RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein told the General Assembly during his first State of the State address on Wednesday evening that he’s ready to sign the next Helene recovery bill.

He also told lawmakers he wants to cut taxes on middle-class families but freeze other planned tax cuts, and that he will launch his own administration’s take on being efficient with taxpayer money.

The Democratic governor made his remarks to a joint session of the House and Senate, which are controlled by Republicans.

Stein said his budget office will set up an “Impact Center” to “ensure our government is run effectively and efficiently, because people should know that their tax dollars are being well-spent,” Stein said. “But let’s get this right. Let’s use a scalpel, not a chainsaw.”

While not mentioning Trump adviser and billionaire Elon Musk directly in his remarks as prepared, he was referring to Musk and Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, which so far has worked to lay off thousands of employees across the federal government, including veterans.

Trump’s Cabinet members have pushed back on the cuts made by Musk’s staff, who have no record of public service.

Stein also wants more bipartisanship at the state level, compared to what’s going on right now in the federal government.

“If those of us who believe in the possibility of bipartisanship look to Washington, D.C., we will surely become discouraged. But we do not need to be pulled into those political games,” Stein said.

Helene recovery

On Helene, Stein praised responders and touted the work of the N.C. Department of Transportation, led by one of his Cabinet secretaries, in working to reopen Western North Carolina roads washed out and damaged by the storm, including Interstate 40.

“So many people and organizations, public and private, have worked so hard,” Stein said.

He talked about what else is still needed in Helene recovery — including more roads and bridges repaired, clean drinking water, small business grants, and houses rebuilt. While he is seeking billions of dollars more from the Trump administration, he urged lawmakers to pass their latest $500 million recovery bill.

“I am ready to sign it!” Stein said.

Lawmakers have not yet agreed on the details of the relief bill.

Stein wants police officer bonuses, higher teacher starting pay

Stein is proposing raises for state law enforcement officers and correctional officers, as well as signing bonuses for new recruits.

He also wants North Carolina’s starting teacher salaries to be the highest in the Southeast, which garnered applause from Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall, who were seated behind him.

They did not applaud, however, nor did other Republicans, when Stein criticized taxpayer money being spent on private schools.

Republicans and Democrats are moving two bills through committees that would ban or regulate cellphone use in schools. Count Stein as a supporter.

“Classrooms should be cellphone-free zones,” Stein said to applause.

How to watch the speech and GOP response

Stein’s address started just after 7 p.m. and ended just after 7:45 p.m. His speech was to be followed about 10 minutes later by the Republican response, which will be given live by House Speaker Destin Hall.

PBS North Carolina is livestreaming both Stein’s speech and Hall’s response. You can watch the livestream online at PBSNC.org or through your PBS NC television channel or app.

Stein, who served two terms as attorney general before defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the 2024 election, was expected to speak for more than 30 minutes before the 170 state lawmakers, the Council of State, N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt presided over the joint session.

Most House Democratic women representatives who attended wore all-white suits and dresses.

His speech comes as the legislature is about two months into its legislative long session, and already moving bills on immigration, Helene recovery, and banning diversity, equity and inclusion. Lawmakers are also scrutinizing state agencies for efficiency.

The biggest work of the session will be the state budget, a two-year spending plan that could be passed this summer, if both chambers and the governor come to an agreement. If Stein vetoes the budget bill, which frequently contains policy, too, Republicans are just one vote short of being able to overturn a veto on their own.

Republican response by House Speaker Destin Hall

Hall, a Caldwell County Republican who served as the powerful Rules Committee chair before being chosen as the new House speaker for the 2025-26 session, told reporters last week that he wanted to give the speech live so he could hear what Stein has to say first. That’s a change from Republicans recording their response in advance in recent years, including the 2023 response given by Robinson.

Here’s what Hall is expected to talk about, according to a release from his office:

—Low taxes and deregulation to foster a strong economy;

—Ensuring law enforcement cooperates with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport people who are in the country illegally and accused of crimes.

—“Expanding educational opportunities for students,” which for Republicans has been the expansion of the private school voucher program, called Opportunity Scholarships.

—Helene recovery in Western North Carolina.

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