The John Locke Foundation has advocated for the policy changes that are included in this bill for more than a decade. These changes would be a big step towards reducing regulatory red tape and bureaucracy.
But first, what does the REINS Act actually entail?
It is a simple, yet powerful reform: it requires the legislature to approve any regulation created by the bureaucracy with an economic impact of over $1 million dollars annually.. The agency proposing the rule will be required to produce an estimate of the rule’s economic impact.
It’s hard to believe, but North Carolina currently has over 109,000 regulatory restrictions, making it impossible for the average citizen to navigate all the red tape of a bloated bureaucracy.
For decades, the legislature and governor increasingly granted bureaucrats the power to create and enforce laws without oversight or constitutional limits. These regulations are a textbook example of where the separation of powers of branches of government have become blurred (see Article I, Sec. 6 of the North Carolina Constitution)
It's time for North Carolina to rein in the bureaucrats and return power to the legislature.
Passing laws is a difficult, complicated process. But that’s the point; it’s hard on purpose.
The division of powers in our constitutional system was designed to protect your freedoms and ensure proper oversight.
Unfortunately, it is sometimes impractical for the legislature to include every single detail necessary for a law to work, which is where state agencies come in. They fill the gaps by promulgating regulations.
But the problem starts when agencies aren’t filling in the details. But instead creating the laws.
The rise of the administrative state is not an insurmountable problem - but it does require action.
Other state legislatures already started taking action. They are reclaiming their constitutional authority by adopting REINS Acts. Florida and Wisconsin have had REINS Acts for years, and Indiana and Kansas joined them last year in passing their own reforms.
The North Carolina General Assembly should take back its policy-making power from state agencies. Let’s ensure that our laws are created by those we elect, not by bureaucrats, and pass the REINS Act.
You can read more about fighting regulation in North Carolina here, here, and here.
North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek recently appeared on Carolina Journal’s weekly online news show, “The Debrief", where he explained support for independent election audits
Boliek believes that an external review would help assure the public that elections are run fairly and transparently
He also welcomes the idea of conducting a thorough review of the State Board of Elections' procedures, to ensure they are up to standard
What would a procedural election audit include?
A procedural election audit would involve more than just verifying the accuracy of vote counts; it would examine the entire election process
The audit would check critical elements like ballot custody, voting equipment security, compliance with election laws, and the reconciliation of voting data
The audit would also verify voter eligibility by reviewing registration records, and confirm that all legal voting procedures were followed
The audit system would be inspired by Utah’s approach, incorporating a two-year review period, conducted by an independent entity, and would include responses from the the state’s chief elections officer
If North Carolina were to implement procedural election audits, the process would likely involve several key steps
The General Assembly would first need to approve the move to transfer authority for election audits to the State Auditor’s office
The Office of the Audit will soon have budgetary and appointment power over the State Board of Elections (contingent upon an existing lawsuit)
Both sides of the election security debate would stand to benefit from an independent audit, as it would verify the system’s integrity and ensure transparency in the process
In a recent poll, nearly 75% of North Carolina respondents said they would support a policy of allowing students to transfer to the public school of their choice
This kind of policy, often known as open enrollment, provides choices among traditional public schools
Despite thriving private schools, charter schools, and virtual schools, NC currently lacks choice for public school students
Additionally, polling suggests dissatisfaction with local public schools
55% of residents are unhappy with K-12 education quality
37% would feel uncomfortable sending their child to an assigned public school due to concerns over curriculum, academic quality, safety, and educational values
North Carolina is one of 33 states with poor open enrollment policies, earning an “F” grade in a 2024 study
NC is one of only 4 states that failed to earn any points for open enrollment
Local districts like Pitt and Union County have some open enrollment policies but with limitations, such as only allowing students to transfer within the district or in very specific cases
Open enrollment could serve as a solution to concerns over declining school enrollment in public schools
Traditional public school enrollment has dropped 3% since 2019
The policy would help districts that are facing declining enrollment, ensuring schools remain sustainable
Open enrollment would provide a way to market traditional public schools as viable choices for families looking for more options
That being said, practical questions about transportation and school capacity would need to be addressed, drawing lessons from states like Wisconsin with established open enrollment policies
75% of K- 12 students in North Carolina attend a traditional public school - don’t these students deserve the chance to choose the one that works best for them?
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long used education as a tool for expanding its soft power abroad
Through Confucius Institutes (CIs) in universities, and Confucius Classrooms (CCs) in K–12 schools, the CCP funds programs that promote a pro-China narrative
U.S. lawmakers and experts have raised concerns that these programs undermine academic freedom, spread CCP propaganda, and even present national security risks
A 2024 report from the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce, chaired by NC’s Virginia Foxx, chronicled CCP efforts to infiltrate K-12 schools
Their report revealed $17 million funneled into 143 school districts across 34 states (plus Washington, D.C.)
More than 170,000 students in 182 schools (including ones on military bases!) have been exposed to CCP-funded education
In response, legislation (H.R. 5567) was introduced, aiming to reduce foreign influence in U.S. education
Despite growing scrutiny at the national level, North Carolina’s education system has continued partnerships with the CCP’s programs
The NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) website confirms the presence of Confucius Classrooms under its International Agreements section
Questions remain: how many NC schools are involved, what curriculum is being taught, and how much funding has NC received from the CCP?
Until we have some answers to these questions, parents who have their children in Confucius Classrooms may want to take a closer look at what their children are learning
