With budget done, 'critical race theory' likely up next for NC Senate

Look for debate on "critical race theory," and school masks next week. The future is cloudier for sports gambling bills, but it's "in the mix," Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger says.

Posted 3:15 p.m. Jun 25, 2021 — Updated 3:41 p.m. Jun 25, 2021

Travis Fain

, WRAL statehouse reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Look for the North Carolina Senate to take up legislation soon targeting "critical race theory," the chamber's top leader said this week, as senators wrapped up work on their proposed state budget.

A bill on this subject that already passed the North Carolina House will likely get discussion in the Senate next week, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said.

"I think we will start figuring out what we're going to do with that," Berger, R-Rockingham, said Thursday when asked what to expect with the bulk of the chamber's budget work done.

Also next week: Look for Senate action on a bill forbidding the governor from requiring masks in schools, leaving the decision to local school boards instead.

"There are a good number of our members that are concerned about that as well," Berger said.

Senate moves forward on new state budget, $14 billion in tax cuts

The Senate gave final approval to its budget proposal Friday morning in a 32-17 vote. The vote was required but largely perfunctory after Thursday afternoon's debate and vote on the same bill, which is heavy on tax cuts and federal stimulus funding.

Four Democrats voted for the Republican-authored budget bill Friday, just as they did Thursday. It remains to be seen whether their support will stick going forward, if Gov. Roy Cooper decides to veto. Cooper called this budget "awful" earlier this week.

For now, the $25.7 billion spending plan moves to the House for more debate, and at least some changes are assured.

The House and the Senate will be in session next week, then take a week off, starting with the July 4 holiday. With the Senate's work done for now on the budget, attention will turn to other issues.

The House's critical race theory bill was the first one Berger mentioned Thursday, followed by the school masks bill. He said "there are probably another half dozen things," but with the budget, he hasn't time to look too far ahead.

Asked about legislation to legalize sports gambling statewide, a bill some say is close to moving forward, Berger said "that's another one that we've got to figure out what we're going to do with."

"There's still a lot of questions that folks have, whether or not it's ready for us to come out ... and see if we can get a bill that that actually can garner support or not," he said. "I just can't say at this time. It is one of those things that, as we're trying to plan for the next couple of weeks, it's one of the things that's in the mix."

As for the legalization of medical marijuana, a long-discussed measure that got its first hearing in the Senate this week, Berger said he doesn't know what's next on that bill or when it might get an actual up-or-down vote in committee.

The Senate Republican caucus is divided on the measure.

"We have some folks in favor of it and some folks not so keen on it," Berger said.

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