Sen. Michael Lee, a New Hanover County Republican, discusses a bill aiming to expand funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program on the Legislative Building's Senate floor in Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Lee said the bill is important to fulfill the need of many families across the state who applied to taxpayer-funded scholarships for K-12 private or religious schools. (AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)
Sen. Michael Lee, a New Hanover County Republican, addresses a series of questions from Democratic Sen. Mary Wills Bode regarding the funding expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship program on the Legislative Building's Senate floor in Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday, May 2, 2024. The Senate approved a measure to soon spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on the program, which allows children to receive taxpayer-funded scholarships to attend K-12 private or religious schools. (AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)