UPCOMING EVENTS

January 29, 2025

AENC Legislative Reception

February 25, 2025

NC Chamber - Government Affairs Reception

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

GOVERNOR STEIN CALLS FOR COLLABORATION WITH GOP

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s inauguration held on January 11 had to be pared down and moved inside the Senate Chamber of the Old Capitol Building because of cold and snowy weather.

In his inaugural address, he identified several of his policy priorities, including raising teacher pay, lowering taxes on working people, fighting the fentanyl crisis and ensuring safety for our citizens.  At the top of the list of priorities is working to rebuild western North Carolina after the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene.

Governor Stein stressed in his remarks that he does not want to fight about those priorities with the Republican-led Legislature but wants to find ways to work in collaboration to find solutions for the real problems facing North Carolina and put settling petty political scores and fighting divisive culture wars aside.

As the Democratic Governor, Stein has no choice but to work with Republicans who hold a veto proof supermajority in the Senate and are one vote short of a super majority in the House.

Read more by The Herald Sun

WHO WILL LEAD NC GOVERNMENT IN STEIN ADMINISTRATION

After the inauguration, Governor Stein wasted little time in announcing his appointees to head the agencies and departments across state government.  Those appointments made so far are:

Read more by NC Newsline

NEW HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS

The North Carolina General Assembly opened its 2025 Session on Wednesday, January 8 with a one day organization session. The General Assembly is scheduled to begin its work for the year on January 29.

The 2025-2026 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly will be filled with many new faces, in new positions and facing some old and some new challenges.

In the Senate that is made up of 30 Republican Senators and 20 Democratic Senators, there are 7 new members of the Senate, 3 Republicans and 4 Democrats.

Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) was reelected as Senate President Pro Tempore for another term, a role has held since Republicans took the majority in 2011. Senator Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) was elected to his fourth term as Deputy President Pro Tempore.

In the House that is made up of 71 Republicans and 49 Democrats, 23 of those numbers are new members (12 Republicans and 11 Democrats), a new Speaker was elected for the first time in 10 years.  Republican Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) was elected Speaker, replacing Tim Moore, who is now serving in Congress.  Representative Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba) was elected Speaker Pro Tem.  He replaced Representative Sarah Stevens (R-Surry), who had served as Speaker Pro Tem for several terms.

Read more by WUNC

HOUSE AND SENATE PRIORITIES IN 2025

At the reconvening of the General Assembly on January 8, both President Pro Tempore Berger and Speaker Hall spoke about their respective chamber’s priorities that will receive much attention in the year ahead.

Both spoke of rebuilding western North Carolina, continuing to enhance the state’s economic competitiveness with more tax relief, expanding school choice and improving public safety.

Rebuilding Western North Carolina

Hall: “I do want to make one thing clear: the number one priority of this body starting today – because today is day one – is doing all we can to rebuild western North Carolina.”

Berger: “This session, we have another issue: we must take a renewed look at how we prepare for and respond to natural disasters in our state… We will work tirelessly to ensure that our response to Hurricane Helene does not leave you behind.”

Economy

Hall: “As we know, we’ve cut taxes again and again. We’ve put more money back in the pockets of the citizens of our state. We’ve got one of the best tax environments in the country, and we’re going to continue to provide tax relief to North Carolinians. But we’ve got to do more than just cut taxes.”

Berger: “We are competing with 49 other states and a multitude of foreign economies. We must continue to pursue policies that create and expand our competitive advantage, policies that have made today’s North Carolina an economic and opportunity powerhouse.”

Education

Hall: “We’ve done things like expand school choice, letting parents decide where their children go to school, giving parents the opportunity to go to schools that best meet their particular child’s need. And we need to continue to expand that school choice.”

Berger: “Our community colleges and universities are the envy of the nation, producing a talented workforce capable of filling the jobs being created in our dynamic economy. Without a doubt, education continues to be the key that unlocks the door to a brighter future. We must work to improve both educational opportunities and educational outcomes.”

Security

Hall: “Our agenda here, it’s not going to matter very much unless we do the number one thing that government has to do – that’s to keep our people safe… We’ve got to continue to enact those policies to meet the number one obligation of government, and so I hope that we’ll work with the incoming administration in Washington to crack down on gang activity and trafficking and drugs that are devastating so many communities across North Carolina.”

Berger: “We’ve made incredible strides in improving education, facilitating access to healthcare, supporting public safety and law enforcement, reducing burdensome regulations, and providing our citizens with the tools they need to take control of their future.”

Read more by The Carolina Journal

LEADERSHIP IN THE 2025 SESSION

Upon convening, the House and Senate announced the leadership team for each chamber.

2025 SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRS

The Senate has announced its committee appointments.  The chairpersons of the key Senate committees are:

2025 HOUSE COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Speaker Hall announced the Chairs of the House committees.  The members of the committees are yet to be announced.  The Chairpersons of the House committees are:

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

• Under the Dome Podcast
• Do Politics Better Podcast
• WUNC Politics Podcast
• Carolina Newsmakers Podcast
• NC Capitol Wrap Podcast

WHAT WE’RE READING

• Asheville Citizen Times
• Carolina Journal
• Charlotte Observer
• Fayetteville Observer
• Greensboro News & Record
• NC Insider
• New Bern Sun Journal
• News & Observer
• North State Journal
• Our State Magazine
• Triangle Business Journal
• Under the Dome
• Wilmington Star News
• Winston-Salem Journal
• WRAL