NC new laws include guns in private schools, SNAP work requirements, driving slow in left lane
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- New laws will take effect on December 1, including allowing employees to carry guns in private schools and new driving laws.
According to our news-gathering partners at News & Observer, some of the legislation passed by the Republican-majority General Assembly earlier this year was vetoed by Governor Josh Stein. However, Republicans were able to overturn some of those vetoes with a handful of votes from Democratic lawmakers.
Guns at private schools
House Bill 193 allows employees and volunteers at private schools to carry firearms and stun guns on school grounds if they have written permission from the school's board of trustees or administrative director, have a concealed handgun permit and have completed a training course.
The law also allows people attending religious services to carry a gun if the private school is connected to a place of worship.
Republican bill supporters cited a shooting at a religious school as the reason behind the new law.
Opponents argued it made schools less safe.
"We should keep (guns) out of our schools unless they are in the possession of law enforcement," said Gov. Stein when he vetoed the bill.
Iryna's Law
This law was passed after the deadly stabbing in Charlotte of Iryna Zarutska on the light-rail in August.
Stein signed the bill into law with some bipartisan support.
The law has forced some law enforcement jurisdictions to make changes due to the funding needed to support the law.
SEE ALSO | NC law named for woman killed on train goes into effect
Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson announced they will no longer accept Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees due to Iryna's Law.
In a Facebook post, Sheriff Johnson cited recent changes governing pretrial release, electronic monitoring, and detention of individuals charged with violent offenses taking effect on December 1.
Download the ABC11 App for Breaking News Alerts
"These changes materially affect our ability to manage classification, housing, and supervision of detainees in our facility and will require us to prioritize bed space and resources for local and state inmates and remain compliant with state law and court directives,' said Sheriff Johnson.
Prevent Sexual Exploitation of Women and Minors Act
House Bill 805 recognizes two sexes in North Carolina and modifies laws related to birth certificates and gender transition procedures for adults.
It also allows students with religious objections to be excused from certain classroom activities, allows parents access to library books, and provides restrictions for school dorms.
Governor Stein vetoed the bill in July, but the GOP majority overrode his vetoes on several bills in August.
New driving laws
Heavy trucks in left lanes and tinted windows can be found in Senate Bill 391.
A motor vehicle having a weight of 26,001 pounds or heavier, requiring a commercial driver's license, is banned from driving in the left-most lane of a highway with six or more lanes, unless drivers are entering or exiting the highway, avoiding a hazard or passing another vehicle.
Tinted Windows
If a police officer approaches a car with tinted windows, the driver must roll down the window on the side the officer is approaching from. If the officer approaches from the passenger side with a tinted window, the same applies--they have to roll down the window.
A full list of other new laws effective Dec. 1 can be found below.
The Law and Order Act
Senat Bill 311 is known as the "The Law and Order Act" which increases the punishment for assaulting a utility or communications worker. The act also creates an offense for the possession or sale of embalming fluid. It modifies workplace violence prevention laws to cover mass picketing and creates an offense for entering a part of a building not open to the public with the intent to commit a crime.
Learn more about Senate Bill 311 here.
SNAP Work Requirements
Starting in December, many SNAP recipients will need to work, volunteer, or participate in job training for at least 80 hours a month to maintain their benefits.
While work requirements are already in place, changes signed into law by President Trump this summer will expand these requirements to include individuals aged 55 to 64 and parents without children under 14.
