McCrory clears his desk

Gov. Pat McCrory has signed most of the legislation left from the 2013 General Assembly session. The only measure left is a bill that would ban state courts from considering foreign law when making rulings.

Posted 7:11 p.m. Aug 23, 2013 — Updated 9:24 p.m. Aug 23, 2013

Mark Binker

RALEIGH, N.C. — As of Friday afternoon, Gov. Pat McCrory had only one bill left on his desk from the 2013 General Assembly session.

After touting the fact he had signed a regulatory reform measure earlier in the day, the governor signed 32 more bills.

The only bill that he hadn't signed, according to the legislative bill tracking system, is a measure that would prevent family courts from considering "foreign law" in their decisions. Although the text of the legislation doesn't say so explicitly, lawmakers have said it was aimed at keeping Islamic Sharia Law from being given credence in divorce and other cases.

McCrory will allow that bill to become law without his signature. "The governor believes the bill is unnecessary," according to a statement from his office.

Among the bills he did sign Friday are measures that will:

require Durham to provide water and sewer to the controversial 751 South development.

delay the imposition of new environmental rules meant to clean up Jordan Lake.

change how judges are disciplined. Some changes keep some discipline procedures out of public view. Another provision allows the state Supreme Court to discipline its own members.

gives the top leaders in the House and Senate legal standing to defend North Carolina laws in court if the state attorney general refuses to do so.

McCrory has signed 334 bills into law this year. He faced a Sunday deadline to sign or veto legislation or allow bills to become law without his signature.

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