North Carolina – The General Assembly has successfully overridden Governor Josh Stein’s veto of House Bill 805, enacting a new law that legally recognizes only two sexes—male and female—and introduces several additional provisions concerning education, religion, and digital content regulation.
The House voted 72–48 in favor of the veto override, with Representative Nasif Majeed (D–Mecklenburg) being the only Democrat to support it. The Senate followed suit with a 30–19 vote to complete the override process.
Initially conceived to regulate the use of explicit imagery online, HB 805 expanded significantly after Senate amendments were added. The newly enacted provisions now include:
- Prohibiting the use of state funds for gender transition procedures for incarcerated individuals
- Requiring school districts to maintain searchable databases of library books
- Allowing parents to request that specific books be restricted from their children’s reading lists
- Enabling students to opt out of classroom instruction or activities perceived as burdensome to their religious beliefs or a violation of their privacy
Supporters contend the bill enhances parental authority in schools and protects religious freedoms, while critics, including Governor Stein, have warned it targets vulnerable populations. In his veto message, Stein described the legislation as harmful and divisive because of its marginalization of certain groups.
Senator Vickie Sawyer, commenting on the recent override votes, said, “Today we overrode twelve of Governor Stein’s vetoes in the NC Senate — passing policies to put parents back in the driver’s seat of their children’s education. By cutting divisive DEI programs and strengthening charter school options, we’re keeping classrooms focused on knowledge, not political ideologies. I’m proud to fight for the advancement of every North Carolina family.”
The override of HB 805 occurs as state Republicans also press to overturn other vetoes by the governor. Pending House votes include bills on permitless concealed carry for individuals 18 and older, restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public education, and legislation permitting Duke Energy to pre-charge ratepayers for future infrastructure projects while relaxing emissions commitments.
