NC Family Staff | July 1, 2022 | SHARE: 
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned the 2022 “Short” Legislative Session this afternoon after giving final approval to a $27.9 billion state budget. House Bill 103—2022 Appropriations Act passed with bipartisan support in both the State Senate, where it received a 36-8 vote, and in the State House, where it passed by a 82-25 vote. Among other things, the budget bill includes a significant expansion of funding and increased eligibility for North Carolina families to participate in the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, which provides education grants for lower-income children to attend the school of their parent’s choosing. The budget also provides over $2.6 million in direct funding to a number of pro-life pregnancy care centers across North Carolina.
A bill that would have legalized marijuana for “medical” purposes failed to receive final passage. Senate Bill 711, entitled the NC Compassionate Care Act, was approved by the State Senate in June but was never considered in the State House.
Another bill that would’ve legalized sports gambling across the state also failed to pass the legislature this session. Senate Bill 688—Sports Wagering passed the Senate last August and the House Commerce Committee last November. Then last week, the bill was approved by the House Judiciary 1 Committee, the House Finance Committee, and the House Rules Committee. When SB 688 made it to the House floor, however, it was miraculously defeated by a single vote of 50-51. (The official vote count shows a 49-52 vote, because one member changed their vote in a procedural attempt to keep the bill alive). In the closing days of the session, gambling proponents worked feverishly to try to resurrect the bill, but ultimately, they were unable to muster the support necessary to bring SB 688 back before the House for consideration.
“We thank God for what we consider to be a very successful session,” said NC Family President John L. Rustin. “Our team worked incredibly hard, and we are extremely grateful for all the pro-life, pro-family citizens from across the state who remained engaged and active throughout the session to make sure their lawmakers heard, understood, and responded to their interests and concerns.”
“Now we must shift our focus to educating voters ahead of the critical election in November in order to deliver a pro-life supermajority in both chambers of the N.C. General Assembly,” Rustin continued. “This will set the stage for the legislature to pass a bill in January to protect human life once a heartbeat is detected—or sooner—and to override Governor Roy Cooper’s certain veto of that measure.”
