Gov. Cooper Vetoes House Bill 140, Signs Additional Bills Into Law

RALEIGH, N.C., July 27 -- Gov. Roy Cooper, D-N.C., issued the following news release:

Today, Governor Cooper vetoed House Bill 140, An Act to Apply Disclosure and Notification Requirements Related to Insurer Fee Schedules, Claims Submission, and Reimbursement Policies to Stand Alone Dental Insurance.

Gov. Cooper shared the following veto message:

"Making small loans more expensive by expanding credit insurance can drive borrowers further into debt, especially those who can least afford it. If this bill becomes law, consumers will have higher-cost loans because they will be borrowing the money to pay the credit insurance premiums. Borrowers who need short-term loans should not have to pay more for unnecessary insurance. Therefore, I veto the bill."

Gov. Cooper also signed the following bills into law:

* House Bill 84: An Act to Direct the Division of Motor Vehicles to Develop a Designation for Drivers Licenses that May Be Granted Upon Request to a Person who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing

* House Bill 138: An Act to Standardize Criteria for Classification of Criminal Gang Membership, Create a Sentencing Enhancement for Certain Crimes Perpetrated by Gang Members, and Increase the Penalties for Certain Gang-Related Offenses

* House Bill 161: An Act to Require State Divestment From, and Prohibit State Agencies From Contracting With, Companies that Boycott Israel and to Amend the Existing Sudan and Iran Divestment Statutes

* Senate Bill 410: An Act to Establish a Program for the Leasing of Public Bottom and Superjacent Water Column for Marine Aquaculture, to Require the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental Quality to Request the Issuance of Federal Rules to Allow Marine Aquaculture in Federal Waters Off the Coast of the State, and to Establish Additional Transparency Requirements for Members of the Marine Fisheries Commission

* Senate Bill 599: An Act to Establish the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission, to Authorize the Expansion of Educator Preparation Programs and to Create a System that Holds All Programs Accountable, to Reorganize and Clarify the Educator Licensure Process, and to Ensure Availability of Information on Teacher Vacancies Occur in North Carolina Public Schools.