VETO OVERRIDE: ICE Bill and School Choice Funding Become Law

Sheriffs in North Carolina’s largest counties will be required to cooperate with ICE

Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ waitlists cleared with additional school choice funding

Raleigh, N.C. — Republicans in the legislature have overridden a veto from Gov. Roy Cooper to enact House Bill 10, Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments, into law. This is the 28th successful veto override in the 2023–24 biennium, the most ever for a biennium in state history.

House Bill 10 includes:

• A requirement that North Carolina sheriffs cooperate with federal immigration detainers.
• $248 million nonrecurring to clear the Opportunity Scholarship waitlist for the current school year.
• $215.5 million recurring for scholarship awards in the 2025–26 fiscal year.
• $24.7 million recurring to clear the ESA+ waitlist for children with disabilities.
• $64 million recurring for Community College enrollment growth.
• $95 million recurring for K-12 enrollment growth to ensure schools have the necessary operating expenses to support students and teachers.
• $277 million recurring and $100 million nonrecurring for Medicaid.
• $55.1 million for infrastructure improvements to support economic development in Chatham County.
• $150 million for major transportation improvements at the Randolph County megasite.
• Authorization for a new program to expand high-speed internet in rural communities.

“The days of North Carolina Democrats shielding criminal illegal immigrants from deportation are officially over. No longer will sheriffs in our most populated counties get away with ignoring federal immigration detainers issued by ICE. With House Bill 10 finally becoming law, and the Trump administration taking over in Washington, we’re on the path toward a stronger border and safer United States,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairmen Sens. Danny Earl Britt, Jr. (R-Robeson), Warren Daniel (R-Burke), and Buck Newton (R-Wilson) said.

“Thousands of North Carolina families who applied and qualified for school choice programs have been in limbo because Gov. Cooper thinks school choice should be limited to a select few. That’s not what North Carolinians think, and Republicans are proud to provide the funding so those students can attend the school that best fits their needs. School choice will always be an option in North Carolina and no obstruction from Democrats will change that,” Senate Education Committee Chairs Sens. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) and Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) said.