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Gov. Josh Stein vetoes House Bill 402, warns it could hamper protections for drinking water
Summary
Governor Josh Stein returned House Bill 402 with objections, saying the measure would limit state agencies’ ability to adopt rules to protect health and the environment — including keeping drinking water free of PFAS — and placed the vetoed bill on the House calendar for July 14 for reconsideration.
Gov. Josh Stein on the record issued a veto message for House Bill 402, saying the bill would constrain state agencies’ ability to adopt rules with substantial financial cost and could make it harder for the state to keep drinking water free of PFAS and other dangerous chemicals. "Therefore, I veto the bill," the message concluded.
The veto was read into the House record by the clerk and returned to the clerk of the North Carolina House for reconsideration at 6:16 p.m.; the presiding officer also placed the bill on the House calendar for Monday, July 14, and directed that the Senate be notified. The governor’s message argued the measure would impose an "unworkable" anonymity requirement and other red tape that would hamper decision-making by agencies, boards and commissions and weaken protections for public health and safety.
The veto message did not record an immediate response from members on the House floor. Procedural steps that followed included routine business: the House approved the journal for June 26 and then adopted a motion to adjourn and reconvene on Thursday, July 3 at 9 a.m.
Votes at a glance • Approval of journal for June 26 — motion moved by Representative Wheatley; the presiding officer called the question and "the ayes have it." (Outcome: approved) • Motion to adjourn and reconvene July 3 at 9 a.m. — moved by Representative Wheatley, seconded by Representative Dahl; the ayes prevailed and the House adjourned. (Outcome: approved)
What happens next Under the procedures cited in the veto message, House Bill 402 has been returned for reconsideration by the House. The bill remains on the calendar for July 14; additional action (reconsideration or a possible override attempt) would be recorded on the House docket and in subsequent floor proceedings.
Note: The veto message identified public-health and environmental risks as the governor’s primary concern and framed the bill as creating administrative barriers to agency rulemaking. The House did not take further debate or a recorded roll-call vote on the bill during the session recorded in this transcript.
