North Carolina Senate Passes 51-Page Budget Corrections Bill

The North Carolina Senate passed a 51-page budget corrections bill in a 34-8 vote on Tuesday, modifying the state spending plan less than a month after its initial passage. The legislation restores $3.8 million for vacant positions at the Department of Agriculture and reinstates the Office of Education and Outreach within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

New spending allocations include $25 million for the Military World Games at UNC-Charlotte and up to $40 million in incentives for a PGA Tour Championship Series event in the Triad. Additionally, the bill removes certain government contracting regulations for the State Bureau of Investigation and State Highway Patrol.

A contentious provision in the bill would remove interim governor's cabinet members if the Senate fails to confirm them by the end of the session. Senator Lisa Grafstein condemned the move as unconstitutional, arguing that allowing the legislature to eject agency leaders could leave high-level positions vacant and hinder the executive branch's ability to carry out its missions. The bill now moves to the North Carolina House of Representatives for potential action.