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Lawyers for Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore filed a motion in federal court on Tuesday asking to enter the case as defendants. This comes after Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein's office has said it will side with the doctor challenging the abortion restrictions.

Democratic governors in 20 states — including North Carolina — are launching a network intended to strengthen abortion access.

A general counsel for the state told Republican legislative leaders of Attorney General Josh Stein's decision Monday. The lawsuit filed by a physician says state laws and rules affecting access to the drug mifepristone are preempted by the FDA's authority to regulate the drug.

North Carolina civil rights advocates denounced a House rule change Tuesday that could allow Republicans to override vetoes on contentious bills with little notice, saying it subverts democracy and the will of voters.

Current state law bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks, with narrow exceptions for urgent medical emergencies that do not include rape or incest. House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters he didn’t expect the Democrats’ bill to get considered.

The long session of the North Carolina General Assembly has begun in earnest.

As the new legislative session begins, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expect healthy debate about Medicaid expansion, mental health care, abortion and other issues.

While mostly ceremonial there was already a partisan stir-up by the Republican majority in the House.

The North Carolina General Assembly starts a new long session on Jan. 11.

Cooper told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that he’ll need to rely partly on self-control by GOP leaders to prevent enactment of legislation he doesn't like. Cooper said he would keep fighting against additional abortion restrictions and for expanding Medicaid.