RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:

• House Bill 87: Probation Modifications/Sheriff Authority.

  • AN ACT TO ALLOW DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO FILE PROBATION MODIFICATION PETITIONS, TO ALLOW PROBATION OFFICERS TO REDUCE A TERM OF SUPERVISED PROBATION IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, AND TO EXEMPT SHERIFF'S OFFICES FROM CERTAIN STATE CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS WHEN CONTRACTING FOR FOOD AND FOOD SERVICES AT DETENTION FACILITIES.

• House Bill 103: GSC Technical Corrections 2023.

  • AN ACT TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO THE GENERAL STATUTES AND SESSION LAWS, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GENERAL STATUTES COMMISSION.

Governor Cooper also vetoed the following bill:

• Senate Bill 364: Nondiscrim & Dignity in State Work.

  • AN ACT TO AMEND THE STATE HUMAN RESOURCES ACT TO PROHIBIT COMPELLED SPEECH WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL SEEKS STATE GOVERNMENT OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYMENT, TO DEMONSTRATE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S INTENT THAT STATE AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZE THE EQUALITY AND RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS, AND TO PROHIBIT STATE GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKPLACES FROM PROMOTING CERTAIN CONCEPTS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO THAT INTENT.

Governor Cooper made the following statement on SB 364:

"In North Carolina, the diversity of our people is a strength. This legislation attempts to eliminate training that can help us understand the unconscious bias we all bring to our work and our communities. It is troubling that a legislature that witnessed open racism on the floor of the House of Representatives wants to stop training aimed at creating a more effective and understanding workforce. Instead of pretending that bias and racism don’t exist, the legislature should instead encourage training that can help eliminate discrimination so we can work toward common goals."