RALEIGH, N.C. — On Wednesday, the North Carolina legislature, which is largely controlled by Republicans, successfully overrode Governor Roy Cooper’s veto regarding a legislative measure that allocates funds for private school scholarship grants accessible to families with all income levels. Additionally, the legislation mandates local sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration officials regarding the detention of certain inmates.

The Senate proceeded to pass the bill despite Cooper’s objections, following the House vote the previous day. With Republicans maintaining veto-proof majorities in both chambers, the law was enacted.

This new law signifies a significant funding boost for the Opportunity Scholarship program, allocating around $463 million to help reduce the existing waitlist for families eligible to receive grants to enroll their children in private or religious K-12 schools starting this fall.

Following the vote, Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, hailed the development as “a historic expansion of parental school choice,” emphasizing that legislators have communicated a strong intent to prioritize investments in students rather than education systems.

The General Assembly had previously removed income limits on the scholarship program last year, resulting in a surge of interest among families. However, 55,000 children were left without access to the funds due to Republican lawmakers’ inability to agree on additional funding earlier in the summer. In September, they reached a resolution and included it in a broader budget adjustment.

Furthermore, the law introduces a long-desired modification that compels North Carolina sheriffs to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, which permit local law enforcement to temporarily detain individuals suspected of being undocumented immigrants for up to 48 hours.

Governor Cooper initially vetoed the comprehensive bill in September, primarily citing concerns about the financial implications of the significant funding directed toward private school vouchers. He argued that such expenditures would adversely impact public schools already struggling with funding shortages. Cooper, alongside fellow Democrats, criticized Republican lawmakers for prioritizing the override instead of focusing on necessary relief measures for residents affected by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.

During a brief Senate debate, Senator Natasha Marcus, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, expressed concerns over the legislation’s financial burdens, labeling it a “budget-busting expense” that exacerbates the existing voucher dilemma in the state. Marcus also highlighted a lack of accountability within the scholarship program, which she claimed could facilitate funding for religious schools known to discriminate based on a family’s beliefs.

The Opportunity Scholarship program was initiated nearly ten years ago to assist low- and eventually middle-income families. However, in 2023, Republicans expanded the program’s reach to include students from affluent families, albeit with lower scholarship amounts compared to those awarded to poorer families, all framed as an effort to offer universal school choice.

The law also allows scholarship recipients to receive reimbursements for tuition expenses incurred during the fall semester from grant funds. Provisions related to immigration have been part of legislative attempts since 2019, which Cooper previously vetoed when Republicans lacked the necessary majority to override.

Now, with a supermajority restored in April 2023, Republicans have successfully executed over two dozen legislative overrides. Supporters of the current legislation assert that it aims to enhance community safety by ensuring compliance from sheriffs in predominantly Democratic regions concerning ICE detainers. One sponsor of the bill, Speaker-elect Destin Hall, referenced the electorate’s choice to reelect President Donald Trump, who made immigration a central campaign issue, as a potential mandate for enacting the legislation.

Conversely, opponents, including various advocacy groups representing Hispanic communities, argue that these measures will expose immigrant populations to unjust scrutiny and targeting by law enforcement entities.

With the new law now in effect, the requirements for sheriffs to collaborate with ICE agents and the provisions for private school funding will be implemented immediately. Additionally, this legislation includes a $160 million allocation to address enrollment increases in K-12 public schools and community colleges, along with directing $377 million towards Medicaid funding.