North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein's flurry of legislative actions

Driving the news: While Stein has denounced and blocked some key conservative priorities from becoming law, he's also stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Republicans as he's celebrated and signed into law bipartisan initiatives spearheaded by the GOP legislature.

• Last Thursday, Stein held a bill signing ceremony for four bills that supporters say will lower prescription drug costs, ease transitions for military families who are relocating, crack down on crimes like reckless driving and make it easier for some domestic violence victims to obtain restraining orders. Republicans joined Stein at the mansion to celebrate the bills becoming law.
• That same day, Stein vetoed three bills, including one that would allow some employees and volunteers to carry weapons at private schools.

The big picture: Six months into his term, Stein still appears to have a working relationship with GOP legislative leaders, even as Republicans and Democrats at the federal level remain largely divided.

• It comes at a pivotal moment for the state: Western North Carolina still has a long way to go in recovering from Hurricane Helene. Meanwhile, the state is bracing for federal budget cuts made in Congress' newly passed "Big, Beautiful Bill."
• Stein and Republican lawmakers will have to work together to continue to fund Helene recovery efforts and navigate the impact of federal budget cuts on the state's Medicaid and SNAP recipients.

Flashback: In March, some political observers said Stein was still in a "honeymoon" phase and predicted that his working relationship with the legislature would fall apart when Stein started vetoing Republican bills.

• Even after 14 vetoes, however, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Zoom in: Stein issued his first vetoes a month ago, blocking "The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act," "Freedom to Carry NC" and the "North Carolina Border Protection Act" from becoming law.

• He steered clear of attacking Republicans directly and instead said two of the bills would make North Carolinians less safe and one, "The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act," was unconstitutional.
• Stein also vetoed legislation changing oversight of charter schools, clarifying the state auditors' power, banning some diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and rolling back some carbon reduction goals for Duke Energy.

After vetoing some of those bills earlier this month, Stein changed his tune, however, calling the bills "mean-spirited" and saying they would "marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education."

• "At a time when teachers, law enforcement, and state employees need pay raises and people need shorter lines at the DMV, the legislature failed to pass a budget and, instead, wants to distract us by stoking culture wars that further divide us," Stein said in a statement. "I stand ready to work with the legislature when it gets serious about protecting people and addressing North Carolinians' pressing concerns."

What we're watching: Stein's ability to keep his party in line may soon be tested. Republicans no longer have a supermajority in the legislature, so they need just one Democrat in the House to side with them to override a veto.

• One or more House Democrats have voted with the GOP on numerous bills Stein ultimately vetoed, including on immigration, changes to Duke's carbon reduction goals and transgender rights.