GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 218
Short Title: Emergency Info on DMV Applications. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Carson Smith, B. Jones, and Johnson (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Judiciary 1, if favorable, Transportation, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
Operations of the House
February 27, 2025
*H218 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT REQUIRING THE DIVISION OF MOTOR V EHICLES TO REQUEST 2
EMERGENCY CONTACT IN FORMATION ON DRIVERS LICENSE APPLICATIONS 3
AND RENEWAL APPLICAT IONS. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. G.S. 20-7 reads as rewritten: 6
"§ 20-7. Issuance and renewal of drivers licenses. 7
… 8
(b1) Application. – To obtain an identification card, learners permit, or drivers license 9
from the Division, a person shall complete an application form provided by the Division, present 10
at least two forms of identification approved by the Commissioner, be a resident of this State, 11
and, except for an identification card, demonstrate his or her physical and mental ability to drive 12
safely a motor vehicle included in the class of license for which the person has applied. At least 13
one of the forms of identification shall indicate the applicant's residence address. The Division 14
may copy the identification presented or hold it for a brief period of time to verify its authenticity. 15
To obtain an endorsement, a person shall demonstrate his or her physical and mental ability to 16
drive safely the type of motor vehicle for which the endorsement is required. 17
The application form shall request all of the following information, and it shall contain the 18
disclosures concerning the request for an applicant's social security number required by section 19
7 of the federal Privacy Act of 1974, Pub. L. No. 93-579: 20
… 21
(5a) The applicant's emergency contact information. Provision of this information 22
by the applicant shall be optional. 23
… 24
(f) Duration and Renewal of Licenses. – Drivers licenses shall be issued and renewed 25
pursuant to the provisions of this subsection: 26
… 27
(3a) When to renew. – A person may apply to the Division to renew a license 28
during the 180-day period before the license expires. The Division may not 29
accept an application for renewal made before the 180-day period begins. A 30
renewal application shall include an optional request for the applicant to 31
provide updated emergency contact information. 32
…." 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 218-First Edition
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2026, and applies to applications 1
submitted on or after that date. 2