By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein issued his first vetoes since taking office, rejecting three bills—Senate Bill 50, Senate Bill 153, and House Bill 318—while signing House Bill 126 into law.
The vetoes, announced Friday, follow days of rallies and protests in front of the Executive Mansion. The bills now return to the GOP-controlled General Assembly, which is one vote shy of a veto-proof majority in the House. Override efforts are expected.
Senate Bill 50 would have allowed individuals aged 18 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, eliminating requirements for background checks and safety training. Currently, North Carolina law requires individuals to be at least 21 years old, undergo firearm safety training, and pass a background check to obtain a concealed carry permit.
Governor Stein vetoed the bill, warning that authorizing teenagers to carry concealed weapons with no training “makes North Carolinians less safe and undermines responsible gun ownership.” He also noted that the bill would make the work of law enforcement more dangerous.
Although permitless carry is legal in 29 other states, including much of the Southeast, the measure faced some resistance within the GOP ranks—two House Republicans voted against it and ten others were absent during the vote, making an override uncertain.
Senate Bill 153, another bill vetoed by Stein, would have required four state law enforcement agencies—including the State Highway Patrol and the State Bureau of Investigation—to cooperate with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the 287(g) program.
It is argued this would have essentially turned state officers into federal immigration agents and would have directed state agencies to block unauthorized immigrants from accessing public benefits like Medicaid, SNAP, and Section 8 housing assistance, which Stein pointed out are already prohibited under current law.
"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. Furthermore, under current law, people without lawful immigration status already are prevented from receiving Medicaid, SNAP, Section 8, and other benefits," Stein said in a statement Friday.
House Bill 318 sought to expand a 2024 law by requiring sheriffs to notify ICE when individuals in custody are charged with serious crimes such as sexual battery, assault on public officials, or arson. It also would have required jails to detain such individuals for up to 48 hours after their scheduled release to give ICE time to take custody.
While Stein expressed support for ensuring that dangerous individuals face accountability—regardless of immigration status—he ultimately vetoed the bill on constitutional grounds.
“I support the bill's efforts to require sheriffs to contact federal immigration authorities about people in their custody charged with sexual battery, armed robbery, arson, assault on public officials and court personnel, and other 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,” Stein said.
Support for the governor’s actions has come from a broad spectrum of community leaders, including law enforcement, legal scholars, physicians, and residents.
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood, a Second Amendment supporter, called SB 50 “counterproductive to the public safety of North Carolinians.” Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead commended the governor for prioritizing safety over political pressure, while Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers voiced concern over SB 153 and HB 318, emphasizing the need to build “trust, not fear” within immigrant communities.
Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough similarly backed Stein, citing threats to due process and constitutional rights. Medical professionals also weighed in, including Dr. Karen Smith of Hoke County, who warned that SB 153 could restrict access to mental health services and medications for vulnerable populations.
Not all reactions were favorable. House Speaker Destin Hall accused the governor of siding with the “most radical elements” of his party, and Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone downplayed the impact of the vetoes, noting that his office already cooperates with ICE and that the bill would change “absolutely nothing” operationally.
One House Democrat supported HB 318 during its passage, underscoring that override votes could see shifts in support.
The legislature is now preparing to consider override votes.
