previous fiscal year, The N&O’s Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi reports.
House Speaker Destin Hall said President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which is the source of the Medicaid cuts, will “root out waste and fraud. Senate leader Phil Berger’s office said he is still evaluating the new law’s effects. Trump signed the bill into law July 4, but the Medicaid-related provisions won’t go into effect until late next year.
The N&O’s Ronni Butts reports that the only hospital in North Carolina’s poorest county could be among the facilities hit hardest from Medicaid cuts. About 58% of Robeson County’s residents are enrolled in Medicaid, and about 20% of enrollees benefitted from the state’s recent expansion.
Five rural hospitals could shut down as a result of the new law, Gov. Josh Stein previously said on social media. When evaluated in its entirety, Trump’s bill could create a multi-billion dollar hole in the state’s budget over the next decade.
Jonathan Keppler, deputy secretary for external affairs and chief of staff at the state Department of Health and Human Services, said states are going to need more input and guidance from the federal government as they individually assess what these budget cuts will look like for their residents.
We just passed the two-week mark since the law’s passing, and analysts are still working to understand the short-term and long-term ramifications its provisions will have.
The bill signals a step back for health care advancement in North Carolina, with new federal work requirements likely to pull back on the state’s previous — and long-awaited — Medicaid expansion.
CHINESE-BASED COMPANY OPENING FIRST NORTH AMERICAN FACTORY IN NORTH CAROLINA
About 515 new jobs could open up in Graham County under Eco King Solutions LLC, Stein announced Tuesday. The business model: creating disposal, biodegradable paper tupperware.
The LLC, a subsidiary of an international manufacturing company, is estimated to bring $80 million into the county over the next five years. Annually, its operations could bring $14 million to the entire state.
This will also be the company’s first U.S.-based facility. Chinese manufacturer Zhejiang Kingsun founded the company in 2008 and continues to operate the company’s three Chinese factories.
Stein celebrated the partnership in a press release, just weeks after CNBC released its annual business rankings, which listed North Carolina as No. 1 in the country for business.
“We welcome Eco King to Western North Carolina, where it will find a welcoming business climate, education and workforce programs tailored to its needs, and the full range of competitive advantages that make North Carolina the top state to do business in the country,” Stein said in the press release.
The state’s Economic Investment Committee officially approved the project’s 12-year grant Tuesday. The press release did not specify when the factory will open for business, but it said construction will begin as soon as possible.
WHAT ELSE WE’RE WORKING ON
- North Carolina Central University is looking to expand its research efforts and enrollment numbers over the next five years. The Durham campus has led the UNC System for enrollment growth over the past two years. Higher education reporter Korie Dean has the story on what steps the university and its chancellor are taking to reach their goal.
- The UNC System Board of Governors will meet for a one-day, virtual meeting on Thursday. At the top of the agenda: campus budgets for the 2025-26 fiscal year and an update on the state budget. The state budget hasn’t passed yet, which will have an impact on university campuses, Korie Dean explains in this week’s Dean’s List, our higher education newsletter. (Sign up here if you’d like to receive it every Tuesday.)
Today’s newsletter was by Sophia Bailly. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol.
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This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "What to know about the General Assembly reconvening next week."
