A bill that would ban the possession and use of tobacco products and cell phones in state prisons received final legislative approval today and is on its way to the governor's desk.

The prison smoking ban comes at the request of the N.C. Sheriffs' Association, which asked that a statewide smoking ban in some public areas be extended to prisons.

The cell phone component grew out of a story in The News & Observer that highlighted problems that have occurred in North Carolina and other states when inmates have used cell phones to set up attacks on each other, coordinate escapes and continue to run illegal enterprises outside of prison.

The ban passed the House on Wednesday despite objections that it was another blow to the tobacco industry, which has taken major hits this year with the statewide ban in bars and restaurants and a tax increase in the state budget.

U.S. Rep. David Price told the N.C. Sheriffs' Association on Monday that comprehensive immigration reform is on the horizon.

He said Congress could see a bill as early as September that will get the ball rolling on reforming immigration.

"It is a debate that is not yet resolved at the local level," Price said. "We simply need to have, I believe, comprehensive immigration reform at the national level."

Price listed off increases in crime prevention funding that he has helped direct as chairman of the subcommittee on homeland security appropriations, several of which have focused on immigration.

But he said no matter how much money is devoted to immigration enforcement, there is a larger problem that needs to be tackled.

"We are not going to spend our way out of the enforcement problem," he said. "And we are not going to enforce our way out of comprehensive reform either."

He said people need to realize the different roles of local and national government in the debate. Local governments, he said, should focus on crime prevention, while the national government works on reform.

"This is a big challenge, and we need to get it right," he said.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan said Congress is working as quickly as possible to dispense stimulus money and reform the health care system.

Speaking to the N.C. Sheriffs' Association on Monday, Hagan touted the $6.3 billion coming to the state from the federal stimulus package, including money for preventing crime, helping victims and violence against women.

"I hear all the time that it needs to start working faster," Hagan said. "Well, we're working on it."

She also spent a few minutes talking about the status of health care reform, which she has played a significant role in crafting.

The Senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions, of which Hagan and Sen. Richard Burr are members, has passed a health care reform bill and is now waiting for the finance committee to figure out how the program will be funded.

She said President Barack Obama's visit to the state Wednesday shows North Carolina's importance in the debate. She said she did not know what Obama will say, but she hopes it moves the debate forward.

"We need to wait and listen to him," she said.

Hagan was joined by U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge, Brad Miller and David Price, as well as several members of the Council of State.