September 13, 2024

The Office of

Representative Mike Clampitt

House District 119

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NC House Gives Bipartisan Approval to Mini Budget

Raleigh, NC – North Carolina House has approved HB 10 in a bipartisan vote of 67-43.

NC House Speaker Tim Moore said, “A responsible state budget is critical to helping North Carolina families weather these tough economic times brought on by the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration. The legislation passed today prioritizes quality education, public safety, healthcare, and broadband access.

He continued, "The mini budget strengthens our commitment to school choice for all NC families as well as public education, with historic investments in enrollment growth for both K-12 public schools and our community colleges. Furthermore, thanks to language requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, North Carolina will also be better equipped to weather the Biden-Harris illegal immigration crisis at our southern border and protect our communities. These priorities ensure North Carolina families are empowered to thrive and build a brighter future for themselves and our state."

Rep. Tricia Cotham said, "Today’s passage of HB10, which clears the waitlist of nearly 55,000 families who have applied for Opportunity Scholarships, marks a significant victory for families and students across North Carolina. By empowering students and parents to choose what type of education bet fits their needs, regardless of zip code or income, the Opportunity Scholarship Program puts kids and their futures first. As North Carolina continues to expand education options for families, we are ensuring that every child has the chance to thrive. This is a win for students, parents, and the future of North Carolina!"

Rep. Cotham has been a tireless advocate for school choice and sponsored legislation to expand Opportunity Scholarship eligibility to all NC families.

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House Bill 10

HB10 Overview: “This mini-budget agreement will support K-12 and community college enrollment growth, help improve public safety, clear the Opportunity Scholarship waitlist to expand school choice for all NC families, increase funding to fully support our Medicaid system, and authorize new rural broadband expansion across the state.”

HB10 Education: “This budget addresses the growing demand for Opportunity Scholarships and provides the required funding for increased enrollment in our public schools & in our community college system.”

HB10 Broadband: “HB10 will authorize the expansion of rural broadband across the state, improving internet access for thousands of North Carolina families. Enhanced internet connectivity will provide greater access to educational resources, support economic development, and help bridge the digital divide in underserved areas, ensuring more families can benefit from modern technology.”

HB10 I.C.E: “HB10 will uphold the rule of law by requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, a common-sense principle that strengthens public safety and protects our communities. This ensures that law enforcement agencies work together to safeguard our state.”

The Patriot’s Day event

Veteran’s Court Graduation in Asheville plaque and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians Honor Guard with Rep. Mike Clampitt

The honor guard presented the colors at this prestigious event.

Swearing in ceremony at the Swain County Courthouse in Bryson City of Kristi Parton to District Court Judge.

In photo the Honorable Judge Donna Forga, Representative Mike Clampitt, The honorable Kristi Parton, and Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran. Judge Parton was appointed by Governor Cooper and is the second judge appointed from Swain County.

Suicide Prevention Month

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Don't forget that 988 is the suicide and crisis prevention lifeline. Click here for more info on suicide prevention month: https://shorturl.at/WJvxG

NC Ranking Top 5 Again!

"Attracting and retaining skilled labor is a cornerstone of any state’s economic success. In 2024, North Carolina leads the pack in this critical category..." Top 5 for business again...How about our state! https://shorturl.at/s501w

Voter ID Information

This is the recent updates to North Carolina State Board of Election's Voter ID Page. They have published a lot of new content on our Voter ID page. They also just published a new page: FAQ: Voter ID.

Press Release from NCSBE.

No-Fee ID Card:

Anyone who is 17 or older can get a “No-Fee ID Card” from the NC DMV. Information on this ID card is available on the DMV website: Official NCDMV: State IDs (ncdot.gov).

We will keep you updated when new information is available.

Republican groups sue state elections board over UNC digital IDs as voter IDs

by CJ Staff/The Carolina Journal

The Republican National Committee and North Carolina Republican Party have filed their fourth lawsuit against the State Board of Elections in the last three weeks. The latest suit challenges the elections board’s decision to allow University of North Carolina digital identification to be used as voter ID in the upcoming election.

Other active lawsuits from the RNC and NCGOP challenge the state board’s voter roll maintenance, voter registration, and rules for submitting mail-in absentee ballots.

“The General Assembly enacted a detailed statute aimed at preventing electoral fraud by presentation of valid photo voter identification for in-person voting, as required by the Constitution,” according to the latest suit filed Thursday.

“The law describes several physical photo voter identification items that a voter can produce to comply. Nowhere in that law, or related ones … did the General Assembly directly describe or indirectly permit the use of electronic forms of photo identification ‘to confirm the person presenting to vote is the registered voter on the voter registration records.’”

Link for the article

Building code legislation becomes law

by Alan Wooten/The Center Square

Lawmakers in North Carolina’s House of Representatives took the final step to immediately make law a proposal on building codes and regulatory reform over the objection of the governor.

Another bill vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper on court-filed documents was scheduled for the first week of October.

Senate Bill 166, 2024 Building Code Regulatory Reform, passed 70-40 with six Democrats in favor. The chamber passed it 72-34 in May with 11 Democrats on board and passed the conference report needed before it could be sent to the governor by 77-28 with 14 Democrats in favor.

The override in the Senate was 27-17 on Monday.

Link for the article

PRAISE Act Overcomes Radical Left’s Veto Attempt and Becomes Law in North Carolina, Protecting Religious Liberty From Abusive Government Overreach

by Jordan Sekulow/ACLJ

In a major victory for religious liberty, a bill preventing the kinds of bans on religious worship that we saw during the pandemic has recently become law in North Carolina, overcoming a radical Left’s veto attempt by the governor.

The PRAISE Act would ensure that religious institutions cannot be shut down while similar secular institutions remain open.

The PRAISE Act recently became law in North Carolina as part of a broader bill. Key language adapting the PRAISE Act to North Carolina state law was included in a broader piece of health reform legislation, HB 237, which passed the Senate in May 2024.

Republican supermajorities in both chambers successfully overrode the Governor's veto of the bill.

HB 237 is officially law in North Carolina, ensuring that citizens’ right to worship is protected from bureaucratic overreach during any future declared state of emergency.

Link for the article

NCSBE initiates talks with US Department of Defense over absentee ballot delay

by Brianna Kraemer/The Carolina Journal

After the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. must be removed from all ballots in North Carolina on Monday, the State Board of Elections announced Tuesday that it has begun discussions with the US Department of Defense in case it can’t meet the September 21 deadline as required under federal law.

Federal law requires absentee ballots be distributed at least 45 days before an election. After changes to the ballot required a reprint, however, NCSBE officials are saying they’re uncertain if it can meet the deadline. Nearly three million ballots must be reprinted in total; all 100 counties have begun the process of eliminating the old ballots and ordering new ones from their vendors.

However, no ballots can be mailed until all counties are prepared to do so on the same day.

To avoid possible mix-ups between the old and new versions, the board has asked counties to strictly separate and move all old ballots printed with RFK Jr.’s name to storage.

Link for the article

App State gets $35 million to improve college readiness

by Chris Burritt/Business NC

A $35 million federal grant – the largest in the school’s history – will help Appalachian State University prepare more western North Carolina students for education after high school.

The seven-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education will provide college and career services to thousands of students attending 52 middle and high schools in 12 N.C. school districts, App State said in a recent statement.

Known as GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program), the grant also assists families and teachers in efforts to boost rates of high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment.

Link for the article

No accepting or testing digital currency in North Carolina

by Alan Wooten/The Center Square

Senators completed three veto overrides and set up two others to be finished by the House of Representatives in their return to session at the North Carolina General Assembly on Monday.

Most notable among them was No Central Bank Digital Currency Payments to State, the legislation of Reps. Mark Brody of Union County and Harry Warren of Rowan County that does not allow the federal government to pay or test with state government. Digital money exists only in electronic form; transfer and accounting are in computers.

Also known as House Bill 690, it becomes law immediately.

Link for the article

Alexander, state representative from Charlotte, dies

by Alan Wooten/The Center Square

Democratic North Carolina state Rep. Kelly Alexander Jr. died Friday. He was 75.

Alexander died after an illness, one which he earlier said would prevent him from running for reelection this fall in Mecklenburg County-based District 107.

His political positions aligned strongly with his party, and he was known for his efforts to provide compensation to victims of state eugenics law, to legalize medical cannabis, and to remove the literacy test requirement from the state constitution.

The family’s statement said in part, “Kelly’s unwavering commitment to his city, district, state and this nation has been both profound and heartfelt throughout the years.”

Link for the article

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~ Phone: (919) 715-3005 ~ Email: Mike.Clampitt@ncleg.gov ~