2021 session Coverage

Session length pushes out younger, more diverse lawmakers

Session length pushes out younger, more diverse lawmakers

Session length pushes out younger, more diverse lawmakers

The legislative session ending Friday lasted fifteen months -- the longest in state history. Some say it's time to start treating it as a full-time job with a commensurate salary, but legislative leaders don't agree.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

State overhauls appeals system for parents of disabled students

School systems worry the wrong change was made, but a key state lawmaker, attorneys and a family say the old system wasn't fair.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC Democrats walk out as Republicans seat lawmaker who attended Jan. 6 Capitol riots

New Rep. Donnie Loftis also left his local hospital board after COVID Facebook posts.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC lawmakers look to crack down on catalytic converter thefts

Stealing a catalytic converter off a vehicle would be a felony under a bill moving Wednesday at the statehouse in response to an uptick in the thefts.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC redistricting starts with partisan split over rules

Republican majority promises the state's most transparent redraw ever.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC putting final touches on bill to rein in child marriages

Measure would raise state's lowest-in-the-nation limit.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Redistricting process starts in N.C.

Lawmakers pitch the criteria they'll use to draw new election maps for Congress, General Assembly.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC House logs 20-minute week

State House lawmakers completed work for the week in 20 minutes Monday night, following the Senate's lead to make this the latest in a string of quiet weeks in Raleigh.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

DAs warn police about untrustworthy officers, but won't share with public

Prosecutors are required to tell defendants about officers they don't trust enough to testify, but no one knows how often that happens in North Carolina.

NC Watchdog Reporting Network

Cooper to lawmakers: Don't forget me, or my veto, on state budget

Governor sends shot across the bow as House, Senate, leaders go back-and-forth over state spending targets.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Guns for elected officials, policing reforms, rape kit bills beat legislative deadline

Here's what your state lawmakers are up to today as a legislative deadline approaches.

State mammal, online liquor sales, driverless delivery vehicle bills OK'd by NC House in late session

State House lawmakers churned through 48 bills in a late-night session Tuesday, trying to beat the legislature's Thursday deadline for policy-related measures to pass either the House or the Senate.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Traffic-related bills race toward House floor

In a lightning-round hearing Tuesday morning, nine House transportation bills raced ahead, trying to beat a Thursday deadline at the General Assembly.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Bill would make 'zipper merge' the law in NC

House lawmakers are likely to vote Wednesday on a bill that would make the "zipper merge" the rule of the road in North Carolina.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Breast cancer, Down syndrome, K9 care bills moving in advance of legislative deadline

With the crossover deadline looming, the House Health committee Tuesday approved a slate of bills on breast imaging, prescription drug disposal, Down Syndrome, and emergency care for K9s.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

NC bill cracks down on fake invoices

It's already illegal, but this bill means to make sure the fine print's not an escape hatch for fraudsters.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Hands-free driving bill set aside in North Carolina

A multi-year effort to rein in distracted driving falls short again, with Senate Republicans blocking movement.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

'Threat assessment' teams should keep eye on students, lawmakers say

Bill is meant to catch, and help, students before they try to hurt themselves or others.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC lawmakers seek to outlaw unethical addiction treatment practices

State Senate lawmakers are advancing a bill to make addiction treatment patient brokering a felony, comparing the kickback scheme to human trafficking.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau hief

GOP lawmakers want school materials listed online

A House bill would require schools to post online a comprehensive list of all teaching, classroom and assignment materials used by each teacher in each class.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Domestic violence offenders should submit DNA to crime database, lawmakers say

The bill would add violations of protective orders, assault on a female, assault on a child to the list of charges that trigger a DNA sample submission.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

'There was no help for me': Officers, first responders seek more mental health supports

A police officer provides emotional testimony as the state legislature considers an expansion of workers compensation, but the bill's likely doomed.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC teachers pay $50 to take a personal day. This bill would change that.

Legislation rolls back the charge teachers pay to help get a substitute.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Lawmakers look to ditch End of Course tests in NC high schools

Bill would drop EOCs in favor of SAT or ACT national standardized tests.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter