North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H217 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 2
	3	+	H 1
4	4		HOUSE BILL 217
5		-	~~Committee Substitute Favorable 4/9/25~~
	5	+
6	6
7	7		Short Title: Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors:
9		-	Referred to:
	8	+	Sponsors: Representatives Lowery, Biggs, and Charles Smith (Primary Sponsors).
	9	+	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
	10	+	Referred to: Transportation, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
	11	+	Operations of the House
10	12		February 27, 2025
11		-	H217 -v-2
	13	+	H217 -v-1
12	14		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13		-	AN ACT TO REQUIRE A DRIVER EDUCATION COU RSE, INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND 2
14		-	DRUG USE AWARENESS, FOR UNLICENSED PERSO NS EIGHTEEN YEARS AND 3
15		-	OLDER. 4
16		-	The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
17		-	SECTION 1. G.S. 20-7 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 6
18		-	"(a4) Driver Education. – To obtain a drivers license from the Division, an applicant must 7
19		-	complete a course of driver education prescribed in G.S. 20-330. Completion of the course is not 8
20		-	required prior to obtaining a learner's permit under subsection (l) of this section. This subsection 9
21		-	does not apply to an applicant who (i) currently holds or has previously held a drivers license 10
22		-	issued by this State or another state or (ii) has satisfactorily completed a course of driver 11
23		-	education prescribed in G.S. 115C-215." 12
24		-	SECTION 2. Article 14 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 13
25		-	a new section to read: 14
26		-	"§ 20-330. Mandatory driver education course, including drug and alcohol use awareness, 15
27		-	for unlicensed drivers 18 years and older. 16
28		-	(a) The Commissioner shall adopt rules to establish a course of driver education to be 17
29		-	offered by licensed commercial driver training schools for unlicensed individuals aged 18 and 18
30		-	older to prepare them for licensure in this State. The course shall promote traffic safety and 19
31		-	provide three hours of instruction on topics including (i) the laws of this State relating to the 20
32		-	operation of a motor vehicle, (ii) the physiological and psychological consequences of the use of 21
33		-	alcohol and other drugs and their effects on the driver of a motor vehicle, and (iii) high-risk 22
34		-	driving behaviors, such as fatigued driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving, including 23
35		-	the use of electronic devices while driving. 24
36		-	(b) Regulations adopted by the Commissioner shall ensure that the course is offered both 25
37		-	online and in person and that a method is provided to demonstrate successful completion of the 26
38		-	course." 27
39		-	SECTION 3. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to applications 28
40		-	for drivers licenses submitted on or after that date. 29
	15	+	AN ACT TO REQUIRE A COURSE IN ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE AWARENE SS FOR 2
	16	+	PERSONS EIGHTEEN YEARS AND OLDER THAT ARE NOT LICENSED. 3
	17	+	The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
	18	+	SECTION 1. Article 2 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 5
	19	+	a new section to read: 6
	20	+	"§ 20-11.2. Mandatory course in drug and alcohol abuse awareness for unlicensed drivers 7
	21	+	18 years and older. 8
	22	+	(a) Mandatory Course. – All applicants for a drivers license who are 18 years and older, 9
	23	+	including those who have been licensed in another country, must complete a course in alcohol 10
	24	+	and drug abuse awareness, unless the applicant is licensed in another state or has satisfactorily 11
	25	+	completed a Department of Education driver education course offered pursuant to Article 14 of 12
	26	+	Chapter 115C of the General Statutes. 13
	27	+	(b) Course Requirements. – The course shall be three hours in length, may be offered 14
	28	+	online or in person, and shall promote traffic safety and provide instruction on (i) the 15
	29	+	physiological and psychological consequences of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, (ii) the 16
	30	+	effects of alcohol and drug abuse on the driver of a motor vehicle, (iii) the laws of this State 17
	31	+	relating to the operation of a motor vehicle, and (iv) high-risk driving behaviors, such as fatigued 18
	32	+	driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving, including the use of electronic devices while 19
	33	+	driving. 20
	34	+	(c) Third-Party Vendors. – The Division shall utilize third-party vendors to offer the 21
	35	+	course in alcohol and drug abuse awareness. Each third-party vendor shall obtain a certification 22
	36	+	from the Division that the third-party vendor's course complies with the requirements of 23
	37	+	subsection (b) of this section. The Division shall maintain oversight of the courses established 24
	38	+	and conducted by the third-party vendors. Each person who attends the course shall pay a fee in 25
	39	+	the amount set by the Division." 26
	40	+	SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025. 27