NC Justice Center statement on veto override of Senate Bill 382

RALEIGH (December 13, 2024) – With Wednesday’s vote, the North Carolina House completed the override of Governor Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 382. The North Carolina Justice Center joins a broad coalition of organizations expressing extreme disappointment with this outcome.

Though framed as a hurricane relief bill, SB 382 was light on relief and heavy on partisan power hoarding. Instead of sending adequate, urgently needed resources into Western North Carolina, the measure stripped power from local governments, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

While we are deeply frustrated by this legislation, we remain committed to advocating for the robust relief our neighbors in Western North Carolina need and deserve. This includes preventing evictions, increasing funding for rental and utility assistance, improving unemployment insurance benefits, funding childcare stabilization, and aiding small businesses.