North Carolina lawmakers overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s veto and enacted a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the state’s public colleges, including prohibitions on maintaining DEI offices or staff and on “endorsing divisive concepts.” The law took effect immediately on June 24 and requires annual institutional certification. The statute restricts certain course and graduation requirements tied to “divisive concepts” and includes compliance obligations around protected speech, including satire and microaggression-related claims. Chancellor exception authority is limited: the law allows it only for requirements deemed necessary by a college’s chancellor, with reporting to governing boards. The action places North Carolina among the latest conservative-led states tightening DEI rules, following a wave of similar restrictions across recent years. Public colleges must now adjust internal governance, policy language, staffing structures, and training materials to avoid eligibility and reporting failures.