Governor Roy Cooper (D) vetoed five bills from July 3-9. The five bills are below:
S49, which would have “enumerate[ed] the rights of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their minor children.”
- Cooper said, “Parents are the most essential educators for their children and their involvement must be encouraged, but this bill will scare teachers into silence by injecting fear and uncertainty into classrooms. This ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill also hampers the important and sometimes lifesaving role of educators as trusted advisers when students have nowhere else to turn. The rights of parents are well established in state law, so instead of burdening schools with their political culture wars, legislators should help them with better teacher pay and more investments in students.”
- Sens. Amy Galey (R) and Michael Lee (R), two of the bill’s sponsors, said, “Parents know what is best for their children. Gov. Cooper continues to mislead the public about the Parents’ Bill of Rights so he can drum up manufactured outrage and rake in donations. This bill encourages collaboration, promotes transparency, and keeps classrooms focused on educating, not indoctrinating. The Democrats and Gov. Cooper think the government can co-parent, but Republicans will always stand strong to defend parents and families.”
- The North Carolina House voted 66-47 to approve the bill on June 28. The North Carolina Senate voted 26-13 to approve the bill on June 29. Sens. Amy Galey (R), Michael Lee (R), and Lisa Barnes (R) introduced the legislation on Jan. 31.
