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From NC House Republicans:

Raleigh, N.C. – Today, the N.C. House voted to override six more of Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes, including legislation to expand charter schools, prohibit biological men from competing in women’s sports, ban gender transition surgeries for minors, block costly new home building energy mandates and affirm parental rights over their child’s education.

House Bill 574 requires transgender athletes play on sports teams that align with their biological birth gender. “I am proud that today my colleagues stood up for female athletes in this state by overriding the Governor’s veto of this common-sense legislation,” said Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R-Henderson), who is the primary sponsor of the bill. “Girls should not have to worry about having to compete against biological males in sports and this legislation will protect female athletes from such unfair and unsafe competition.”

House Bill 219 and 618 seek to expand access and streamline approval of charter schools across the state. “Education is not one-size-fits-all and charter schools are critical to ensuring families have the freedom to choose an education that best fits their child’s needs,” said Rep. Tricia Cotham (R-Mecklenburg), who is co-chair of the House K-12 Education Committee and primary sponsor of House Bill 618. “By overriding the Governor’s veto, these two bills help further our efforts to promote school choice, expand educational opportunities and put kids first.”

House Bill 808 prohibits gender transition surgeries and puberty blockers for minors. “Statistically we have seen from studies in Europe high numbers of people who regret having undergone gender-affirming care as minors and many go through the detransition process,” said Rep. Ken Fontenot (R-Wilson), who is a primary sponsor of the legislation. “Sadly, even after people detransition they cannot have children, and this is too serious and irreversible of a decision for minors to make before their brain is fully developed.”

House Bill 488 prevents the N.C. Building Code Council from implementing costly new home construction energy mandates. “This bill prevents costly changes to the residential building code that will drive up costs and make it more difficult for hardworking people to purchase a new home,” said Rep. Mark Brody (R-Union), who is the primary sponsor of the legislation. “I’m pleased that a bipartisan majority in the House voted to override the Governor and block these new excessive mandates on home construction.”

Senate Bill 49 affirms parental rights over their child’s education, well-being, privacy and safety. “This legislation codifies the rights of parents and guardians to guarantee their direct involvement in their child’s education,” said Rep. Brian Biggs (R-Randolph) on the House floor during the override debate. “This bill brings much-needed transparency and openness to our schools.”

 

From NC Senate Republicans:

Raleigh, N.C. – Today, Senate Republicans overrode six of Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes, ensuring the bills become law despite his objections. The bills are as follows:

•The “Parents’ Bill of Rights” strengthens the rights of parents in regard to the education of their children. The bill also ensures age-appropriate material is being taught to the youngest students, and keeps parents informed on the well-being of their children.
•Washington Post-KFF: 77% of adults think it’s inappropriate for teachers to discuss trans identity in public schools with students in K-3.
•The “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” bans biological men from competing in women’s sports.
•GALLUP: 69% of Americans say transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on sports teams that conform with their birth gender.
•”Gender Transition/Minors” bans gender-reassignment surgery, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones for minors.
•Washington Post-KFF: 68% of adults oppose children ages 10–14 having access to puberty-blocking medication under medical supervision.
•House Bill 488 creates a more balanced Residential Code Council and aims to save homebuilders thousands of dollars in construction costs.
•House Bill 618 gives more authority over charter schools in North Carolina to the Charter Schools Review Board.
•House Bill 219, the “Charter School Omnibus” makes various changes to laws affecting charter schools, including removing growth restrictions and allowing counties to use property taxes to fund charter school capital needs.

Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) on the override of Senate Bill 49, the “Parents’ Bill of Rights”: “Democrats want to keep North Carolina’s education system shielded from parental accountability. They want to use our schools to advance their partisan, political agenda instead of working to improve student outcomes. The ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ fights back against those efforts. It increases accessibility to what’s being taught in our schools, notifies parents of the well-being of their children, and keeps school curriculum focused on core subjects.”

Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell) on the override of House Bill 574, the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act”: “So-called feminists will tell you that in order to have full equality, women need to sacrifice the spaces they fought so hard to secure. That is unequivocally false. We must take a stand now to protect women, otherwise, Democrats will do everything they can to eviscerate every even playing field women have. Our daughters should not be forced to compete against biological men and overriding Gov. Cooper’s veto of this legislation ensures our daughters do not have to worry about that.”

Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth) on the override of House Bill 808, “Gender Transition/Minors”: “In some of the most liberal parts of the country, children are allowed to permanently alter their bodies with off-label drugs for the purpose of changing their sex. While Republicans are protecting minors from such absurd open-door policies, Democrats are siding with the furthest left of their base and putting politics ahead of documented medical risks and consequences. We need to take a cautious approach and limit access to these life-altering medical procedures, and today’s vote to override Gov. Cooper’s veto does just that.”

 

Gov. Roy Cooper comments on veto override actions:

RALEIGH: Today, Governor Roy Cooper issued the following statement on the General Assembly’s veto override actions:
“The legislature finally comes back to pass legislation that discriminates, makes housing less safe, blocks FEMA disaster recovery funding, hurts the freedom to vote and damages our economy. Yet they still won’t pass a budget when teachers, school bus drivers and Medicaid Expansion for thousands of working people getting kicked off their health plans every week are desperately needed. These are the wrong priorities, especially when they should be working nights and weekends if necessary to get a budget passed by the end of the month.”