By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
New laws are on the books in North Carolina for 2024. As they do every year, most of them will begin Monday, Jan. 1. The laws impact everyone from teen drivers to how elections are held in the state.
One new law may upset teen drivers, while easing the minds of many of their parents and other adults. Teen drivers in North Carolina can currently get their driver’s license after only six months of driving with a learner’s permit. Starting Jan. 1 teen drivers must have their learner’s permit at least nine months before they may take the driver’s license test.
For about 20 years, North Carolina teen drivers needed a learner’s permit for one year. Then the state changed the required time to have a learner’s permit to six months. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner Wayne Goodwin said the state reduced the minimum learner’s permit time from one year to six months because of the COVID pandemic and a need to expedite the process. Since DMV waits are shorter now, state lawmakers compromised with a requirement of nine months.
The current state requirements for a driver’s license are: The driver must be 16 years old, have a learner’s permit for at least six months and log 16 hours of driving time. Then the driver must pass a road test and show proof of insurance.
Starting in 2024, the new driver must have a learner's permit for nine months. For those teens who already have a learner’s permit, they must take their road test by Friday, Dec. 29 to get their driver’s license. If they do not take the road test by that date, they will have to wait until they have had the learner’s permit for nine months. If a teen received a learner’s permit before June 30, they meet the six month requirement; however, if they received it after June 30, they must wait another three months to take the driving exam.
According to Godwin, legislators wanted to be sure teen drivers had sufficient time with the learner’s permit before going to level two in the state’s graduated license. Godwin said many lawmakers felt going back to a full year was too long.
Probably the biggest change to arrive will be a revision in election laws. With the new year, the governor will lose the power to appoint members of the State Board of Elections. Instead, the power will go to party leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly and it requires four democrats and four republicans.
When voters head to the polls in March, there will also be a photo identification requirement, as well as firm time limit on when ballots may be accepted. This is a change from COVID policies where ballots could be accepted even three days late.
The bill, SB 747, was vetoed by Gov. Cooper, who said, "It has nothing to do with election security and everything to do with Republicans keeping and gaining power." He also said in his veto that the bill increases barriers for many demographics like young voters and non-white voters. His veto was overridden and is now Session Law 2023 - 140. The laws are being challenged in courts; however, they are still expected to be in place for the March primaries.
Another important legislative change will impact some military families. SL 2023-129 permits physicians or physician assistants who relocate to North Carolina on assignment to be able to use a temporary license in order to practice medicine off base. This law includes military spouses, which is intended to ease the burden of job accessibility for military families. In the past, they have been required to obtain state licenses and credentials, even when credentialed in another state. That process can be very time-consuming.
What else does 2024 have in store? Minimum wage will increase in 25 states, but not North Carolina.
The price of Forever stamps will increase from .66 to .68 on Sunday, Jan. 21. Any Forever stamps one currently has will still be good without additional postage. Hence the name “Forever.”