North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H538 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 538
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH40312-LR-91
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Equality for All. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Dahle, Butler, and Harrison (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
11		-	March 27, 2025
12		-	H538 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Dahle.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH40312 -LR-91
13	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
14	14		AN ACT TO PROTECT ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN 2
15	15		ALL WALKS OF LIFE. 3
16	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
17	17		5
18	18		PART I. HOUSING 6
19	19		SECTION 1.1. G.S. 41A-3 reads as rewritten: 7
20	20		"§ 41A-3. Definitions. 8
21	21		For the purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions apply: 9
22	22		… 10
23	23		(5a) "Protected status" means a person's race, color, national origin, religion, age, 11
24	24		disability, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender 12
25	25		identity, military or veteran status, or genetic information. 13
26	26		…." 14
27	27		SECTION 1.2. G.S. 41A-4 reads as rewritten: 15
28	28		"§ 41A-4. Unlawful discriminatory housing practices. 16
29	29		(a) It is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice for any person in a real estate 17
30	30		transaction, because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, or 18
31	31		familial status the protected status of another person to: 19
32	32		(1) Refuse to engage in a real estate transaction; 20
33	33		(2) Discriminate against a person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of a real 21
34	34		estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection 22
35	35		therewith; 23
36	36		(2a), (2c) Repealed by Session Laws 2009-388, s. 1, effective October 1, 2009. 24
37	37		(3) Refuse to receive or fail to transmit a bona fide offer to engage in a real estate 25
38	38		transaction; 26
39	39		(4) Refuse to negotiate for a real estate transaction; 27
40	40		(5) Represent to a person that real property is not available for inspection, sale, 28
41	41		rental, or lease when in fact it is so available, or fail to bring a property listing 29
42	42		to his attention, or refuse to permit him to inspect real property; 30
43	43		(6) Make, print, circulate, post, or mail or cause to be so published a statement, 31
44	44		advertisement, or sign, or use a form or application for a real estate transaction, 32
45	45		or make a record or inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate 33
46	46		transaction, which indicates directly or indirectly, an intent to make a 34
47		-	limitation, specification, or discrimination with respect thereto; 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 538-First Edition
	47	+	limitation, specification, or discrimination with respect thereto; 35
	48	+	H.B. 538
	49	+	Mar 26, 2025
	50	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	51	+	Page 2 DRH40312-LR-91
49	52		(7) Offer, solicit, accept, use, or retain a listing of real property with the 1
50	53		understanding that any person may be discriminated against in a real estate 2
51	54		transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection 3
52	55		therewith; or 4
53	56		(8) Otherwise make unavailable or deny housing. 5
54	57		… 6
55	58		(b1) It is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice for any person or other entity whose 7
56	59		business includes engaging in residential real estate related transactions to discriminate against 8
57	60		any person in making available such a transaction, or in the terms and conditions of such a 9
58	61		transaction, because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, or 10
59	62		familial that person's protected status. As used in this subsection, "residential real estate related 11
60	63		transaction" means: 12
61	64		(1) The making or purchasing of loans or providing financial assistance (i) for 13
62	65		purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling, or 14
63	66		(ii) where the security is residential real estate; or 15
64	67		(2) The selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real estate. 16
65	68		The provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit any financial institution from using a loan 17
66	69		application which inquires into a person's financial and dependent obligations or from basing its 18
67	70		actions on the income or financial abilities of any person. 19
68	71		(c) It is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice for a person to induce or attempt to 20
69	72		induce another to enter into a real estate transaction from which such person may profit: 21
70	73		(1) By representing that a change has occurred, or may or will occur in the 22
71	74		composition of the residents of the block, neighborhood, or area in which the 23
72	75		real property is located with respect to race, color, religion, sex, national 24
73	76		origin, handicapping condition, or familial the protected status of the owners 25
74	77		or occupants; or 26
75	78		(2) By representing that a change has resulted, or may or will result in the 27
76	79		lowering of property values, an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior, or 28
77	80		a decline in the quality of schools in the block, neighborhood, or area in which 29
78	81		the real property is located. 30
79	82		(d) It is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice to deny any person who is otherwise 31
80	83		qualified by State law access to or membership or participation in any real estate brokers' 32
81	84		organization, multiple listing service, or other service, organization, or facility relating to the 33
82	85		business of engaging in real estate transactions, or to discriminate in the terms or conditions of 34
83	86		such access, membership, or participation because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, 35
84	87		handicapping condition, or familial that person's protected status. 36
85	88		… 37
86	89		(g) It is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice to discriminate in land-use decisions 38
87	90		or in the permitting of development based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, 39
88	91		handicapping condition, familial a person's protected status, or, except as otherwise provided by 40
89	92		law, the fact that a development or proposed development contains affordable housing units for 41
90	93		families or individuals with incomes below eighty percent (80%) of area median income. It is 42
91	94		not a violation of this Chapter if land-use decisions or permitting of development is based on 43
92	95		considerations of limiting high concentrations of affordable housing." 44
93	96		SECTION 1.3. G.S. 41A-5(a) reads as rewritten: 45
94	97		"§ 41A-5. Proof of violation. 46
95	98		(a) It is a violation of this Chapter if: 47
96	99		(1) A person by his act or failure to act intends to discriminate against a person. 48
97	100		A person intends to discriminate if, in committing an unlawful discriminatory 49
98	101		housing practice described in G.S. 41A-4 he was motivated in full, or in any 50
99	102		part at all, by race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
100		-	~~House Bill 538-First Edition~~ Page 3
	103	+	DRH40312-LR-91 Page 3
101	104		condition, or familial a person's protected status. An intent to discriminate 1
102	105		may be established by direct or circumstantial evidence. 2
103	106		(2) A person's act or failure to act has the effect, regardless of intent, of 3
104	107		discriminating, as set forth in G.S. 41A-4, against a person of a particular race, 4
105	108		color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, or familial of a 5
106	109		protected status. However, it is not a violation of this Chapter if a person 6
107	110		whose action or inaction has an unintended discriminatory effect, proves that 7
108	111		his action or inaction was motivated and justified by business necessity. 8
109	112		…." 9
110	113		SECTION 1.4. G.S. 41A-6(a) reads as rewritten: 10
111	114		"§ 41A-6. Exemptions. 11
112	115		(a) The provisions of G.S. 41A-4, except for subdivision (a)(6), do not apply to the 12
113	116		following: 13
114	117		… 14
115	118		(3) Religious institutions or organizations or charitable or educational 15
116	119		organizations operated, supervised, or controlled by religious institutions or 16
117	120		organizations which give preference to members of the same religion in a real 17
118	121		estate transaction, as long as membership in such religion is not restricted by 18
119	122		race, color, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, or familial status;a 19
120	123		protected status other than religion; 20
121	124		…." 21
122	125		22
123	126		PART II. EMPLOYMENT 23
124	127		SECTION 2.1. G.S. 143-422.2 reads as rewritten: 24
125	128		"§ 143-422.2. Legislative declaration. 25
126	129		It is the public policy of this State to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all 26
127	130		persons to seek, obtain and hold employment without discrimination or abridgement on account 27
128	131		of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap sex, sexual orientation, gender 28
129	132		identity, disability, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, or genetic 29
130	133		information by employers which regularly employ 15 one or more employees. It is recognized 30
131	134		that the practice of denying employment opportunity and discriminating in the terms of 31
132	135		employment foments domestic strife and unrest, deprives the State of the fullest utilization of its 32
133	136		capacities for advancement and development, and substantially and adversely affects the interests 33
134	137		of employees, employers, and the public in general." 34
135	138		SECTION 2.2. G.S. 126-16 reads as rewritten: 35
136	139		"§ 126-16. Equal opportunity for employment and compensation by State departments and 36
137	140		agencies and local political subdivisions. 37
138	141		All State agencies, departments, and institutions and all local political subdivisions of North 38
139	142		Carolina shall give equal opportunity for employment and compensation, without regard to race, 39
140	143		religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial 40
141	144		status, military or veteran status, age, disability, or genetic information to all persons otherwise 41
142	145		qualified." 42
143	146		SECTION 2.3. G.S. 126-34.02(b) reads as rewritten: 43
144	147		"(b) The following issues may be heard as contested cases after completion of the agency 44
145	148		grievance procedure and the Office of State Human Resources review: 45
146	149		(1) Discrimination or harassment. – An applicant for State employment, a State 46
147	150		employee, or former State employee may allege discrimination or harassment 47
148	151		based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender 48
149	152		identity, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, age, 49
150	153		disability, genetic information, or political affiliation if the employee believes 50
151	154		that he or she has been discriminated against in his or her application for 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
152		-	Page 4 ~~House Bill 538-First Edition~~
	155	+	Page 4 DRH40312-LR-91
153	156		employment or in the terms and conditions of the employee's employment, or 1
154	157		in the termination of his or her employment. 2
155	158		(2) Retaliation. – An applicant for State employment, a State employee, or former 3
156	159		State employee may allege retaliation for protesting discrimination based on 4
157	160		race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 5
158	161		marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, age, disability, 6
159	162		political affiliation, or genetic information if the employee believes that he or 7
160	163		she has been retaliated against in his or her application for employment or in 8
161	164		the terms and conditions of the employee's employment, or in the termination 9
162	165		of the employee's employment. 10
163	166		(3) Just cause for dismissal, demotion, or suspension. – A career State employee 11
164	167		may allege that he or she was dismissed, demoted, or suspended for 12
165	168		disciplinary reasons without just cause. A dismissal, demotion, or suspension 13
166	169		which is not imposed for disciplinary reasons shall not be considered a 14
167	170		disciplinary action within the meaning of this section. However, in contested 15
168	171		cases conducted pursuant to this section, an employee may appeal an 16
169	172		involuntary nondisciplinary separation due to an employee's unavailability in 17
170	173		the same fashion as if it were a disciplinary action, but the agency shall only 18
171	174		have the burden to prove that the employee was unavailable. In cases of such 19
172	175		disciplinary action the employee shall, before the action is taken, be furnished 20
173	176		with a statement in writing setting forth the specific acts or omissions that are 21
174	177		the reasons for the disciplinary action and the employee's appeal rights. The 22
175	178		employee shall be permitted 15 days from the date the statement is delivered 23
176	179		to appeal under the agency grievance procedure. However, an employee may 24
177	180		be suspended without warning pending the giving of written reasons in order 25
178	181		to avoid undue disruption of work, to protect the safety of persons or property, 26
179	182		or for other serious reasons. 27
180	183		(4) Veteran's preference. – An applicant for State employment or a State 28
181	184		employee may allege that he or she was denied veteran's preference in 29
182	185		violation of the law. 30
183	186		(5) Failure to post or give priority consideration. – An applicant for State 31
184	187		employment or a State employee may allege that he or she was denied hiring 32
185	188		or promotion because a position was not posted in accordance with this 33
186	189		Chapter; or a career State employee may allege that he or she was denied a 34
187	190		promotion as a result of a failure to give priority consideration for promotion 35
188	191		as required by G.S. 126-7.1; or a career State employee may allege that he or 36
189	192		she was denied hiring as a result of the failure to give him or her a 37
190	193		reduction-in-force priority. 38
191	194		(6) Whistleblower. – A whistleblower grievance as provided for in this Chapter." 39
192	195		40
193	196		PART III. PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS 41
194	197		SECTION 3.1. Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 42
195	198		Article to read: 43
196	199		"Article 85. 44
197	200		"Access to Public Accommodations. 45
198	201		"§ 143-805. Short title. 46
199	202		This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Equal Access to Public 47
200	203		Accommodations Act." 48
201	204		"§ 143-806. Legislative declaration. 49
202	205		It is the public policy of this State to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all 50
203	206		individuals within the State to enjoy fully and equally the goods, services, facilities, privileges, 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
204		-	~~House Bill 538-First Edition~~ Page 5
	207	+	DRH40312-LR-91 Page 5
205	208		advantages, and accommodations of places of public accommodation free of discrimination 1
206	209		because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 2
207	210		disability, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, or genetic information. It shall 3
208	211		not be deemed to constitute discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity 4
209	212		for a public accommodation to provide separate bathrooms or changing facilities based on 5
210	213		gender, but a place of public accommodation shall provide access to such facilities based on a 6
211	214		person's gender identity. 7
212	215		"§ 143-807. Places of public accommodation defined. 8
213	216		For purposes of this Article, places of public accommodation has the same meaning as 9
214	217		defined in G.S. 168A-3(8) but shall exclude any private club or other establishment not, in fact, 10
215	218		open to the public. 11
216	219		"§ 143-808. Investigations; conciliations. 12
217	220		(a) The Human Relations Commission in the Department of Administration shall have 13
218	221		the authority to receive, investigate, and conciliate complaints of discrimination in public 14
219	222		accommodations. Throughout this process, the Human Relations Commission shall use its good 15
220	223		offices to effect an amicable resolution of the complaints of discrimination. 16
221	224		(b) If the Commission is unable to effect an amicable resolution of the charges of 17
222	225		discrimination, the complainant and the Commission may proceed with an enforcement action 18
223	226		using the procedures provided in G.S. 41A-7." 19
224	227		20
225	228		PART IV. CREDIT 21
226	229		SECTION 4.1. Article 1 of Chapter 75 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 22
227	230		a new section to read: 23
228	231		"§ 75-45. Discrimination by lenders prohibited. 24
229	232		(a) Discrimination Prohibited. – No person engaged in any form of lending money in this 25
230	233		State, or to residents of this State, shall discriminate in the extension of credit on the basis of 26
231	234		race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual 27
232	235		orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or genetic information. 28
233	236		(b) Filing of Complaint With Human Relations Commission. – Any person who claims 29
234	237		to have been injured by a violation of subsection (a) of this section or who reasonably believes 30
235	238		that he or she will be irrevocably injured by a violation of that subsection may file a complaint 31
236	239		with the North Carolina Human Relations Commission established under G.S. 143B-391. Upon 32
237	240		receipt of a complaint, the Commission shall work with the relevant parties to develop an 33
238	241		amicable resolution to the charge of discrimination. If the Commission is unable to effect an 34
239	242		amicable resolution of the charges of discrimination, the complainant and the Commission may 35
240	243		proceed with an enforcement action using the procedures provided in G.S. 41A-7. Filing of a 36
241	244		complaint pursuant to this subsection shall not preclude the filing of an action pursuant to 37
242	245		subsection (c) of this section. 38
243	246		(c) Violation an Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practice. – A violation of subsection (a) of 39
244	247		this section shall constitute an unfair trade practice in violation of G.S. 75-1.1." 40
245	248		41
246	249		PART V. INSURANCE 42
247	250		SECTION 5.1. G.S. 58-3-25 reads as rewritten: 43
248	251		"§ 58-3-25. Discriminatory practices prohibited. 44
249	252		… 45
250	253		(c) No insurer shall refuse to insure or refuse to continue to insure an individual; limit the 46
251	254		amount, extent, or kind of coverage available to an individual; or charge an individual a different 47
252	255		rate for the same coverage, because of the race, color, or national or ethnic origin origin, religion, 48
253	256		sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, military or 49
254	257		veteran status, or genetic information of that individual. This subsection supplements the 50
255	258		provisions of G.S. 58-3-120, 58-33-80, 58-58-35, and 58-63-15(7)." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
256		-	Page 6 ~~House Bill 538-First Edition~~
	259	+	Page 6 DRH40312-LR-91
257	260		1
258	261		PART VI. EDUCATION 2
259	262		SECTION 6.1. G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 3
260	263		"(70) To Adopt a Policy on Nondiscrimination in Schools. – Each local board of 4
261	264		education shall adopt a policy to establish that the local board of education 5
262	265		and school personnel employed by the local board shall not discriminate on 6
263	266		the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, marital 7
264	267		status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran 8
265	268		status, or genetic information. The policy shall include that any person who 9
266	269		claims to have been injured by an unlawful discriminatory practice or who 10
267	270		reasonably believes that he or she will be irrevocably injured by an unlawful 11
268	271		discriminatory practice may file a complaint with the North Carolina Human 12
269	272		Relations Commission established under G.S. 143B-391. Upon receipt of a 13
270	273		complaint, the Commission shall work with the relevant parties to develop an 14
271	274		amicable resolution to the charge of discrimination. If the Commission is 15
272	275		unable to effect an amicable resolution of the charges of discrimination, the 16
273	276		complainant and the Commission may proceed with an enforcement action 17
274	277		using the procedures provided in G.S. 41A-7." 18
275	278		SECTION 6.2. Part 1H of Article 9 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 19
276	279		amended by adding a new section to read: 20
277	280		"§ 115C-112.10. Nondiscrimination requirement. 21
278	281		A nonpublic school that accepts eligible students receiving scholarship grants shall not 22
279	282		discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, marital 23
280	283		status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or genetic 24
281	284		information. Any person who claims to have been injured by an unlawful discriminatory practice 25
282	285		or who reasonably believes that he or she will be irrevocably injured by an unlawful 26
283	286		discriminatory practice may file a complaint with the North Carolina Human Relations 27
284	287		Commission (Commission) established under G.S. 143B-391. Upon receipt of a complaint, the 28
285	288		Commission shall work with the relevant parties to develop an amicable resolution to the charge 29
286	289		of discrimination. If the Commission is unable to effect an amicable resolution of the charge of 30
287	290		discrimination, the complainant and the Commission may proceed with an enforcement action 31
288	291		using the procedures provided by G.S. 41A-7." 32
289	292		SECTION 6.3.(a) G.S. 115C-218.45(e) reads as rewritten: 33
290	293		"(e) Except as otherwise provided by law or the mission of the school as set out in the 34
291	294		charter, the school shall not limit admission to students on the basis of intellectual ability, 35
292	295		measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, or disability. A charter school shall not limit 36
293	296		admission to students on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, or ancestry. age, 37
294	297		sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, 38
295	298		or genetic information. A charter school whose mission is single-sex education may limit 39
296	299		admission on the basis of sex. A charter school that serves only certain grade levels may limit 40
297	300		admission based on age. Within one year after the charter school begins operation, the charter 41
298	301		school shall make efforts for the population of the school to reasonably reflect the racial and 42
299	302		ethnic composition of the general population residing within the local school administrative unit 43
300	303		in which the school is located or the racial and ethnic composition of the special population that 44
301	304		the school seeks to serve residing within the local school administrative unit in which the school 45
302	305		is located. The school shall be subject to any court-ordered desegregation plan in effect for the 46
303	306		local school administrative unit." 47
304	307		SECTION 6.3.(b) G.S. 115C-218.55 reads as rewritten: 48
305	308		"§ 115C-218.55. Nondiscrimination in charter schools. 49
306	309		A charter school shall not discriminate against any student on the basis of ethnicity, national 50
307	310		origin, gender, race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
308		-	~~House Bill 538-First Edition~~ Page 7
	311	+	DRH40312-LR-91 Page 7
309	312		gender identity, military or veteran status, genetic information, or disability. Any person who 1
310	313		claims to have been injured by an unlawful discriminatory practice or who reasonably believes 2
311	314		that he or she will be irrevocably injured by an unlawful discriminatory practice may file a 3
312	315		complaint with the North Carolina Human Relations Commission established under 4
313	316		G.S. 143B-391. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Commission shall work with the relevant parties 5
314	317		to develop an amicable resolution to the charge of discrimination. If the Commission is unable 6
315	318		to effect an amicable resolution of the charges of discrimination, the complainant and the 7
316	319		Commission may proceed with an enforcement action using the procedures provided in 8
317	320		G.S. 41A-7." 9
318	321		SECTION 6.4. G.S. 115C-521.2 is repealed. 10
319	322		SECTION 6.5. G.S. 115C-562.5(c1) reads as rewritten: 11
320	323		"(c1) A nonpublic school shall not discriminate with respect to the categories listed in 42 12
321	324		U.S.C. § 2000d, as that statute read on January 1, 2014.on the basis of race, color, national origin, 13
322	325		religion, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, 14
323	326		military or veteran status, or genetic information. Any person who claims to have been injured 15
324	327		by an unlawful discriminatory practice or who reasonably believes that he or she will be 16
325	328		irrevocably injured by an unlawful discriminatory practice may file a complaint with the North 17
326	329		Carolina Human Relations Commission established under G.S. 143B-391. Upon receipt of a 18
327	330		complaint, the Commission shall work with the relevant parties to develop an amicable resolution 19
328	331		to the charge of discrimination. If the Commission is unable to effect an amicable resolution of 20
329	332		the charges of discrimination, the complainant and the Commission may proceed with an 21
330	333		enforcement action using the procedures provided in G.S. 41A-7." 22
331	334		SECTION 6.6. G.S. 115D-77 reads as rewritten: 23
332	335		"§ 115D-77. Nondiscrimination policy. 24
333	336		It is the policy of the State Board of Community Colleges and of local boards of trustees of 25
334	337		the State of North Carolina not to discriminate among students on the basis of race, gender, color, 26
335	338		national origin, religion, age, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender 27
336	339		identity, military or veteran status, genetic information, or disability. 28
337	340		The State Board and each board of trustees shall give equal opportunity for employment and 29
338	341		compensation of personnel at community colleges, without regard to race, religion, color, creed, 30
339	342		national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, 31
340	343		military or veteran status, genetic information, or disability, except where specific age, sex or 32
341	344		physical or mental requirements constitute bona fide occupational qualifications. 33
342	345		Any person who claims to have been injured by an unlawful discriminatory practice or who 34
343	346		reasonably believes that he or she will be irrevocably injured by an unlawful discriminatory 35
344	347		practice may file a complaint with the North Carolina Human Relations Commission established 36
345	348		under G.S. 143B-391. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Commission shall work with the relevant 37
346	349		parties to develop an amicable resolution to the charge of discrimination. If the Commission is 38
347	350		unable to effect an amicable resolution of the charges of discrimination, the complainant and the 39
348	351		Commission may proceed with an enforcement action using the procedures provided in 40
349	352		G.S. 41A-7." 41
350	353		SECTION 6.7. G.S. 116-11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 42
351	354		"(2b) The Board of Governors shall adopt a policy to provide that The University 43
352	355		of North Carolina and its affiliates and personnel employed by The University 44
353	356		of North Carolina and its affiliates shall not discriminate on the basis of race, 45
354	357		color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial 46
355	358		status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or genetic 47
356	359		information. The policy shall include that any person who claims to have been 48
357	360		injured by an unlawful discriminatory practice or who reasonably believes that 49
358	361		he or she will be irrevocably injured by an unlawful discriminatory practice 50
359	362		may file a complaint with the North Carolina Human Relations Commission 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
360		-	Page 8 ~~House Bill 538-First Edition~~
	363	+	Page 8 DRH40312-LR-91
361	364		established under G.S. 143B-391. Upon receipt of a complaint, the 1
362	365		Commission shall work with the relevant parties to develop an amicable 2
363	366		resolution to the charge of discrimination. If the Commission is unable to 3
364	367		effect an amicable resolution of the charges of discrimination, the complainant 4
365	368		and the Commission may proceed with an enforcement action using the 5
366	369		procedures provided in G.S. 41A-7." 6
367	370		7
368	371		PART VII. JURY SERVICE 8
369	372		SECTION 7.1. G.S. 15A-1214 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 9
370	373		"(k) A citizen may not be excluded from jury service in this State on account of race, color, 10
371	374		national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, 11
372	375		gender identity, military or veteran status, or genetic information." 12
373	376		13
374	377		PART VIII. EFFECTIVE DATE 14
375	378		SECTION 8.1. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 15