Governor Josh Stein vetoed three bills last Friday:

• Senate Bill 50
• Senate Bill 153
• House Bill 318

Each raised serious concerns about public safety, constitutional rights, and the appropriate role of law enforcement.

Senate Bill 50 – “Freedom to Carry NC” (Permitless Concealed Carry)

What it did: Removed requirements for concealed carry permits and training, and lowered the legal carry age from 21 to 18.

Governor’s objection: Stein stated that this legislation "makes North Carolinians less safe." He emphasized that it undermines responsible gun ownership by allowing teens to carry without training, which poses a serious risk to public safety.

Senate Bill 153 – “NC Border Protection Act” (Immigration Cooperation)

What it did: Required state law enforcement and agencies to act as federal immigration officers, enforce federal immigration law actively, and strip local immunity from “sanctuary” jurisdictions.

Governor’s objection: Stein warned this would divert law enforcement resources from core duties and inflate public safety risks. He also noted that undocumented individuals already cannot access Medicaid, SNAP, or other state benefits.

House Bill 318 – “Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act”

What it did: Mandated that sheriffs notify federal immigration authorities two hours before release and hold individuals for up to 48 hours based solely on ICE detainers, even after charges may have been dropped.

Governor’s objection: Stein declared it unconstitutional, pointing to judicial rulings (e.g. Fourth Circuit) that forbid law enforcement from detaining individuals solely due to suspected immigration violations.

What This Means

All three bills have been returned to the legislature. While Republicans hold a narrow majority, overriding the vetoes would require at least one Democrat in the House to join them. These are Stein’s first vetoes as governor, signaling a firm stance on gun safety, constitutional limits, and ensuring law enforcement remains focused on state responsibilities.