NC Republicans roll out last-minute constitutional amendments, before losing supermajority

Republican state lawmakers announced three proposals for new state constitutional amendments Monday morning, with plans to vote on them later in the day.

One of the amendments would further cap the state’s maximum possible income tax rate. Another would tweak the state’s voter photo identification requirements. The third would call for a new U.S. Constitutional convention. A convention could only be held if 34 states call for one. Currently 19 states have done so, according to the main conservative group that’s been lobbying for years for a new convention to rewrite the Constitution.

In North Carolina, amending the state constitution is a two-step process. A proposal must first pass the legislature with at least 60% in both chambers, a supermajority, voting in favor. Then it would be put on the ballot for voters to decide. If at least 50% of voters support the idea, it gets added to the state constitution.

The timing of Monday’s announcement might indicate that Republicans don’t believe they’ll be able to get any Democratic support for the three amendments in the state legislature.

North Carolina voters broke the GOP’s supermajority in this year’s elections, and new members will be sworn in next month. So starting in January, any constitutional amendment proposals would need at least one Democratic lawmaker to vote in favor in order for the amendment to be placed on the ballot.

Veto override also expected

The three new amendments aren’t the only major changes being rushed through in the lame-duck session following this year’s elections. Republican lawmakers also recently voted to strip powers away from the governor, attorney general, lieutenant governor and superintendent of schools — all offices won by Democrats in the 2024 elections.

In some cases, powers and duties held by those offices would cease to exist altogether. In other cases, the powers would transfer to different offices, which Republicans won election to in this year’s elections.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill, calling it unconstitutional.

Republicans still have a veto-proof supermajority until January, however. They planned to begin the veto override process Monday in the same state Senate session where the new amendments were also expected to be heard.