NC House overrides Cooper's veto of SB 382, enacting law that weakens powers of top state offices

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- State lawmakers have overridden Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 382.

By a 72-46 margin, the House voted to override the veto on Wednesday, making the bill that provides Hurricane Helene relief but also weakens the powers of certain statewide offices

The vote was originally scheduled for Monday, then pushed to Tuesday, and took place Wednesday.

The bill directs $227 million toward Hurricane Helene disaster relief from the state savings reserve. This marks the third round of public support in the aftermath of Helene.

But SB 382 also enacts a series of unrelated changes that would weaken the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction. All offices are slated to be run by Democrats next year. The legislation would also cut down on the period to correct provisional ballots, installing a deadline of Friday at noon following Election Day.

"The people of western North Carolina are desperate for help from their state government. Yet, this bill is a power grab, not hurricane relief. It is despicable for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use folks' incredible need for aid to cloak their political pettiness," said Attorney General and Gov.-elect Josh Stein, a Democrat. "The legislature needs to step up and do its job. If they do, they will find a good-faith partner in me. I'm ready to get to work."

The Senate already voted 30-19 to override Cooper's veto last Monday.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee blasted the legislation, saying North Carolina Republicans "have lashed out in a blatant 11th-hour power grab."

The left-leaning North Carolina Association of Educators expressed similar frustration about the veto override.

"This bill is a farce and a last-ditch effort to grab power before the Republican supermajority is broken. It does absolutely nothing to help our schools, educators, children, or the people of Western North Carolina who are still grappling with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Worse, it undermines the will of North Carolinians, who made their voices heard this past fall by electing new leadership," the NCAE said. "This legislation reflects neither the needs nor the desires of the people of our state."

Republicans in the general assembly lost their veto-proof majority in the Nov. 5 election.

"Unfortunately, western North Carolina had to watch as every Republican in the General Assembly shamelessly put their desire to strip political power away from recently elected Democrats ahead of the aid and relief their communities need," said Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. "Using the guise of Hurricane Helene relief is a new low, even for General Assembly Republicans."

NOTE: Video is from a previous report and will be updated.