GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 217
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/9/25
Short Title: Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
February 27, 2025
*H217 -v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REQUIRE A DRIVER EDUCATION COU RSE, INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND 2
DRUG USE AWARENESS, FOR UNLICENSED PERSO NS EIGHTEEN YEARS AND 3
OLDER. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. G.S. 20-7 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 6
"(a4) Driver Education. – To obtain a drivers license from the Division, an applicant must 7
complete a course of driver education prescribed in G.S. 20-330. Completion of the course is not 8
required prior to obtaining a learner's permit under subsection (l) of this section. This subsection 9
does not apply to an applicant who (i) currently holds or has previously held a drivers license 10
issued by this State or another state or (ii) has satisfactorily completed a course of driver 11
education prescribed in G.S. 115C-215." 12
SECTION 2. Article 14 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 13
a new section to read: 14
"§ 20-330. Mandatory driver education course, including drug and alcohol use awareness, 15
for unlicensed drivers 18 years and older. 16
(a) The Commissioner shall adopt rules to establish a course of driver education to be 17
offered by licensed commercial driver training schools for unlicensed individuals aged 18 and 18
older to prepare them for licensure in this State. The course shall promote traffic safety and 19
provide three hours of instruction on topics including (i) the laws of this State relating to the 20
operation of a motor vehicle, (ii) the physiological and psychological consequences of the use of 21
alcohol and other drugs and their effects on the driver of a motor vehicle, and (iii) high-risk 22
driving behaviors, such as fatigued driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving, including 23
the use of electronic devices while driving. 24
(b) Regulations adopted by the Commissioner shall ensure that the course is offered both 25
online and in person and that a method is provided to demonstrate successful completion of the 26
course." 27
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to applications 28
for drivers licenses submitted on or after that date. 29