{"id":2686,"date":"2026-06-18T08:34:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=2686"},"modified":"2026-06-18T08:34:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:34:32","slug":"controversial-elections-bill-draws-protesters-vehicle-safety-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=2686","title":{"rendered":"Controversial elections bill draws protesters + vehicle safety changes"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Welcome to Under the Dome<\/b>. My name is Ronni Butts<\/b>, and I\u2019m bringing you the latest in North Carolina state politics with an assist from legislative and lobbying reporter Esther Frances<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Read more Raleigh man who posted Facebook video threatening Trump faces federal charges<\/a><\/p>\n

A bill that would make various changes to elections law moved through the House election law committee on Tuesday. Most Democratic members of the committee voted in the bill\u2019s opposition, except for Rep. Shelly Willngham<\/b> of Rocky Mount, according to reports from Kyle Ingram, Ronni Butts and Ava Menkes.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Protesters gathered at the legislature to voice their opposition to the bill, many of whom said the bill creates more voting restrictions. North Carolina Democratic Chair Anderson Clayton<\/b> said that the bill shows that Republican lawmakers are afraid of voters\u2019 decisions at the ballot box.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf (Republicans) want to win, have a fair election,\u201d protester Nina Daye told The N&O. \u201cStop the gerrymandering, stop all this crap, and really, really have an election that really matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carson Harkrader, another protester from Durham, said she brought her 8-year-old son to the protest to demonstrate the importance of voting rights. \u201cI\u2019m really worried that the bedrock of our democracy, which relies on everyone having a chance to vote in free and fair elections, is being undermined by this bill and other bills across the country,\u201d Harkrader said.<\/p>\n

The legislature will likely see more protests for this bill, especially once it reaches the floor. Common Cause, a voting rights advocacy group, plans to hold a press conference to express its opposition to the bill in front of the legislature on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

Rep. Sarah Stevens<\/b>, a Republican from Surry and Wilkes counties, resigned from her post today to campaign for a state Supreme Court seat. Clayton celebrated her departure with protesters on Tuesday<\/a>, and brought a giant card for her that said \u201cgood riddance.\u201d Clayton delivered the card to Stevens at her office. Stevens took the card,<\/a> sarcastically said, \u201cthank you, I love it,\u201d and closed her office door.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ronni Butts<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Lawmakers are considering a bill<\/a> that would revise laws governing children\u2019s safety in cars.<\/p>\n

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the top causes of death and injury for children in North Carolina, according to the NC Child Fatality Task Force, a legislative study commission.<\/p>\n

Rep. Donnie Loftis<\/b>, a Gastonia Republican, serves as a member of the task force and is a co-sponsor of the bill. Currently, he said, state law bases car seat requirements on a child\u2019s weight.<\/p>\n

The bill would put more emphasis on a child\u2019s height, which comes from recommendations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Loftis said the university and others have said \u201cit is more important based on the height of the child of where the seat belt will properly apply across the chest or the shoulders in a vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill would also require that, starting as a newborn, a child must be secured in an appropriate rear facing car seat that fits the child\u2019s height and weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis bill is designed to really protect children that we now see as being taller where those seat belts ride and protect them would be much greater than just based on what used to be the 40-pound rule,\u201d Loftis said.<\/p>\n

Read more List: Here\u2019s where the Stanley Cup has appeared in Raleigh so far this week<\/a><\/p>\n

Peg O\u2019Connell<\/b>, the chair of the Safe Kids North Carolina Steering Committee, told legislators that the bill \u201cwill keep our kids safe in the backseat and in properly installed child safety seats as they grow and hopefully come into adulthood.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill was referred to the House Rules Committee, which is typically the last stop before a bill comes before the Representatives for a vote.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Esther Frances<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

The legislature has a new bicameral and bipartisan caucus: the North Carolina Artificial Intelligence Caucus.<\/p>\n

Rep. Zack Hawkins<\/b> of Durham, who will co-chair the caucus, said in a press release that the caucus will help North Carolina be competitive in AI development while ensuring benefits for the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs AI continues to shape industries ranging from healthcare and education to manufacturing, agriculture, and government, it is essential that North Carolina not only embrace innovation, but also ensure that students, workers, families, and communities have the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate an increasingly AI-driven world,\u201d the press release said.<\/p>\n

Hawkins<\/b> will be joined by co-chairs Sen. Todd Johnson<\/b>, Sen. DeAndrea Salvador<\/b> and Rep. Jake Johnson<\/b>.<\/p>\n

As artificial intelligence continues to gain prominence, local governments and states have been forced to address issues of AI and AI development head on. Hawkins has recently gotten involved in AI advising and policy. Last September, he was appointed to Gov. Josh Stein\u2019s AI Leadership Council. He also was a speaker at an AI summit<\/a> hosted by OpenAI and North Carolina Central University last fall.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ronni Butts<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

A bill that would establish statewide laws about how pet owners care for their pets who primarily live outdoors cleared the legislature\u2019s key judiciary committee on Tuesday, bringing it one step closer to a House vote.<\/p>\n

The bill is headed for the Rules committee, which determines what bills head to the floor.<\/p>\n

Ronni<\/b> spoke to PETA advocates<\/a> this month who said that although local governments have ordinances for tethering dogs outdoors, North Carolina is long overdue for statewide legislation. Rep. Stephen Ross<\/b>, a Republican from Alamance County, said in Tuesday\u2019s committee meeting that he\u2019s taken the lead on this bill because of a tethering ordinance passed in his hometown of Burlington.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnimal control is telling us around North Carolina (that) it\u2019s not consistent. When they get into these situations, they find these animals chained to a tree like that (and) they can\u2019t in some cases can\u2019t really do anything without it,\u201d Ross said in the committee meeting.<\/p>\n

The bill passed with no controversy. Two people did express concerns about legislation surrounding hunting dogs during a public comment period. The committee voted to approve an amendment that would exempt owners of hunting dogs from the requirements in the bill.<\/p>\n

Read more McDonald\u2019s brings back a fan-favorite not seen in 30+ years. When to get it in NC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ronni Butts<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

That\u2019s all for today! We\u2019ll see you tomorrow.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 6:30 AM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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