The Batch Brief (August 1, 2025)
Welcome to The Batch Brief!
This past week, the Senate returned to Raleigh for our first round of veto override votes this session. Fourteen of Governor Stein’s vetoes were taken up, and while eight of them were ultimately overridden, I am proud of our Senate Democratic caucus who stood up on each of those votes to defend the values we hold dear.
These override votes are part of a concerning pattern we’ve seen before: less public input, more political theater, and policies that leave working families behind. In this month’s update, I’m breaking down what happened on the floor and why these votes matter.
Still, there’s good news to share. District 17 continues to shine, this month with a historic investment in children’s health care and a fun spotlight on one of our most unexpected local exports.
Here’s what’s inside this month’s issue:
🏛️ Tuesday’s Veto Override Votes: What You Need to Know
⚖️ Senate Democrats Demand the Truth: Release the Epstein Files
📬 Voter Registration Update
🏥 Apex: Future Home of NC’s First Standalone Children’s Hospital
🎴 The Triangle is the Heart of U.S. Pokémon Card Production
With gratitude,
Senator Sydney Batch
NC Senate District 17 | Senate Democratic Leader
Tuesday’s Veto Override Votes: What You Need to Know
On Tuesday July 29, the Republican-led General Assembly convened to take up 14 of Governor Stein’s vetoes. As of Friday morning, eight of those vetoes have been fully overridden in both chambers and are now law. The remaining six bills have not yet cleared the House and could return at any time.
Many of these overrides were passed on party-line votes with little public input and wide-ranging consequences for North Carolinians. Below is a breakdown of each successfully overridden bill, and why the Governor, and Senate Democrats, stood in opposition.
Senate Veto Overrides: At-a-Glance
S254 – Charter School Expansion & Deregulation
What it does: Weakens oversight of charter schools and removes accountability standards.
Why it was vetoed: Parents deserve transparency and quality, and this bill delivers neither.
What’s at stake: Lower standards for students and more unaccountable spending of public funds.
S266 – Power Bill Reduction Act
What it does: Rolls back clean energy targets and lets utility companies raise rates more easily.
Why it was vetoed: It increases costs for working families while benefiting big utility companies.
What’s at stake: Higher electric bills and a slower, more expensive path to energy independence.
S416 – “Personal Privacy Protection Act”
What it does: Shields nonprofit donors from public transparency rules.
Why it was vetoed: It opens the door to dark money in politics and undermines efforts to stop fraud.
What’s at stake: Less transparency, more backroom influence.
What it does: Expands who can carry guns on school property and adds new protections for elected officials.
Why it was vetoed: It mixes legitimate safety provisions with dangerous policies that would put more guns in schools.
What’s at stake: The safety of students and school staff, and increased risk of firearms being misused on campuses.
H318 – The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act
What it does: Requires jails and judges to detain individuals for ICE even without a criminal warrant.
Why it was vetoed: It violates due process and exposes counties to lawsuits by forcing unconstitutional detentions.
What’s at stake: Erosion of constitutional rights and costly legal battles for local governments.
H402 – Limit Rules with Substantial Financial Costs (formerly NC REINS Act)
What it does: Requires legislative approval of agency rules with major financial impacts, even if needed for public health or safety.
Why it was vetoed: It blocks state agencies from quickly responding to urgent threats like water contamination or unsafe healthcare.
What’s at stake: Delays in protecting public health and a more dysfunctional regulatory process.
H549 – Clarify Powers of State Auditor
What it does: Expands the State Auditor’s power to access private data and exempts the office from some IT rules.
Why it was vetoed: It weakens cybersecurity, invades privacy, and risks discouraging businesses from partnering with the state.
What’s at stake: Increased data vulnerability and government overreach into private operations.
H805 – Prevent Sexual Exploitation / Women and Minors
What it does: Originally aimed to protect against exploitation, but was amended to include restrictions on gender identity and parental rights in schools.
Why it was vetoed: It started as a good idea, but was changed to include divisive and discriminatory provisions.
What’s at stake: More culture war politics in classrooms and less protection for vulnerable students.
What’s Next?
In addition to those eight, four other controversial bills were overridden in the Senate but have not yet cleared the House. House Speaker Destin Hall has said that vetoed legislation will remain on the calendar until Republican leadership believes they have the votes to override. That means these bills could come back for a vote at any time:
What it does: Allows 18-year-olds to carry concealed weapons without permits or safety training.
Why it was vetoed: It eliminates basic safeguards and training that protect the public and law enforcement.
What’s at stake: More guns, less oversight, and greater risk, especially for officers who depend on knowing who’s armed and trained.
S153 – NC Border Protection Act
What it does: Forces state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.
Why it was vetoed: Immigration is a federal issue; this bill strains local resources and opens cities to lawsuits.
What’s at stake: Diverts police from real threats and makes communities less safe, not more.
S227 – DEI Ban in K-12 Schools
What it does: Bans diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and restricts classroom conversations.
Why it was vetoed: It censors teachers, limits students' freedom to learn, and silences hard but important history.
What’s at stake: Honest education and inclusive schools.
S558 – DEI Ban in Public Colleges & Universities
What it does: Bans DEI offices and programs at public universities.
Why it was vetoed: It weakens academic freedom and makes our schools less inclusive and less competitive.
What’s at stake: A less prepared workforce and a blow to free thought on campus.
What These Veto Votes Mean
The Governor’s veto pen is often the last line of defense for North Carolinians against rushed, reckless, or politically motivated bills forced by the Republican-controlled legislature. Senate Democrats voted to sustain all 14 of Governor Stein’s vetoes, because we believe in public safety, honest education, strong communities, and a fair shot for every family.
Senate Democrats Demand the Truth: Release the Epstein Files
This week, Senate Democrats took a firm stand for justice, transparency, and accountability by calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to release redacted records related to Jeffrey Epstein’s decades-long network of abuse and exploitation.
Led by Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch, 16 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus signed a formal letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and North Carolina’s congressional delegation, urging the immediate release of sealed files that include the names of individuals who participated in or enabled Epstein’s crimes. The letter explicitly calls for victim privacy to be protected while demanding full disclosure of known perpetrators.
“This is one of the most disturbing abuse scandals in modern American history,” said Senator Batch. “The Department of Justice has already confirmed what many feared: that powerful individuals with access and influence are among those involved. The public has a right to know who they are.”
While Senate Democrats united behind the call for transparency, no Republican senators joined us in signing the letter.
“Our caucus has worked across the aisle in the past to strengthen laws against human trafficking and protect children from exploitation,” said Batch. “That makes it all the more disappointing that, in this moment, our Republican colleagues chose silence over accountability.”
The Epstein case remains a source of deep concern for Americans across the political spectrum. Survivors and advocates have long demanded that the full extent of Epstein’s network be brought to light. The refusal to release key records has only fueled public mistrust in government institutions and cast doubt on the nation’s commitment to justice.
“This should not be a partisan issue,” the letter states. “It is an urgent matter of public safety and public trust. No one should be above the law, and no survivor should be left wondering whether the person who harmed them will ever be held accountable.”
Senate Democrats are calling on federal leaders to take immediate steps to unseal the relevant records and fully expose the scope of Epstein’s criminal enterprise. They also urged members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation to support the effort at the federal level.
As Senator Batch concluded, “Some of the individuals connected to Epstein remain unnamed. Some may never face consequences. But today, we have a chance to change that.”
Leader Batch Applauds Historic Investment in Apex: Future Home of NC’s First Standalone Children’s Hospital
Leader Batch is celebrating a major milestone for Apex and District 17 as UNC Health and Duke Health move closer to securing land for what will become North Carolina’s first standalone children’s hospital.
The healthcare partnership is finalizing a deal to purchase at least 200 acres within the long-planned Veridea development in Apex. Once complete, the NC Children’s Hospital campus is expected to include a 500-bed pediatric hospital, a behavioral health center, research facilities, and outpatient care, all serving families from across the state and the Southeast.
“This is a transformational investment in Apex and western Wake County,” said Senator Batch. “As a mom, a legislator, and a lifelong advocate for children and families, I could not be more proud that Apex is on track to become home to the state's first freestanding hospital dedicated entirely to pediatric care.”
The multibillion-dollar project is projected to create thousands of jobs, expand access to life-saving care, and attract new economic development in the surrounding area—including shops, restaurants, hotels, and educational institutions. It will also anchor Veridea, a 1,100-acre development that has been in the planning stages for more than a decade.
According to project officials, location and accessibility were key factors in the site selection. With Apex’s proximity to major roadways like NC-540, US-1, and NC-55, the Veridea site offers convenience for families traveling from across North Carolina for long-term care.
“Families shouldn’t have to choose between quality care and being close to home,” Batch said. “This facility will ensure that children across the state have access to world-class medical treatment without having to leave North Carolina.”
State funding remains a critical component of the project’s future. The 2023 state budget included $319.7 million in early planning funds, but continued investment has become a point of debate in the ongoing budget negotiations. The Senate’s proposed 2025 budget would bring the total state commitment to $855 million, while the House has proposed cuts.
Despite the funding uncertainty, acquiring the land in Apex marks an essential step toward breaking ground in 2027, with full construction expected to take about six years.
“As Republican lawmakers continue to debate the future of this funding, I will keep fighting to ensure this project remains on track,” said Batch. “This hospital represents a promise, not just to Apex, but to every child in North Carolina who deserves access to the best care possible.”
A formal announcement from the state and university partners is expected soon.
Voter Registration Update: New Statewide Effort to Ensure Voter Roll Accuracy Without Removing Voters
The State Board of Elections has officially launched its Registration Repair Project—a statewide initiative to help more than 100,000 registered voters complete their voter registration records by providing a missing piece of information: either their North Carolina driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
This project will help North Carolina comply with federal and state laws, settle an ongoing lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice, and clean up long-standing errors caused by faulty registration forms used for years. Importantly, this effort will not remove any eligible voters from the rolls.
Instead, it ensures that all voter records meet identity verification requirements under federal law (52 U.S.C. § 21083) and state law (N.C.G.S. § 163-82.4).
Why This Is Happening
For years, North Carolina used a flawed registration form that did not clearly explain that every new voter must provide either:
A driver’s license number, or
The last four digits of their Social Security number
That form was corrected in January 2024, but about 103,000 voters who registered before then may still be missing this information. This new project is designed to help those voters update their records easily and quickly.
What Voters Need to Do
The State Board has launched a Registration Repair Search Tool at ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair, where you can check whether your voter record is missing required information.
If your name is on the list, you have three options:
Online through the DMV
Visit payments.ncdot.gov and update your voter registration using your NC driver’s license or DMV ID number. There is no fee. Just select “Continue as Guest” to get started.In person at your County Board of Elections
Bring your driver’s license or Social Security number to your local board of elections, and they will help you complete your registration. (They will not ask for personal information over the phone.)By mail in August
If your record is still missing information in early August, you will receive a letter with a pre-filled form and prepaid return envelope. All you have to do is fill it out and drop it in the mail.
What Happens If You Don’t Update
If you’re still missing required information on Election Day, you will still be allowed to vote, but you’ll need to use a provisional ballot and provide your Drivers License number or your Social Security number at that time. That provisional ballot will count once your information is verified.
To make sure the process runs smoothly, county boards of elections are being trained to identify affected voters in real time at the polls and help them complete the process.
The Bottom Line
This project is about protecting the right to vote and ensuring every eligible voter has a complete and verified registration record. No one will be removed from the rolls simply for missing information, but the State Board is making it easy and secure to fix those records now.
Check your status and get more information at: ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair
District 17 Spotlight: Apex and the Triangle Are the Heart of U.S. Pokémon Card Production
Apex and the greater Triangle region have a lot to be proud of (like that new children’s hospital!)—but did you know we’re also home to one of the most exciting hubs of pop culture production in the country?
That’s right! The majority of Pokémon cards printed in the United States come from right here in our backyard.
As Pokémon fans across the country race to get their hands on the latest card release, many of those booster packs were printed just miles away at Millennium Print Group, a Raleigh-based company with high-security printing facilities in both Wake and Durham counties. This local print powerhouse has been producing Pokémon cards for nearly a decade and now serves as the primary U.S. printer for the iconic trading card game.
Earlier this year, the Pokémon Company International announced it would ramp up production to meet surging global demand. With over 12 billion cards printed in 2024 alone, much of that printing happened right here in District 17.
Gotta print 'em all! Right here in Apex!
Ways to Contact the Office of Leader Batch
📍 Office: North Carolina General Assembly, 16 W. Jones St., Rm. 1026, Raleigh, NC 27601
📞 Phone: 919-733-5653
📧 Email: Sydney.Batch@ncleg.gov
Connect on Social Media
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