A Promise Kept to North Carolina's Workers
In Raleigh this week, Governor Josh Stein took a stand for North Carolina's workers and families, signing six bills that tackle pressing challenges with clarity and heart. These laws strengthen the state's pension fund, keep veteran police officers serving, and widen access to social work care. They reflect a deep commitment to people who dedicate their lives to public service and to communities crying out for support. Why let outdated policies hold back progress? Stein's signatures show a better path forward.
The State Investment Modernization Act transforms how North Carolina manages its $127 billion pension fund, which secures retirement for countless state employees. A new five-member authority will guide smarter investments, potentially adding $2 billion to the budget with just a one-point return increase, according to Treasurer Brad Briner. This approach prioritizes long-term stability for workers who've earned their retirement through years of service.
Compare that to some Republican proposals in Congress, where plans to hike federal worker contributions or shift pensions to volatile 401(k)-style accounts threaten retirement security. Such moves, framed as fiscal responsibility, risk leaving mid-career employees stranded. North Carolina's law proves you can modernize systems while honoring the people who keep our state moving.
House Bill 50 addresses a different crisis, police retention. With departments nationwide struggling, New York City lost nearly 3,000 officers in 2024 and Minneapolis operates at 60% of its former size, and North Carolina faces its own staffing gaps, with average staffing nationwide at just 91% of authorized levels. This law lets veteran officers stay on duty without forfeiting their special separation allowance, ensuring experienced police remain in our communities.
Stein, who pushed for this as Attorney General, understands the stakes. Keeping officers ensures safer neighborhoods and stronger trust. Some GOP measures, like mandating reports on ambush attacks, seem more performative than practical when burnout and low pay drive officers away. Stein's law offers a real solution.
Care Where It's Needed Most
House Bill 231, entering North Carolina into the Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact, stands out as a beacon of hope. Social workers support children, families, and vulnerable people, yet shortages leave gaps in care. This law allows licensed social workers from states like Georgia or Virginia to practice here, streamlining access to mental health services and telehealth when demand is at an all-time high.
Data underscores the need; state-specific licensing rules reduce interstate moves by up to 7%, keeping skilled workers from areas of greatest need. States with universal recognition laws, like Arizona since 2019, have seen licensed workers' employment rise nearly one percentage point. North Carolina's compact builds on this, ensuring care flows freely across borders.
Some skeptics worry compacts might weaken standards, but the Social Work Compact includes shared databases to track licenses and discipline, balancing access with accountability. This contrasts with the approach of organizations like Americans for Prosperity, which favor broad deregulation that could bypass such safeguards. Stein's law promotes equity and mobility while upholding quality.
These measures arrive at a pivotal time. Proposals like Project 2025 threaten federal pensions and push Social Security's retirement age to 69, endangering workers' futures. Police recruitment lags, with 70% of agencies reporting tougher hiring. Social work shortages strain families. Stein's bills confront these issues directly, showing government can deliver for its people.
Building a State That Works for All
Stein's vision extends beyond these laws. He's advocating for free community-college tuition in critical fields, more childcare support, and clean-energy jobs that employ 20,000 workers and save families $200 yearly on power bills. These priorities aim to create a North Carolina where everyone can thrive and build a secure future. Why accept anything less when we can invest in a stronger future?
Challenges persist, though. Stein is considering vetoes on bills mandating 48-hour ICE holds or targeting so-called sanctuary communities, policies that undermine trust between police and residents. His restraint reflects a dedication to fairness, standing firm against divisive tactics that prioritize politics over people.
North Carolina's new laws mark a turning point. They show what's possible when leaders value workers and communities over partisan games. Stein has set a course for progress. The question is whether we'll stay on it or let fear and cuts pull us backward. I believe in a state that lifts everyone up, and Stein's actions prove it's within reach.