WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – On Monday, leaders with the National Black Leadership Caucus held a press conference to speak out against Senate Bill 382 that recently passed through the North Carolina General Assembly.

The bill would appropriate $227 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western NC, but it would also water down some powers of newly-elected Democratic officials after taking office in the new year.

Under the bill, the power to appoint the State Board of Elections would be taken from Democratic Governor-Elect Josh Stein and be placed under the office of newly-elected Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek. It would also strip powers from Attorney General-Elect Democrat Jeff Jackson.

The bill would also move up many post-election deadlines, reducing the deadline to fix provisional ballots after Election Day.

“We just decided it was time for us to go ahead and take action,” Sen. Phil Berger told reporters Wednesday.

Sonya Patrick, Regional Director of the NBLC, told WECT she believes Republican leaders are disguising the power transfer under the pretense of Hurricane Helene relief.

“I think just the idea of them trying to sneak that into the bill is a disservice under the umbrella of a relief plan where people need our help in Western North Carolina,” Patrick said.

The bill is headed back to Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk where he could veto it. He could also sign the bill into law or allow it to become law by not taking any action after ten days.

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