North Carolina politics has always been a bit of a contact sport, but the recent showdown over Senate Bill 382 felt different. It was loud. It was messy. And honestly, it felt like a final act of a long-running drama. Just as the state was preparing for a transition of power, the Republican-led General Assembly dropped a 131-page bombshell that changed the rules of the game.
Governor Roy Cooper didn't hold back. He called the bill a "sham." He vetoed it right before Thanksgiving 2024, but in the end, the Republican supermajority did exactly what everyone expected: they overrode him. It's a classic North Carolina "power grab" scenario that we've seen before, specifically back in 2016, but the stakes this time feel uniquely tied to the 2024 election results.
Why Roy Cooper Vetoed the Republican-Passed Power Grab Bill
The timing was the first thing that made people do a double take. The bill arrived just weeks after Democrats swept major statewide offices—Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. Basically, the GOP looked at the incoming administration of Josh Stein and Jeff Jackson and decided to move the furniture before they could move in.
Cooper’s main gripe? The bill was dressed up as Hurricane Helene disaster relief. It was titled "The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024—Part III." But if you actually read the 130+ pages, you'd find that most of it had very little to do with helping people in Western North Carolina and a lot to do with stripping the Governor's office of its authority.
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The Problem with the "Relief"
- The Money Shuffle: While the bill moved roughly $227 million into a hurricane fund, it actually prevented that money from being spent immediately. It just sat there.
- Unemployment Blows: Cooper had used an executive order to boost unemployment benefits for disaster victims from $350 to $600. This bill basically killed that, barring the governor from suspending state laws to help the unemployed during emergencies.
- Building Code Delays: It even pushed back new building codes that were required to secure millions in federal disaster aid. Sorta counterproductive, right?
Shifting the Election Board: The Heart of the Fight
If there's one thing the North Carolina GOP wants, it's more control over how votes are counted. For years, the Governor has appointed the majority of the State Board of Elections. Naturally, the party in the Governor’s mansion has a 3-2 advantage.
SB 382 completely flips that script. It takes the appointment power away from the Governor and hands it to the State Auditor. Why does that matter? Because the incoming State Auditor, Dave Boliek, is a Republican.
It’s a clever move, but Cooper and Governor-elect Josh Stein have already filed a lawsuit over it. They argue it violates the separation of powers. They’ve been down this road before—previous attempts to seize election control were struck down by the courts and even rejected by voters in a 2018 constitutional referendum.
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The Targeted Strike on the Attorney General
Jeff Jackson won a big victory to become the next Attorney General, but he’s walking into a job that might look a lot smaller than the one he ran for. The "power grab" bill puts some serious handcuffs on the AG’s office.
Specifically, the law prevents the Attorney General from taking legal positions that contradict the General Assembly. If the legislature passes a law and someone sues to block it, the AG can't just say, "Yeah, this law is unconstitutional." They are now legally required to defend it—or at least, they can't actively fight against the legislature's stance.
This is a direct response to how Stein and Cooper have operated. They often declined to defend laws they felt were illegal, like some of the more restrictive voting measures. Now, the GOP has essentially written "you have to agree with us" into the state code.
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How the Veto Override Actually Happened
You’d think a bill this controversial would have some cracks in the foundation. For a moment, it did. Three House Republicans from the mountain counties—the areas hardest hit by Helene—originally voted against it. One of them, Rep. Mark Pless, was pretty blunt: he couldn't explain to his constituents why a "disaster bill" was actually about election boards.
But the GOP leadership is nothing if not disciplined. By the time the override vote came around on December 11, 2024, they had flipped those votes. The House overrode the veto 72-46.
Other Key Changes in the Law
- Judicial Vacancies: The Governor can no longer just pick whoever they want to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. They have to pick from a list provided by the political party of the judge who left.
- The Highway Patrol: Even the Commander of the N.C. Highway Patrol is no longer a Governor's appointee.
- Utility Commission: The Governor used to appoint the majority and the chair. Now, the appointments are split with the State Treasurer (also a Republican), and the commissioners pick their own chair.
What Happens Next?
This isn't just a "politics as usual" moment. It’s a fundamental shift in how North Carolina’s government functions. We are looking at a future where the Governor’s office is significantly weaker than it has been in decades.
However, the story doesn't end with the override. The courtroom is the next battleground. As of early 2025, several lawsuits are working their way through the system. The separation of powers is a big deal in the North Carolina Constitution, and the state Supreme Court will eventually have to decide if the legislature went too far.
Actionable Steps for Concerned Residents
- Track the Litigation: Keep an eye on Cooper v. Berger. This lawsuit will determine if the election board changes actually take effect in May.
- Monitor Election Deadlines: The law also shortened the time to "cure" absentee ballots. If you vote by mail, make sure you know the new, tighter deadlines to ensure your vote counts.
- Contact Your Reps: Since the supermajority is so slim, individual legislators are under a lot of pressure. If you're in a mountain county, ask your representative how that $227 million is actually being used for recovery.
The battle over SB 382 is a reminder that in North Carolina, the election is just the beginning. The real fight for power often happens in the quiet halls of Raleigh long after the yard signs are gone.