Gov. Stein announces executive order over reproductive rights

CHARLOTTE — In his first visit to Charlotte as governor, Josh Stein announced a new executive order on Thursday over women’s reproductive rights.

There’s not much Gov. Stein can do knowing the Republican-led legislature in North Carolina holds the power on this issue, but Stein said he is hoping to protect women’s rights however he can.

Stein’s new executive order will mandate his cabinet agencies to do the following:

Protect medical professionals who provide reproductive health care to women in this state.
Not cooperate with investigations or prosecutions of medical professionals who give that care.
Protect women’s medical privacy when it comes to their reproductive care.

Stein says part of the reason for this executive order is because some states have passed bans on abortions and then try to go after women who go to other states to have them, along with prosecuting their doctors.

“They do not need to worry that the state of North Carolina will somehow assist law enforcement in another state to reach into North Carolina for having done something that is legal in North Carolina,” Stein said on Thursday.

In response, the North Carolina GOP said on X, “As expected, it’s more important to Stein to appease his liberal base than solve problems for the people of our state.”

Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz asked Stein if he expects his order to be challenged.

He said he doesn’t expect a challenge because he’s not changing any state law. Instead, he’s directing his state agencies on what to do and what not to do.

(VIDEO: Gov. Stein surveys Helene recovery efforts in Old Fort)