NC Republicans Passed a $34 Billion Budget Behind Closed Doors
North Carolina’s Republican-controlled General Assembly released a 634-page, $34 billion budget on June 30, 2026, with plans to vote on it the same week, giving legislators and the public almost no time to review it. Republican leaders structured the bill so it cannot be amended. There were no committee hearings.
“North Carolinians waited a full year for a state budget, only to see the final decisions made behind closed doors with little opportunity for public input.”
Alexandra Sirota, Director, NC Budget and Tax Center, June 30, 2026
The budget follows three new state laws banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in North Carolina’s government and public schools, all enacted last week over Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes.
Budget Eliminates Offices That Served Minority Communities for Decades
The spending plan abolishes the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses within the Department of Administration, cutting 12 jobs. That office spent more than 25 years helping minority-owned businesses compete for state and local government contracts. The budget also eliminates the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Health and Human Services, folding it into the Division of Public Health where its dedicated mission can be dissolved without a separate vote. A mentoring program for minority male students in the North Carolina Community College System is also shuttered.
These cuts arrive as a package. Each one individually might draw scrutiny. Together, passed in a single unamendable bill, they become harder for minority lawmakers or the public to challenge one at a time.
Other Budget Priorities Reflect GOP Agenda
The budget cuts the state personal income tax rate from 3.99% to 3.49% next year, a reduction that disproportionately benefits higher earners. It allocates $1 billion toward Medicaid, including $847 million for Medicaid rebasing. It includes hundreds of millions for Hurricane Helene recovery, raises for state employees and teachers, and provisions on artificial intelligence, ferry tolls, and prison funding. Republican leaders Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall announced the broad outlines in May, but the full 634-page text only appeared this week.
Gov. Stein, a Democrat, is expected to receive the bill by Friday, June 30, 2026. He does not have line-item veto power in North Carolina.
What You Can Do Now
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Call Gov. Josh Stein’s office at (919) 814-2000. Tell his staff you oppose the elimination of the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses and the Office of Health Equity, and urge him to publicly document the racial and economic impact of these cuts before signing.
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Contact your NC state senator or representative. Find their number at ncleg.gov/Find/Legislators and ask them on record how they voted on this budget and why they supported a process with no public hearings.
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Submit public comment to the NC DHHS. The Office of Health Equity is being absorbed, not abolished by rule. Contact DHHS at (919) 855-4800 and ask how health equity programs will be maintained after the restructuring.
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Track the NC Budget and Tax Center. Their analysts are publishing line-by-line breakdowns of who loses under this budget. Visit ncbudgettax.com to read their analysis and share it with local media in your county.
Sources
NC Newsline: North Carolina’s $34 Billion Budget Includes DEI Cuts and No Public Hearings NC Newsline: NC House Republicans Override Gov. Stein’s Vetoes on Anti-DEI Bills NC Budget and Tax Center: Analysis of North Carolina Budget Priorities NC General Assembly: Legislator Lookup Tool
[Quote: “North Carolinians waited a full year for a state budget, only to see the final decisions made behind closed doors with little opportunity for public input.”, Alexandra Sirota, Director, NC Budget and Tax Center.
NC Newsline]