RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has signed into law a requirement teaching public school children there’s a link between abortion and pre-term births later in life.
The measure was among 43 bills McCrory signed Thursday.
One adds instruction about abortion risks to mandatory public health curriculum starting in seventh grade. The law says schools must teach preventable pre-term birth risk factors including induced abortion, smoking, alcohol and drug use among others. Bill opponents said there’s not clear scientific evidence linking abortion and later pre-term birth.
McCrory also signed legislation that includes a constitutional amendment for voters to decide next year whether some criminal defendants should have the option to waive a jury trial.
Another new law places minimum fines on motorists convicted of passing a stopped school bus ferrying students.
North Carolina legislative leaders are hopeful a final state budget agreement can get worked out by this weekend, with an eye toward adjourning the session next week.
House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate leader Phil Berger said separately Thursday that a two-year spending plan could get settled today, although Berger said there could be bumps in the road. An agreement would allow their respective chambers to vote on the plan early next week. The actual bill may not be made public until Sunday.
Tillis and Berger met Thursday and are trying to work out the details to complete this year’s work session. Tillis told colleagues that without any surprises, the session should end by July 25.
The Senate scheduled a rare Friday floor session today to act on some bills.