Latest news with #MarciaMorey
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC House votes to loosen gun restrictions with lifetime concealed-carry permit
North Carolina gun owners who want concealed carry handgun permits could soon have to apply only once in their lives, if a bill in the state legislature becomes law. The current law requires concealed carry permit holders to renew the permits every five years. Under House Bill 674, which passed the House on Wednesday evening, there would be a new lifetime concealed carry permit, too. Holders of that permit would be able to keep it for life, never again having to take another firearm safety and training course or pass another background check. The bill passed 70-42 with mostly Republican votes, and with some Democrats objecting to ending the renewal process. Rep. Shelly Willingham, a Rocky Mount Democrat and retired law enforcement officer, voted in favor of the bill. Republicans argued that the process was burdensome to permit holders and that some states require no permits at all — something that has also been proposed for North Carolina. Rep. Tracy Clark, a Guilford County Democrat, argued against the bill, saying that 'a lot can happen in the 5, 10, 20 years since approval.' Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham, a former judge, agreed with Clark. 'As many of you like to say on that side of the aisle, about 'good guys with the gun,' OK, that's fine, good guys with the gun. But a lifetime — there can be a lot of changes,' Morey said. 'So this five-year is just a check make sure the good guy with a gun stays a good guy who's confident, who's safe and knows how to operate the gun, does not have any affliction that would be a danger to one's self, or the public,' she said. Morey said renewing a permit every five years is 'common sense.' Rep. Jay Adams, a Catawba County Republican, countered that 'someone can go off the deep end' two days after getting any permit or license, and the permit doesn't prevent 'bad behavior.' The bill now goes to the Senate, which can choose to do nothing, change the bill in committee or take it up as it is for a vote. What's next for concealed carry bills In March, the Senate passed a bill along party lines that would allow someone to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, The News & Observer previously reported. That means both House and Senate Republicans have sent each other a bill that would change the law on concealed carry handgun permits to loosen existing gun regulations. House Speaker Destin Hall said Republicans do plan to take up full permit repeal in this session. He said the House's bill to eliminate concealed carry permits is virtually identical to the Senate's, and they may take up the Senate version because it already advanced. As for the lifetime concealed carry permit bill that passed Wednesday, Hall said: 'Whether we have a requirement for a permit in this state or not, that's still useful for folks because they get a permit here that they can use in other states.' 'So they need that regardless of whether we have a permit or not,' Hall said. Republicans have a veto-proof supermajority in the Senate, and are one vote short of that threshold in the House.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC House bill aims to raise state minimum wage starting in 2026; here's how much
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A House bill filed this week looks to raise the state's minimum wage to $10.00 per hour in 2026, and then increase every year following that for at least four years. Right now, the state's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. House Bill 353 would make it $10.00 an hour effective January 1, 2026. If signed into law, the bill would also raise $2.00 per hour every year until at least 2030, making minimum wage $18.00 an hour on January 1, 2030. After that, the amount would be determined annually by the Commissioner of Labor. The bill, called the Fair Minimum Wage Act, was sponsored by Democratic Representative Marcia Morey. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. has the highest minimum wage in the country at $17.50. NC is among several states with the same minimum wage as Federal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New house bill could raise minimum wage in North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — North Carolina General Assembly Representatives Marcia Morey, Alison Dahl and Aisha Dew proposed a raise to the state minimum wage Bill 353, referred to as 'Fair Minimum Wage Act', would raise the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 to at least $10 in 2026. Minimum wage would also increase by two dollars every year annually and could even be set higher depending on the rate increase that will be announced every year. 'I think with the way this country is going, you know, everybody needs a little more money. We pay our staff pretty well here. You know, front of house staff is the normal front of house break down. But, you know, prices go up and wages stay the same. That's not really a good thing for the country. But, you know, we'll see how it goes and we'll take it in stride. Hopefully you know, we keep supporting local and coming out and eating some chicken.' said Ryan Griffin, co-owner of Nash Hot Chicken. The bill also addresses wage theft and penalties for employers who don't pay their employees minimum wage, making them liable to pay back lost wages, benefits and reasonable attorney fees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC representative wants to codify challenged election rule for military, overseas voters
A North Carolina representative wants to codify a challenged election rule for military and overseas voters. Durham Representative Marcia Morey's bill says military and overseas voters are not required to include a photocopy of their ID when they vote. This comes as Republican State Supreme Court Candidate Jefferson Griffin challenges more than 5,000 of the ballots in his race against Democratic Justice Allison Riggs. Representative Marcia Morey, however, disagrees with that. ALSO READ: Judge to decide validity of 65K votes in North Carolina Supreme Court race 'They don't have time to go looking for a photocopier if they're out in the field, but they follow what has been explained to them, send in your ballot, send in your registration, and after the fact, retroactively. Now to be challenged after this is the method they've been using, I think is totally wrong,' Morey explained. In response to the bill, the North Carolina Republican Party said this reinforces the party's belief that state law matters more than an agency's rules. The NCGOP said the bill also strengthens their case for judicial review of those ballots. VIDEO: Judge to decide validity of 65K votes in North Carolina Supreme Court race
