House votes to allow more people at NC school sporting events

The House and the Senate this week both approved versions of bills allowing higher capacity at sporting and other events.

Two proposals passed by the House Wednesday would allow up to 50 percent capacity at indoor and outdoor sporting and other events at high schools and colleges.

One of the measures, House Bill 118, is a local bill, meaning it would apply only to 14 counties, including Moore County. It would apply only to outdoor high school sports events in those counties, and local school officials could lower capacity if needed in response to health concerns.

Rep. David Willis, R-Union, said he filed the bill at the request of his local school board and parents in his district. It passed 74-45.

Local bills don't require the governor's approval, so they can't be vetoed. However, the state constitution specifically forbids local laws dealing with health, so it may end up in court.

House Bill 128 also cleared the chamber on Wednesday by a 77-42 vote.

It is a statewide bill that casts a wider net, covering indoor and outdoor sporting events and graduation or commencement ceremonies in high schools, community colleges and University of North Carolina campuses. It would require capacity at those events to be no less than 30 percent and no greater than 50 percent.

Rep. Kyle Hall, R-Stokes, dismissed those limits as "unnecessarily low and over-restrictive."

"These arbitrary limits are not based in science and only punish our athletes and their families," Hall asserted.

No one spoke against the bill, and eight Democrats voted with all Republicans in favor it.

The two chambers could agree on a final version of one or both bills as soon as Thursday.