RALEIGH — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein issued his first vetoes on a permitless concealed carry bill and two bills immigration bills.
The vetoed bills include Senate Bill 50, Senate Bill 153 and House Bill 318.
The governor also signed one bill, House Bill 126, which modernizes voluntary agricultural districts.
Senate Bill 50 would allow those 18 and older in the state to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. If enacted, North Carolina would join 29 other states with similar laws on the books.
Senate Bill 153 would tighten up requirements for state law enforcement to formally cooperate with federal immigration authorities on detained illegal immigrants. It also restricts state-funded benefits and housing for noncitizens and penalizes local governments and UNC institutions for adopting sanctuary policies.
House Bill 138 closes loopholes in existing laws regarding illegal immigrants in custody by requiring local confinement facilities to verify the legal residency status of prisoners charged with specific offenses and notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if a detainer and administrative warrant are issued. It also mandates that prisoners subject to an ICE detainer be held until transferred to ICE custody or released under specific conditions,
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) has backed both bills from his chamber, including being the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 153. House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) is the primary sponsor of the House Bill 318.
On his veto of Senate Bill 50, Stein wrote, “This bill makes North Carolinians less safe and undermines responsible gun ownership. Therefore, I am vetoing it.”
Stein also objected to lack of training required by the bill, the reduction of the age for concealed carry from 21 to 18 years of age and said the bill would make the job of law enforcement more difficult.
On Senate Bill 153, Stein also claimed the measure would “make us less safe.”
“At a time when our law enforcement is already stretched thin, this bill takes state law enforcement officers away from their existing state duties and forces them to act as federal immigration agents,” Stein wrote. “Furthermore, under current law, people without lawful immigration status already are prevented from receiving Medicaid, SNAP, Section 8, and other benefits.”
The governor’s statement on House Bill 318 said he was vetoing it because “it is unconstitutional,” but he supports the bill’s effort to require sheriffs to contact ICE or other immigration authorities about individuals in custody who have committed “dangerous crimes.”
“People who commit these crimes should be held accountable, whether or not they are here without legal authorization, and those charged with serious offenses ought to receive increased scrutiny from federal immigration officials,” wrote Stein.
“My oath of office requires that I uphold the Constitution of the United States. Therefore, I cannot sign this bill because it would require sheriffs to unconstitutionally detain people for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released,” Stein wrote in his veto of House Bill 318. “The Fourth Circuit is clear that local law enforcement officers cannot keep people in custody solely based on a suspected immigration violation.”
Stein added, “But let me be clear: anyone who commits a serious crime in North Carolina must be prosecuted and held accountable regardless of their immigration status.”
Stein’s press release also included comments from select sheriffs and citizens objecting to the three vetoed bills.
In his press release, Berger issued statements about the Senate bill vetoes.
“Today, Gov. Stein proved where his allegiances are. He’d rather prioritize his far-left donors and their dangerous open-border policies over the citizens of North Carolina who are desperately pleading for us to put an end to the illegal immigration crisis,” said Berger of the veto of Senate Bill 153.
“Law-abiding North Carolinians shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to effectively exercise their Second Amendment rights,” Berger said of the Senate Bill 50 veto. “It’s past time for us to join the majority of states that recognize Constitutional Carry.”
On both bills, Berger said, “I look forward to the Senate overriding Gov. Stein’s veto.”
Hall also issued a press release on the veto of House Bill 318.
“Governor Stein has made one thing clear today: he stands with criminal illegal aliens and the most radical elements of his party’s base over the safety and security of North Carolinians,” said Hall. “Make no mistake, the NC House will override the Governor’s veto at the earliest opportunity.”
Hall’s press release included a link to a prior statement that included endorsement of the bill by the N.C. Sheriff’s Association, the N.C. Troopers Association, the N.C. Fraternal Order of Police and the N.C. Police Benevolent Association.
Stein’s vetoes received praise from N.C. Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton.
“All of these bills would have put law enforcement and North Carolinians at risk by opening up untrained people, including teenagers, to secretly carry concealed firearms, ask sheriffs to take unconstitutional acts, and have our law enforcement bail out the federal government for their inaction on immigration,” Clayton said in a press release.
The N.C. Republican Party also released a statement criticizing Stein.
“It’s disappointing, but not surprising Gov. Stein vetoed legislation to complement the efforts of President Trump to secure the Southern border. After all, he famously has said he doesn’t think Sanctuary cites are real,” said the NCGOP statement.
“Here’s what is real: without passing a single new federal law, President Trump has secured our border. Just last month, not a single illegal immigrant was released in the U.S. homeland. Contrast that with May 2024, when the derelict Biden-Harris Administration released 64,000 illegal immigrants into our country. Instead of cooperating with federal agencies, Gov. Stein is apparently opposed to keeping North Carolina families safe.”
On the veto of Senate Bill 50, the NCGOP said, “Our Second Amendment preserves rights of North Carolinians and SB 50 simply brings our laws in line with twenty-nine other states. Republicans will always fight for the Constitution and the rights of lawful gun owners.”
