RAILY, N.C. (AP) — Following the lead of several conservative states and the president himself, North Carolina Republican lawmakers have advanced their own bills targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The North Carolina home passed a bill within the state government on Wednesday that would limit DEI practices after voting stalled for weeks. The state Senate pushed its own legislation on the issue earlier this month. When combined, the two bills will enforce DEI restrictions at universities, universities, state agencies, local governments and public schools.
The bill also clears the pathway for North Carolina utilities to be more in line with the goals of dismantling President Donald Trump Diversity, equity, inclusion Practice.
However, this law has a harder time becoming a law than it was a year ago. Democrats’ government’s Josh Stein probably refused to legislate, Republicans now lack a majority in the home, and the final session was relatively easy to override the veto.
Democrats have been frankly saying the bill was too vague and unnecessary scrutiny on state employees, so vetoing Democrats to Republicans would be a tough sell.
“This is an attack on the very legacy of those who sacrificed to take us here. It’s an attack on the reality that we are a diverse country,” Democrat Brandon Lofton said he’s been debating on the House floor for more than two hours.
Since taking office earlier this year, the Trump administration has It embarked on the Crusade against what it called an “illegal and immoral discrimination program.”The result was a range of actions. University federal investigation into alleged racism In Removal of photos and mentions of minority and female military heroes From the government website. The administration also threatened to cut funding for the local school system that does not deny DEI. Resistance from democratic states and cities.
But eradicating Dei’s efforts was before Trump’s second term. As of one year ago, staff members About a third of the state They had taken some action against the DEI initiative.
North Carolina legislators had their final session. Enactment of law It banned the promotion of certain beliefs that GOP lawmakers likened state governments to important racial theories in the workplace. But in most cases, legislators have put off changes to others, such as the state’s public university system, and 17 schools that have implemented changes that curtail certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Last year, the University of North Carolina Governor’s Committee I voted to abolish and replace that diversity policy Emphasis on institutional neutrality – University prevention prevents stances on political issues discussed. As a result, Staff cutreallocation of funding and Some teachers are worried Regarding policy implementation.
This year, House Republicans are targeting state agencies (which run primarily under Stein) as a place to eradicate workplace policies and programs. Employees who violate the prohibition may face civil penalties and be removed from the agency. According to the bill, state agencies, local governments and public schools were also unable to apply for federal assistance requiring compliance with the DEI power of attorney.
“It puts an end to the idea that backgrounds should outweigh their capabilities. It stops public work, promotions and contracts from being awarded on a political agenda,” said House Majority Leader Brenden Jones.
Meanwhile, Senate laws that passed several weeks ago clearly state that “schizophrenia concepts” and “discriminatory practices” can be avoided in order to avoid them within higher education. It also includes Community Colleges in North Carolina. A similar bill was passed in the Senate last month.
House Republicans were expected to pass the Day bill at the same time as the Senate. But House Speaker Destin Hall said the pending amendments and absences delayed the vote.
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Associated Press writer David A. Reeve of Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to the report.
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