The Pittman Progress Report: July 3, 2025
Happy Independence Day Weekend!
Contact Us: (919) 733-5898 | dante.pittman@ncleg.gov
Happy (almost) 4th of July! I know everyone is looking forward to the long weekend and seeing some fireworks with friends and family. The General Assembly is also taking a break this Independence Day, and I am looking forward to spending time back home in Wilson and celebrating this great country and all the hardworking people who serve it. Make sure to be safe while you celebrate!
Legislative News
Shrimpgate
Last Tuesday, over 1,000 shrimp fishers from all across the coast came to Raleigh in protest of an amendment to H442. This amendment was introduced in the Senate and would have banned in-shore shrimp trawling within the first half mile in-shore. As people along the coast heard about this amendment, which would threaten their livelihood, our office received over 1,500 emails from people in support and opposition of this ban on shrimp trawling. H442, along with the amendment, ended up dying and was not heard for concurrence on the House floor.
Vetoed Bills
At the end of last week, Governor Stein vetoed three bills: H318 “The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act”, S153 “North Carolina Border Protection Act”, and S50 “Freedom to Carry NC”. Both, H318 and S153 are bills that deal with immigration, more specifically requiring Sheriff’s departments and state agencies to cooperate with ICE. On the other hand, S50, a gun bill, would allow 18-year-olds to conceal carry a firearm without a permit or training. To read why Governor Stein vetoed these bills click here.
As of the last 48 hours, Governor Stein has vetoed seven additional bills.
S254 “Charter School Changes”
S266 “The Power Bill Reduction Act”
H549 “Clarify Powers of State Auditor House Bill”
H805 “Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors”
H171 “Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI”
S227 “Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education”
S558 “Eliminating "DEI" in Public Higher Education”
Recent Events
Gig East Summit
I was proud to speak at the Gig East Summit the other week in support of all the innovative work Gig East does. Gig East is a shining example of our region moving towards the future!
Nash Correctional Institution Visit
I was grateful to join the First Lady, Anna Stein, on her visit to the Nash Correctional Institution. It was a great opportunity to hear about rehabilitation and safety initiatives provided at the facility.
Bill Signing
This past week I had the opportunity to stand with the Governor as he signed H373 “UNC Tuition Discounts for Certain Students”. This bill will further our state’s dedication to education and our service members.
Events in Wilson
Linked below is the calendar of upcoming events in Wilson. These events are a great way to interact with the city and support local businesses.
Media of the Week: Spectrum News
As we head into this Independence Day weekend, I talked with Spectrum News about the importance of July 4th. This holiday weekend is the time to get together with friends and family in celebration of our great country!
Wilson Times Article: Town Hall Highlights
This week, my column focused on a recent Town Hall I hosted, alongside my colleague Rep. Sarah Crawford. We touched on many topics that are relevant to the lives of people here in District 24 such as: teacher pay, family policy, and housing.
Honorary Page
Since the General Assembly is no longer is session consistently, our page program unfortunately had to be cut short. However, we were so grateful to welcome Za’Kiyah as an Honorary Page. Instead of the traditional Page program, Za’Kiyah shadowed our office for the day. She attended committee meetings, toured the General Assembly and the State Capital, and was recognized by the Speaker on the House floor. Thank you for spending the day with us Za’Kiyah, we are looking forward to seeing all you accomplish.
