North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H674 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 674
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH30256-ML-11
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: The Firearms Liberty Act. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Adams, Kidwell, Eddins, and Carson Smith (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Judiciary 2, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules,
11		-	Calendar, and Operations of the House
12		-	April 3, 2025
13		-	H674 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Adams.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH30256 -ML-11
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO ALLOW THE ISSUANCE OF LIFETIME CONCEALED HANDGUN 2
16	15		PERMITS, TO PROVIDE THAT A CONCEALED CARRY PERMITTEE WHO ALLOWS 3
17	16		THE PERMIT TO LAPSE DOES NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER FIREARMS 4
18	17		SAFETY AND TRAINING COURSE UPON APPLYING FOR RENEWAL UNDER 5
19	18		CERTAIN CONDITIONS, TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF PERSONS 6
20	19		SUBJECT TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDER BY ALLOWING 7
21	20		THEM TO STORE THEIR FIREARMS WITH OR SELL THEIR FIREARMS THROUGH 8
22	21		A QUALIFIED LICENSED FIREARMS DEALER, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE 9
23	22		STORAGE AND USE OF DEFENSIVE DEVICES IN BIOMETRIC SAFES FOR 10
24	23		SCHOOLS. 11
25	24		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 12
26	25		13
27	26		PART I. TITLE 14
28	27		SECTION 1.1. This act shall be known as "The Firearms Liberty Act." 15
29	28		16
30	29		PART II. LIFETIME CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMITS 17
31	30		SECTION 2.1. G.S. 14-415.10 reads as rewritten: 18
32	31		"§ 14-415.10. Definitions. 19
33	32		The following definitions apply to this Article: 20
34	33		(1) Carry a concealed handgun. – The term includes possession of a concealed 21
35	34		handgun. 22
36	35		(1a)(2) Deployed or deployment. – Any military duty that removes a military 23
37	36		permittee from the permittee's county of residence during which time the 24
38	37		permittee's permit expires or will expire. 25
39	38		(3) Fixed duration permit. – A concealed handgun permit issued in accordance 26
40	39		with the provisions of this Article and with a stated expiration date. 27
41	40		(2)(4) Handgun. – A firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be held and 28
42	41		fired by the use of a single hand. 29
43	42		(5) Lifetime permit. – A concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with the 30
44	43		provisions of this Article with no expiration date. 31
45	44		(2a)(6) Military permittee. – A person who holds a permit who is also a member of 32
46		-	the Armed Forces of the United States, the reserve components of the Armed 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
47		-	Page 2 House Bill 674-First Edition
48		-	Forces of the United States, the North Carolina Army National Guard, or the 1
49		-	North Carolina Air National Guard. 2
50		-	(3)(7) Permit. – A concealed handgun permit fixed duration permit or lifetime permit 3
51		-	issued in accordance with the provisions of this Article. 4
52		-	(3a)(8) Proof of deployment. – A copy of the military permittee's deployment orders 5
53		-	or other written notification from the permittee's command indicating the start 6
54		-	and end date of deployment and that orders the permittee to travel outside the 7
55		-	permittee's county of residence. 8
56		-	(4)(9) Qualified former sworn law enforcement officer. – An individual who retired 9
57		-	from service as a law enforcement officer with a local, State, campus police, 10
58		-	or company police agency in North Carolina, other than for reasons of mental 11
59		-	disability, who has been retired as a sworn law enforcement officer two years 12
60		-	or less from the date of the permit application, and who satisfies all of the 13
61		-	following: 14
62		-	a. Immediately before retirement, the individual was a qualified law 15
63		-	enforcement officer with a local, State, or company police agency in 16
64		-	North Carolina. 17
65		-	b. The individual has a nonforfeitable right to benefits under the 18
66		-	retirement plan of the local, State, or company police agency as a law 19
67		-	enforcement officer; or has 20 or more aggregate years of law 20
68		-	enforcement service and has retired from a company police agency 21
69		-	that does not have a retirement plan; or has 20 or more aggregate years 22
70		-	of part-time or auxiliary law enforcement service. 23
71		-	c. The individual is not prohibited by State or federal law from receiving 24
72		-	a firearm. 25
73		-	(4a)(10) Qualified retired correctional officer. – An individual who retired from 26
74		-	service as a State correctional officer, other than for reasons of mental 27
75		-	disability, who has been retired as a correctional officer two years or less from 28
76		-	the date of the permit application and who meets all of the following criteria: 29
77		-	… 30
78		-	(4b)(11) Qualified retired law enforcement officer. – An individual who meets the 31
79		-	definition of "qualified retired law enforcement officer" contained in section 32
80		-	926C of Title 18 of the United States Code. 33
81		-	(4c)(12) Qualified retired probation or parole certified officer. – An individual who 34
82		-	retired from service as a State probation or parole certified officer, other than 35
83		-	for reasons of mental disability, who has been retired as a probation or parole 36
84		-	certified officer two years or less from the date of the permit application and 37
85		-	who meets all of the following criteria: 38
86		-	… 39
87		-	(5)(13) Qualified sworn law enforcement officer. – A law enforcement officer 40
88		-	employed by a local, State, campus police, or company police agency in North 41
89		-	Carolina who satisfies all of the following: 42
90		-	…." 43
91		-	SECTION 2.2. G.S. 14-415.11 reads as rewritten: 44
92		-	"§ 14-415.11. Permit to carry concealed handgun; scope of permit. 45
93		-	(a) Any person who has a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun may 46
94		-	carry a concealed handgun unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law. The person shall carry 47
95		-	the permit together with valid identification whenever the person is carrying a concealed 48
96		-	handgun, shall disclose to any law enforcement officer that the person holds a valid permit and 49
97		-	is carrying a concealed handgun when approached or addressed by the officer, and shall display 50
98		-	both the permit and the proper identification upon the request of a law enforcement officer. In 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99		-	House Bill 674-First Edition Page 3
100		-	addition to these requirements, a military permittee with a fixed duration permit whose permit 1
101		-	has expired during deployment may carry a concealed handgun during the 90 days following the 2
102		-	end of deployment and before the permit is renewed provided the permittee also displays proof 3
103		-	of deployment to any law enforcement officer. 4
104		-	(b) The sheriff shall issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun to a person who qualifies 5
105		-	for a permit under G.S. 14-415.12. The A fixed duration permit shall be valid throughout the 6
106		-	State for a period of five years from the date of issuance. A lifetime permit shall be valid 7
107		-	throughout the State until revoked or surrendered. 8
108		-	… 9
109		-	(d) A person who is issued a permit shall notify the sheriff who issued the permit of the 10
110		-	county where the person resides of any change in the person's permanent address within 30 days 11
111		-	after the change of address. If a permit is lost or destroyed, the person to whom the permit was 12
112		-	issued shall notify the sheriff who issued the permit of the loss or destruction of the permit. A 13
113		-	person may obtain a duplicate permit by submitting to the sheriff a notarized statement that the 14
114		-	permit was lost or destroyed and paying the required duplicate permit fee." 15
115		-	SECTION 2.3. G.S. 14-415.14(a) reads as rewritten: 16
116		-	"(a) The sheriff shall make permit applications readily available at the office of the sheriff 17
117		-	or at other public offices in the sheriff's jurisdiction. The permit application shall be in triplicate, 18
118		-	in a form to be prescribed by the State Bureau of Investigation, and shall include the following 19
119		-	information with regard to the applicant: name, address, physical description, signature, date of 20
120		-	birth, social security number, military status, law enforcement status, and the drivers license 21
121		-	number or State identification card number of the applicant if used for identification in applying 22
122		-	for the permit. The application shall also indicate if the application is for a fixed duration permit 23
123		-	or a lifetime permit." 24
124		-	SECTION 2.4. G.S. 14-415.15 reads as rewritten: 25
125		-	"§ 14-415.15. Issuance or denial of permit. 26
126		-	(a) Except as permitted under subsection (b) of this section, within 45 days after receipt 27
127		-	of the items listed in G.S. 14-415.13 from an applicant, and receipt of the required records 28
128		-	concerning the mental health or capacity of the applicant, the sheriff shall either issue or deny 29
129		-	the permit. The sheriff may conduct any investigation necessary to determine the qualification or 30
130		-	competency of the person applying for the permit, including record checks. The sheriff shall 31
131		-	make the request for any records concerning the mental health or capacity of the applicant within 32
132		-	10 days of receipt of the items listed in G.S. 14-415.13. No person, company, mental health 33
133		-	provider, or governmental entity may charge additional fees to the applicant for background 34
134		-	checks conducted under this subsection. A permit shall not be denied unless the applicant is 35
135		-	determined to be ineligible pursuant to G.S. 14-415.12. 36
136		-	(b) Upon presentment to the sheriff of the items required under G.S. 14-415.13 (a)(1), 37
137		-	(2), and (3), the sheriff may issue a temporary permit for a period not to exceed 45 days to a 38
138		-	person who the sheriff reasonably believes is in an emergency situation that may constitute a risk 39
139		-	of safety to the person, the person's family or property. The applicant may submit proof of a 40
140		-	protective order issued under G.S. 50B-3 for the protection of the applicant as evidence of an 41
141		-	emergency situation. The temporary permit may not be renewed and may be revoked by the 42
142		-	sheriff without a hearing. 43
143		-	(c) A person's application for a permit shall be denied only if the applicant fails to qualify 44
144		-	under the criteria listed in this Article. If the sheriff denies the application for a permit, the sheriff 45
145		-	shall, within 45 days, notify the applicant in writing, stating the grounds for denial. An applicant 46
146		-	may appeal the denial, revocation, denial of a permit or the nonrenewal of a fixed duration permit 47
147		-	by petitioning a district court judge of the district in which the application was filed. The 48
148		-	determination by the court, on appeal, shall be upon the facts, the law, and the reasonableness of 49
149		-	the sheriff's refusal. The determination by the court shall be final.final for the purpose of appeal." 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150		-	Page 4 House Bill 674-First Edition
151		-	SECTION 2.5. G.S. 14-415.16, as amended by Section 3.1 of this act, reads as 1
152		-	rewritten: 2
153		-	"§ 14-415.16. Renewal of fixed duration permit. 3
154		-	(a) At least 45 days prior to the expiration date of a fixed duration permit, the sheriff of 4
155		-	the county where the permit was issued shall send a written notice to the permittee explaining 5
156		-	that the permit is about to expire and including information about the requirements for renewal 6
157		-	of the permit. The notice shall be sent by first class mail to the last known address of the 7
158		-	permittee. Failure to receive a renewal notice shall not relieve a permittee of requirements 8
159		-	imposed in this section for renewal of the permit. 9
160		-	(b) The holder of a fixed duration permit shall apply to renew the permit within the 10
161		-	90-day period prior to its expiration date by filing with the sheriff of the county in which the 11
162		-	person resides a renewal form provided by the sheriff's office, an affidavit stating that the 12
163		-	permittee remains qualified under the criteria provided in this Article, a newly administered full 13
164		-	set of the permittee's fingerprints, and a renewal fee. The renewal form shall indicate whether the 14
165		-	holder of the permit would like the renewal to be issued as a fixed duration permit or a lifetime 15
166		-	permit. 16
167		-	… 17
168		-	(e) If the permittee does not apply to renew the fixed duration permit prior to its 18
169		-	expiration date, but does apply to renew the permit less than 180 days after the permit expires, 19
170		-	the sheriff shall waive the requirement of taking another firearms safety and training course. If 20
171		-	the permittee applies to renew the permit between 180 days and one year after the permit expires, 21
172		-	the sheriff may waive the requirement of taking another firearms and safety training course. This 22
173		-	subsection does not extend the expiration date of the fixed duration permit. 23
174		-	(f) An applicant may appeal the nonrenewal of a fixed duration permit as provided in 24
175		-	G.S. 14-415.15(c)." 25
176		-	SECTION 2.6. G.S. 14-415.16A reads as rewritten: 26
177		-	"§ 14-415.16A. Permit extensions and renewals of fixed duration permits for deployed 27
178		-	military permittees. 28
179		-	(a) A deployed military permittee whose fixed duration permit will expire during the 29
180		-	permittee's deployment, or the permittee's agent, may apply to the sheriff for an extension of the 30
181		-	military permittee's permit by providing the sheriff with a copy of the permittee's proof of 31
182		-	deployment. Upon receipt of the proof, the sheriff shall extend the fixed duration permit for a 32
183		-	period to end 90 days after the permittee's deployment is scheduled to end. A fixed duration 33
184		-	permit that has been extended under this section shall be valid throughout the State during the 34
185		-	period of its extension. 35
186		-	(b) A military permittee's fixed duration permit that is not extended under subsection (a) 36
187		-	of this section and that expires during deployment shall remain valid during the deployment and 37
188		-	for 90 days after the end of the deployment as if the permit had not expired. The military permittee 38
189		-	may carry a concealed handgun during this period provided the permittee meets all the 39
190		-	requirements of G.S. 14-415.11(a). 40
191		-	(c) A military permittee under subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section shall have 41
192		-	90 days after the end of the permittee's deployment to renew the fixed duration permit. In addition 42
193		-	to the requirements of G.S. 14-415.16, the permittee shall provide to the sheriff proof of 43
194		-	deployment. The sheriff shall renew the permit upon receipt of this documentation provided the 44
195		-	permittee otherwise remains qualified to hold a concealed handgun permit." 45
196		-	SECTION 2.7. Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by 46
197		-	adding a new section to read: 47
198		-	"§ 14-415.16B. Reissuance of a lifetime permit as a fixed duration permit. 48
199		-	The holder of a lifetime permit may apply at any time to have the lifetime permit reissued as 49
200		-	a fixed duration permit. An application for reissuance shall be submitted by the permittee and 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
201		-	House Bill 674-First Edition Page 5
202		-	considered by the sheriff in the same manner as an application for renewal of a fixed duration 1
203		-	permit pursuant to the applicable provisions of G.S. 14-415.16." 2
204		-	SECTION 2.8. G.S. 14-415.17 reads as rewritten: 3
205		-	"§ 14-415.17. Permit; sheriff to retain a list of permittees; confidentiality of list and permit 4
206		-	application information; availability to law enforcement agencies. 5
207		-	(a) The permit shall be in a certificate form, as prescribed by the State Bureau of 6
208		-	Investigation, that is approximately the size of a North Carolina drivers license. It shall bear the 7
209		-	signature, name, address, date of birth, and the drivers license identification number used in 8
210		-	applying for the permit. A lifetime permit shall bear a clear indication of its lifetime duration on 9
211		-	its face. A fixed duration permit shall bear the expiration date of the permit on its face. 10
212		-	(b) The sheriff shall maintain a listing, including the identifying information, of those 11
213		-	persons who are issued a permit. permit and whether the permit issued is a fixed duration permit 12
214		-	or a lifetime permit. Within five days of the date a permit is issued, the sheriff shall send a copy 13
215		-	of the permit to the State Bureau of Investigation. 14
216		-	(c) Except as provided otherwise by this subsection, the list of permit holders and the 15
217		-	information collected by the sheriff to process an application for a permit are confidential and 16
218		-	are not a public record under G.S. 132-1. The sheriff shall make the list of permit holders and the 17
219		-	permit information available upon request to all State and local law enforcement agencies. The 18
220		-	State Bureau of Investigation shall make the list of permit holders and the information collected 19
221		-	by the sheriff to process an application for a permit available to law enforcement officers and 20
222		-	clerks of court on a statewide system. 21
223		-	(d) A sheriff shall provide any change of permanent address received pursuant to 22
224		-	G.S. 14-415.11(d) to the State Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in the statewide system 23
225		-	required by subsection (c) of this section." 24
226		-	SECTION 2.9. G.S. 14-415.18(a) reads as rewritten: 25
227		-	"(a) The sheriff of the county where the permit was issued or the sheriff of the county 26
228		-	where the person resides may revoke a permit subsequent to a hearing for any of the following 27
229		-	reasons: 28
230		-	(1) Fraud or intentional and material misrepresentation in the obtaining of a 29
231		-	permit. 30
232		-	(2) Misuse of a permit, including lending or giving a permit or a duplicate permit 31
233		-	to another person, materially altering a permit, or using a permit with the intent 32
234		-	to unlawfully cause harm to a person or property. It shall not be considered 33
235		-	misuse of a permit to provide a duplicate of the permit to a vender vendor for 34
236		-	record-keeping purposes. 35
237		-	(3) The doing of an act or existence of a condition which would have been 36
238		-	grounds for the denial of the permit by the sheriff. 37
239		-	(4) The violation of any of the terms of this Article. 38
240		-	(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-369, s. 20, effective October 1, 2013. 39
241		-	(6) The person is no longer a resident of the State. 40
242		-	A permittee may appeal the revocation, or nonrenewal revocation of a permit by petitioning 41
243		-	a district court judge of the district in which the applicant resides. The determination by the court, 42
244		-	on appeal, shall be upon the facts, the law, and the reasonableness of the sheriff's refusal. The 43
245		-	determination by the court shall be final for the purpose of appeal." 44
246		-	SECTION 2.10. G.S. 14-415.19 reads as rewritten: 45
247		-	"§ 14-415.19. Fees. 46
248		-	(a) The permit fees assessed under this Article are payable to the sheriff. The sheriff shall 47
249		-	transmit the proceeds of these fees to the county finance officer to be remitted or credited by the 48
250		-	county finance officer in accordance with the provisions of this section. Except as otherwise 49
251		-	provided by this section, the permit fees are as follows: 50
252		-	51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
253		-	Page 6 House Bill 674-First Edition
254		-	Application fee ............................................................................ $80.00 1
255		-	Renewal or reissuance fee ........................................................... $75.00 2
256		-	Duplicate permit fee .................................................................... $15.00 3
257		-	4
258		-	The county finance officer shall remit forty-five dollars ($45.00) of each new application fee 5
259		-	and forty dollars ($40.00) of each renewal or reissuance fee assessed under this subsection to the 6
260		-	North Carolina Department of Public Safety for the costs of State and federal criminal record 7
261		-	checks performed in connection with processing applications and for the implementation of the 8
262		-	provisions of this Article. The remaining thirty-five dollars ($35.00) of each application or 9
263		-	renewal application, renewal, or reissuance fee shall be used by the sheriff to pay the costs of 10
264		-	administering this Article and for other law enforcement purposes. The county shall expend the 11
265		-	restricted funds for these purposes only. 12
266		-	(a1) The permit fees for a retired sworn law enforcement officer who provides the 13
267		-	information required by subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection to the sheriff, in addition to 14
268		-	any other information required under this Article, are as follows: 15
	45	+	the Armed Forces of the United States, the reserve components of the Armed 33
	46	+	Forces of the United States, the North Carolina Army National Guard, or the 34
	47	+	North Carolina Air National Guard. 35
	48	+	H.B. 674
	49	+	Apr 1, 2025
	50	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	51	+	Page 2 DRH30256-ML-11
	52	+	(3)(7) Permit. – A concealed handgun permit fixed duration permit or lifetime permit 1
	53	+	issued in accordance with the provisions of this Article. 2
	54	+	(3a)(8) Proof of deployment. – A copy of the military permittee's deployment orders 3
	55	+	or other written notification from the permittee's command indicating the start 4
	56	+	and end date of deployment and that orders the permittee to travel outside the 5
	57	+	permittee's county of residence. 6
	58	+	(4)(9) Qualified former sworn law enforcement officer. – An individual who retired 7
	59	+	from service as a law enforcement officer with a local, State, campus police, 8
	60	+	or company police agency in North Carolina, other than for reasons of mental 9
	61	+	disability, who has been retired as a sworn law enforcement officer two years 10
	62	+	or less from the date of the permit application, and who satisfies all of the 11
	63	+	following: 12
	64	+	a. Immediately before retirement, the individual was a qualified law 13
	65	+	enforcement officer with a local, State, or company police agency in 14
	66	+	North Carolina. 15
	67	+	b. The individual has a nonforfeitable right to benefits under the 16
	68	+	retirement plan of the local, State, or company police agency as a law 17
	69	+	enforcement officer; or has 20 or more aggregate years of law 18
	70	+	enforcement service and has retired from a company police agency 19
	71	+	that does not have a retirement plan; or has 20 or more aggregate years 20
	72	+	of part-time or auxiliary law enforcement service. 21
	73	+	c. The individual is not prohibited by State or federal law from receiving 22
	74	+	a firearm. 23
	75	+	(4a)(10) Qualified retired correctional officer. – An individual who retired from 24
	76	+	service as a State correctional officer, other than for reasons of mental 25
	77	+	disability, who has been retired as a correctional officer two years or less from 26
	78	+	the date of the permit application and who meets all of the following criteria: 27
	79	+	… 28
	80	+	(4b)(11) Qualified retired law enforcement officer. – An individual who meets the 29
	81	+	definition of "qualified retired law enforcement officer" contained in section 30
	82	+	926C of Title 18 of the United States Code. 31
	83	+	(4c)(12) Qualified retired probation or parole certified officer. – An individual who 32
	84	+	retired from service as a State probation or parole certified officer, other than 33
	85	+	for reasons of mental disability, who has been retired as a probation or parole 34
	86	+	certified officer two years or less from the date of the permit application and 35
	87	+	who meets all of the following criteria: 36
	88	+	… 37
	89	+	(5)(13) Qualified sworn law enforcement officer. – A law enforcement officer 38
	90	+	employed by a local, State, campus police, or company police agency in North 39
	91	+	Carolina who satisfies all of the following: 40
	92	+	…." 41
	93	+	SECTION 2.2. G.S. 14-415.11 reads as rewritten: 42
	94	+	"§ 14-415.11. Permit to carry concealed handgun; scope of permit. 43
	95	+	(a) Any person who has a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun may 44
	96	+	carry a concealed handgun unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law. The person shall carry 45
	97	+	the permit together with valid identification whenever the person is carrying a concealed 46
	98	+	handgun, shall disclose to any law enforcement officer that the person holds a valid permit and 47
	99	+	is carrying a concealed handgun when approached or addressed by the officer, and shall display 48
	100	+	both the permit and the proper identification upon the request of a law enforcement officer. In 49
	101	+	addition to these requirements, a military permittee with a fixed duration permit whose permit 50
	102	+	has expired during deployment may carry a concealed handgun during the 90 days following the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	103	+	DRH30256-ML-11 Page 3
	104	+	end of deployment and before the permit is renewed provided the permittee also displays proof 1
	105	+	of deployment to any law enforcement officer. 2
	106	+	(b) The sheriff shall issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun to a person who qualifies 3
	107	+	for a permit under G.S. 14-415.12. The A fixed duration permit shall be valid throughout the 4
	108	+	State for a period of five years from the date of issuance. A lifetime permit shall be valid 5
	109	+	throughout the State until revoked or surrendered. 6
	110	+	… 7
	111	+	(d) A person who is issued a permit shall notify the sheriff who issued the permit of the 8
	112	+	county where the person resides of any change in the person's permanent address within 30 days 9
	113	+	after the change of address. If a permit is lost or destroyed, the person to whom the permit was 10
	114	+	issued shall notify the sheriff who issued the permit of the loss or destruction of the permit. A 11
	115	+	person may obtain a duplicate permit by submitting to the sheriff a notarized statement that the 12
	116	+	permit was lost or destroyed and paying the required duplicate permit fee." 13
	117	+	SECTION 2.3. G.S. 14-415.14(a) reads as rewritten: 14
	118	+	"(a) The sheriff shall make permit applications readily available at the office of the sheriff 15
	119	+	or at other public offices in the sheriff's jurisdiction. The permit application shall be in triplicate, 16
	120	+	in a form to be prescribed by the State Bureau of Investigation, and shall include the following 17
	121	+	information with regard to the applicant: name, address, physical description, signature, date of 18
	122	+	birth, social security number, military status, law enforcement status, and the drivers license 19
	123	+	number or State identification card number of the applicant if used for identification in applying 20
	124	+	for the permit. The application shall also indicate if the application is for a fixed duration permit 21
	125	+	or a lifetime permit." 22
	126	+	SECTION 2.4. G.S. 14-415.15 reads as rewritten: 23
	127	+	"§ 14-415.15. Issuance or denial of permit. 24
	128	+	(a) Except as permitted under subsection (b) of this section, within 45 days after receipt 25
	129	+	of the items listed in G.S. 14-415.13 from an applicant, and receipt of the required records 26
	130	+	concerning the mental health or capacity of the applicant, the sheriff shall either issue or deny 27
	131	+	the permit. The sheriff may conduct any investigation necessary to determine the qualification or 28
	132	+	competency of the person applying for the permit, including record checks. The sheriff shall 29
	133	+	make the request for any records concerning the mental health or capacity of the applicant within 30
	134	+	10 days of receipt of the items listed in G.S. 14-415.13. No person, company, mental health 31
	135	+	provider, or governmental entity may charge additional fees to the applicant for background 32
	136	+	checks conducted under this subsection. A permit shall not be denied unless the applicant is 33
	137	+	determined to be ineligible pursuant to G.S. 14-415.12. 34
	138	+	(b) Upon presentment to the sheriff of the items required under G.S. 14-415.13 (a)(1), 35
	139	+	(2), and (3), the sheriff may issue a temporary permit for a period not to exceed 45 days to a 36
	140	+	person who the sheriff reasonably believes is in an emergency situation that may constitute a risk 37
	141	+	of safety to the person, the person's family or property. The applicant may submit proof of a 38
	142	+	protective order issued under G.S. 50B-3 for the protection of the applicant as evidence of an 39
	143	+	emergency situation. The temporary permit may not be renewed and may be revoked by the 40
	144	+	sheriff without a hearing. 41
	145	+	(c) A person's application for a permit shall be denied only if the applicant fails to qualify 42
	146	+	under the criteria listed in this Article. If the sheriff denies the application for a permit, the sheriff 43
	147	+	shall, within 45 days, notify the applicant in writing, stating the grounds for denial. An applicant 44
	148	+	may appeal the denial, revocation, denial of a permit or the nonrenewal of a fixed duration permit 45
	149	+	by petitioning a district court judge of the district in which the application was filed. The 46
	150	+	determination by the court, on appeal, shall be upon the facts, the law, and the reasonableness of 47
	151	+	the sheriff's refusal. The determination by the court shall be final.final for the purpose of appeal." 48
	152	+	SECTION 2.5. G.S. 14-415.16, as amended by Section 3.1 of this act, reads as 49
	153	+	rewritten: 50
	154	+	"§ 14-415.16. Renewal of fixed duration permit. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	155	+	Page 4 DRH30256-ML-11
	156	+	(a) At least 45 days prior to the expiration date of a fixed duration permit, the sheriff of 1
	157	+	the county where the permit was issued shall send a written notice to the permittee explaining 2
	158	+	that the permit is about to expire and including information about the requirements for renewal 3
	159	+	of the permit. The notice shall be sent by first class mail to the last known address of the 4
	160	+	permittee. Failure to receive a renewal notice shall not relieve a permittee of requirements 5
	161	+	imposed in this section for renewal of the permit. 6
	162	+	(b) The holder of a fixed duration permit shall apply to renew the permit within the 7
	163	+	90-day period prior to its expiration date by filing with the sheriff of the county in which the 8
	164	+	person resides a renewal form provided by the sheriff's office, an affidavit stating that the 9
	165	+	permittee remains qualified under the criteria provided in this Article, a newly administered full 10
	166	+	set of the permittee's fingerprints, and a renewal fee. The renewal form shall indicate whether the 11
	167	+	holder of the permit would like the renewal to be issued as a fixed duration permit or a lifetime 12
	168	+	permit. 13
	169	+	… 14
	170	+	(e) If the permittee does not apply to renew the fixed duration permit prior to its 15
	171	+	expiration date, but does apply to renew the permit less than 180 days after the permit expires, 16
	172	+	the sheriff shall waive the requirement of taking another firearms safety and training course. If 17
	173	+	the permittee applies to renew the permit between 180 days and one year after the permit expires, 18
	174	+	the sheriff may waive the requirement of taking another firearms and safety training course. This 19
	175	+	subsection does not extend the expiration date of the fixed duration permit. 20
	176	+	(f) An applicant may appeal the nonrenewal of a fixed duration permit as provided in 21
	177	+	G.S. 14-415.15(c)." 22
	178	+	SECTION 2.6. G.S. 14-415.16A reads as rewritten: 23
	179	+	"§ 14-415.16A. Permit extensions and renewals of fixed duration permits for deployed 24
	180	+	military permittees. 25
	181	+	(a) A deployed military permittee whose fixed duration permit will expire during the 26
	182	+	permittee's deployment, or the permittee's agent, may apply to the sheriff for an extension of the 27
	183	+	military permittee's permit by providing the sheriff with a copy of the permittee's proof of 28
	184	+	deployment. Upon receipt of the proof, the sheriff shall extend the fixed duration permit for a 29
	185	+	period to end 90 days after the permittee's deployment is scheduled to end. A fixed duration 30
	186	+	permit that has been extended under this section shall be valid throughout the State during the 31
	187	+	period of its extension. 32
	188	+	(b) A military permittee's fixed duration permit that is not extended under subsection (a) 33
	189	+	of this section and that expires during deployment shall remain valid during the deployment and 34
	190	+	for 90 days after the end of the deployment as if the permit had not expired. The military permittee 35
	191	+	may carry a concealed handgun during this period provided the permittee meets all the 36
	192	+	requirements of G.S. 14-415.11(a). 37
	193	+	(c) A military permittee under subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section shall have 38
	194	+	90 days after the end of the permittee's deployment to renew the fixed duration permit. In addition 39
	195	+	to the requirements of G.S. 14-415.16, the permittee shall provide to the sheriff proof of 40
	196	+	deployment. The sheriff shall renew the permit upon receipt of this documentation provided the 41
	197	+	permittee otherwise remains qualified to hold a concealed handgun permit." 42
	198	+	SECTION 2.7. Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by 43
	199	+	adding a new section to read: 44
	200	+	"§ 14-415.16B. Reissuance of a lifetime permit as a fixed duration permit. 45
	201	+	The holder of a lifetime permit may apply at any time to have the lifetime permit reissued as 46
	202	+	a fixed duration permit. An application for reissuance shall be submitted by the permittee and 47
	203	+	considered by the sheriff in the same manner as an application for renewal of a fixed duration 48
	204	+	permit pursuant to the applicable provisions of G.S. 14-415.16." 49
	205	+	SECTION 2.8. G.S. 14-415.17 reads as rewritten: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	206	+	DRH30256-ML-11 Page 5
	207	+	"§ 14-415.17. Permit; sheriff to retain a list of permittees; confidentiality of list and permit 1
	208	+	application information; availability to law enforcement agencies. 2
	209	+	(a) The permit shall be in a certificate form, as prescribed by the State Bureau of 3
	210	+	Investigation, that is approximately the size of a North Carolina drivers license. It shall bear the 4
	211	+	signature, name, address, date of birth, and the drivers license identification number used in 5
	212	+	applying for the permit. A lifetime permit shall bear a clear indication of its lifetime duration on 6
	213	+	its face. A fixed duration permit shall bear the expiration date of the permit on its face. 7
	214	+	(b) The sheriff shall maintain a listing, including the identifying information, of those 8
	215	+	persons who are issued a permit. permit and whether the permit issued is a fixed duration permit 9
	216	+	or a lifetime permit. Within five days of the date a permit is issued, the sheriff shall send a copy 10
	217	+	of the permit to the State Bureau of Investigation. 11
	218	+	(c) Except as provided otherwise by this subsection, the list of permit holders and the 12
	219	+	information collected by the sheriff to process an application for a permit are confidential and 13
	220	+	are not a public record under G.S. 132-1. The sheriff shall make the list of permit holders and the 14
	221	+	permit information available upon request to all State and local law enforcement agencies. The 15
	222	+	State Bureau of Investigation shall make the list of permit holders and the information collected 16
	223	+	by the sheriff to process an application for a permit available to law enforcement officers and 17
	224	+	clerks of court on a statewide system. 18
	225	+	(d) A sheriff shall provide any change of permanent address received pursuant to 19
	226	+	G.S. 14-415.11(d) to the State Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in the statewide system 20
	227	+	required by subsection (c) of this section." 21
	228	+	SECTION 2.9. G.S. 14-415.18(a) reads as rewritten: 22
	229	+	"(a) The sheriff of the county where the permit was issued or the sheriff of the county 23
	230	+	where the person resides may revoke a permit subsequent to a hearing for any of the following 24
	231	+	reasons: 25
	232	+	(1) Fraud or intentional and material misrepresentation in the obtaining of a 26
	233	+	permit. 27
	234	+	(2) Misuse of a permit, including lending or giving a permit or a duplicate permit 28
	235	+	to another person, materially altering a permit, or using a permit with the intent 29
	236	+	to unlawfully cause harm to a person or property. It shall not be considered 30
	237	+	misuse of a permit to provide a duplicate of the permit to a vender vendor for 31
	238	+	record-keeping purposes. 32
	239	+	(3) The doing of an act or existence of a condition which would have been 33
	240	+	grounds for the denial of the permit by the sheriff. 34
	241	+	(4) The violation of any of the terms of this Article. 35
	242	+	(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-369, s. 20, effective October 1, 2013. 36
	243	+	(6) The person is no longer a resident of the State. 37
	244	+	A permittee may appeal the revocation, or nonrenewal revocation of a permit by petitioning 38
	245	+	a district court judge of the district in which the applicant resides. The determination by the court, 39
	246	+	on appeal, shall be upon the facts, the law, and the reasonableness of the sheriff's refusal. The 40
	247	+	determination by the court shall be final for the purpose of appeal." 41
	248	+	SECTION 2.10. G.S. 14-415.19 reads as rewritten: 42
	249	+	"§ 14-415.19. Fees. 43
	250	+	(a) The permit fees assessed under this Article are payable to the sheriff. The sheriff shall 44
	251	+	transmit the proceeds of these fees to the county finance officer to be remitted or credited by the 45
	252	+	county finance officer in accordance with the provisions of this section. Except as otherwise 46
	253	+	provided by this section, the permit fees are as follows: 47
	254	+	48
	255	+	Application fee ............................................................................ $80.00 49
	256	+	Renewal or reissuance fee ........................................................... $75.00 50
	257	+	Duplicate permit fee .................................................................... $15.00 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	258	+	Page 6 DRH30256-ML-11
	259	+	1
	260	+	The county finance officer shall remit forty-five dollars ($45.00) of each new application fee 2
	261	+	and forty dollars ($40.00) of each renewal or reissuance fee assessed under this subsection to the 3
	262	+	North Carolina Department of Public Safety for the costs of State and federal criminal record 4
	263	+	checks performed in connection with processing applications and for the implementation of the 5
	264	+	provisions of this Article. The remaining thirty-five dollars ($35.00) of each application or 6
	265	+	renewal application, renewal, or reissuance fee shall be used by the sheriff to pay the costs of 7
	266	+	administering this Article and for other law enforcement purposes. The county shall expend the 8
	267	+	restricted funds for these purposes only. 9
	268	+	(a1) The permit fees for a retired sworn law enforcement officer who provides the 10
	269	+	information required by subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection to the sheriff, in addition to 11
	270	+	any other information required under this Article, are as follows: 12
	271	+	13
	272	+	Application fee ............................................................................ $45.00 14
	273	+	Renewal or reissuance fee ........................................................... $40.00 15
269	274		16
270		-	Application fee ............................................................................ $45.00 17
271		-	Renewal or reissuance fee ........................................................... $40.00 18
272		-	19
273		-	(1) A copy of the officer's letter of retirement from either the North Carolina 20
274		-	Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the North Carolina 21
275		-	Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. 22
276		-	(2) Written documentation from the head of the agency where the person was 23
277		-	previously employed indicating that the person was neither involuntarily 24
278		-	terminated nor under administrative or criminal investigation within six 25
279		-	months of retirement. 26
280		-	The county finance officer shall remit the proceeds of the fees assessed under this subsection 27
281		-	to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to cover the cost of performing the State and 28
282		-	federal criminal record checks performed in connection with processing applications and for the 29
283		-	implementation of the provisions of this Article. 30
284		-	(b) An additional fee, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), shall be collected by the sheriff 31
285		-	from an applicant for a permit to pay for the costs of processing the applicant's fingerprints, if 32
286		-	fingerprints were required to be taken. This fee shall be retained by the sheriff." 33
287		-	SECTION 2.11. G.S. 17C-6(a) reads as rewritten: 34
288		-	"(a) In addition to powers conferred upon the Commission elsewhere in this Article, the 35
289		-	Commission shall have the following powers, which shall be enforceable through its rules and 36
290		-	regulations, certification procedures, or the provisions of G.S. 17C-10: 37
	275	+	(1) A copy of the officer's letter of retirement from either the North Carolina 17
	276	+	Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the North Carolina 18
	277	+	Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. 19
	278	+	(2) Written documentation from the head of the agency where the person was 20
	279	+	previously employed indicating that the person was neither involuntarily 21
	280	+	terminated nor under administrative or criminal investigation within six 22
	281	+	months of retirement. 23
	282	+	The county finance officer shall remit the proceeds of the fees assessed under this subsection 24
	283	+	to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to cover the cost of performing the State and 25
	284	+	federal criminal record checks performed in connection with processing applications and for the 26
	285	+	implementation of the provisions of this Article. 27
	286	+	(b) An additional fee, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), shall be collected by the sheriff 28
	287	+	from an applicant for a permit to pay for the costs of processing the applicant's fingerprints, if 29
	288	+	fingerprints were required to be taken. This fee shall be retained by the sheriff." 30
	289	+	SECTION 2.11. G.S. 17C-6(a) reads as rewritten: 31
	290	+	"(a) In addition to powers conferred upon the Commission elsewhere in this Article, the 32
	291	+	Commission shall have the following powers, which shall be enforceable through its rules and 33
	292	+	regulations, certification procedures, or the provisions of G.S. 17C-10: 34
	293	+	… 35
	294	+	(16) Establish standards and guidelines for the annual firearms certification of 36
	295	+	qualified retired law enforcement officers, as defined in G.S. 14-415.10(4b), 37
	296	+	G.S. 14-415.10(11), to efficiently implement the provisions of 38
	297	+	G.S. 14-415.25. The standards shall provide for the courses, qualifications, 39
	298	+	and the issuance of the annual firearms qualification certification. The 40
	299	+	Commission may adopt any rules necessary to effect the provisions of this 41
	300	+	section, and may charge a reasonable fee to applicants for the costs incurred 42
	301	+	in compliance with this subdivision. 43
	302	+	…." 44
	303	+	SECTION 2.12. G.S. 14-269(a1) reads as rewritten: 45
	304	+	"(a1) It shall be unlawful for any person willfully and intentionally to willfully and 46
	305	+	intentionally carry any pistol or gun concealed about his or her person any pistol or gun except 47
	306	+	in the following circumstances: 48
	307	+	(1) The person is on the person's own premises. 49
	308	+	(2) The deadly weapon is a handgun, the person has a concealed handgun permit 50
	309	+	issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	310	+	DRH30256-ML-11 Page 7
	311	+	under G.S. 14-415.24, and the person is carrying the concealed handgun in 1
	312	+	accordance with the scope of the concealed handgun permit as set out in 2
	313	+	G.S. 14-415.11(c). 3
	314	+	(3) The deadly weapon is a handgun and the person is a military permittee as 4
	315	+	defined under G.S. 14-415.10(2a) G.S. 14-415.10(6) who provides to the law 5
	316	+	enforcement officer proof of deployment as required under 6
	317	+	G.S. 14-415.11(a)." 7
	318	+	SECTION 2.13. This Part becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to all 8
	319	+	permits issued or renewed on or after that date. 9
	320	+	10
	321	+	PART III. REVISE LAW ON LAPSE OF CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT 11
	322	+	SECTION 3.1. G.S. 14-415.16(e) reads as rewritten: 12
	323	+	"(e) If the permittee does not apply to renew the permit prior to its expiration date, but 13
	324	+	does apply to renew the permit within 60 less than 180 days after the permit expires, the sheriff 14
	325	+	may shall waive the requirement of taking another firearms safety and training course. If the 15
	326	+	permittee applies to renew the permit between 180 days and one year after the permit expires, 16
	327	+	the sheriff may waive the requirement of taking another firearms and safety training course. This 17
	328	+	subsection does not extend the expiration date of the permit." 18
	329	+	SECTION 3.2. This Part becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to renewal 19
	330	+	applications submitted on or after that date. 20
	331	+	21
	332	+	PART IV. PROPERTY PROTECTION ACT/DVPO 22
	333	+	SECTION 4.1. G.S. 50B-3.1 reads as rewritten: 23
	334	+	"§ 50B-3.1. Surrender and disposal of firearms; violations; exemptions. 24
	335	+	(a) Required Surrender of Firearms. – Upon issuance of an emergency or ex parte order 25
	336	+	pursuant to this Chapter, the court shall order the defendant to surrender to the sheriff all firearms, 26
	337	+	machine guns, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, and permits to carry concealed firearms 27
	338	+	that are in the care, custody, possession, ownership, or control of the defendant if the court finds 28
	339	+	any of the following factors: 29
	340	+	(1) The use or threatened use of a deadly weapon by the defendant or a pattern of 30
	341	+	prior conduct involving the use or threatened use of violence with a firearm 31
	342	+	against persons. 32
	343	+	(2) Threats to seriously injure or kill the aggrieved party or minor child by the 33
	344	+	defendant. 34
	345	+	(3) Threats to commit suicide by the defendant. 35
	346	+	(4) Serious injuries inflicted upon the aggrieved party or minor child by the 36
	347	+	defendant. 37
291	348		… 38
292		-	(16) Establish standards and guidelines for the annual firearms certification of 39
293		-	qualified retired law enforcement officers, as defined in G.S. 14-415.10(4b), 40
294		-	G.S. 14-415.10(11), to efficiently implement the provisions of 41
295		-	G.S. 14-415.25. The standards shall provide for the courses, qualifications, 42
296		-	and the issuance of the annual firearms qualification certification. The 43
297		-	Commission may adopt any rules necessary to effect the provisions of this 44
298		-	section, and may charge a reasonable fee to applicants for the costs incurred 45
299		-	in compliance with this subdivision. 46
300		-	…." 47
301		-	SECTION 2.12. G.S. 14-269(a1) reads as rewritten: 48
302		-	"(a1) It shall be unlawful for any person willfully and intentionally to willfully and 49
303		-	intentionally carry any pistol or gun concealed about his or her person any pistol or gun except 50
304		-	in the following circumstances: 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
305		-	House Bill 674-First Edition Page 7
306		-	(1) The person is on the person's own premises. 1
307		-	(2) The deadly weapon is a handgun, the person has a concealed handgun permit 2
308		-	issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid 3
309		-	under G.S. 14-415.24, and the person is carrying the concealed handgun in 4
310		-	accordance with the scope of the concealed handgun permit as set out in 5
311		-	G.S. 14-415.11(c). 6
312		-	(3) The deadly weapon is a handgun and the person is a military permittee as 7
313		-	defined under G.S. 14-415.10(2a) G.S. 14-415.10(6) who provides to the law 8
314		-	enforcement officer proof of deployment as required under 9
315		-	G.S. 14-415.11(a)." 10
316		-	SECTION 2.13. This Part becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to all 11
317		-	permits issued or renewed on or after that date. 12
318		-	13
319		-	PART III. REVISE LAW ON LAPSE OF CONCEAL ED CARRY PERMIT 14
320		-	SECTION 3.1. G.S. 14-415.16(e) reads as rewritten: 15
321		-	"(e) If the permittee does not apply to renew the permit prior to its expiration date, but 16
322		-	does apply to renew the permit within 60 less than 180 days after the permit expires, the sheriff 17
323		-	may shall waive the requirement of taking another firearms safety and training course. If the 18
324		-	permittee applies to renew the permit between 180 days and one year after the permit expires, 19
325		-	the sheriff may waive the requirement of taking another firearms and safety training course. This 20
326		-	subsection does not extend the expiration date of the permit." 21
327		-	SECTION 3.2. This Part becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to renewal 22
328		-	applications submitted on or after that date. 23
329		-	24
330		-	PART IV. PROPERTY PROTECTION ACT/DVPO 25
331		-	SECTION 4.1. G.S. 50B-3.1 reads as rewritten: 26
332		-	"§ 50B-3.1. Surrender and disposal of firearms; violations; exemptions. 27
333		-	(a) Required Surrender of Firearms. – Upon issuance of an emergency or ex parte order 28
334		-	pursuant to this Chapter, the court shall order the defendant to surrender to the sheriff all firearms, 29
335		-	machine guns, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, and permits to carry concealed firearms 30
336		-	that are in the care, custody, possession, ownership, or control of the defendant if the court finds 31
337		-	any of the following factors: 32
338		-	(1) The use or threatened use of a deadly weapon by the defendant or a pattern of 33
339		-	prior conduct involving the use or threatened use of violence with a firearm 34
340		-	against persons. 35
341		-	(2) Threats to seriously injure or kill the aggrieved party or minor child by the 36
342		-	defendant. 37
343		-	(3) Threats to commit suicide by the defendant. 38
344		-	(4) Serious injuries inflicted upon the aggrieved party or minor child by the 39
345		-	defendant. 40
	349	+	(d) Surrender. – Upon service of the order, the defendant shall immediately surrender to 39
	350	+	the sheriff possession of all firearms, machine guns, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, 40
	351	+	and permits to carry concealed firearms that are in the care, custody, possession, ownership, or 41
	352	+	control of the defendant. In the event that weapons cannot be surrendered at the time the order is 42
	353	+	served, the defendant shall surrender the firearms, ammunitions, and permits to the sheriff within 43
	354	+	24 hours of service at a time and place specified by the sheriff. The sheriff shall store the firearms 44
	355	+	or contract with a licensed firearms dealer to provide storage. 45
	356	+	(1) If the court orders the defendant to surrender firearms, ammunition, and 46
	357	+	permits, the court shall inform the plaintiff and the defendant of the terms of 47
	358	+	the protective order and include these terms on the face of the order, including 48
	359	+	that the defendant is prohibited from possessing, purchasing, or receiving or 49
	360	+	attempting to possess, purchase, or receive a firearm for so long as the 50
	361	+	protective order or any successive protective order is in effect. The terms of 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	362	+	Page 8 DRH30256-ML-11
	363	+	the order shall include instructions as to how the defendant may request 1
	364	+	retrieval of any firearms, ammunition, and permits surrendered to the sheriff 2
	365	+	when the protective order is no longer in effect. The terms shall also include 3
	366	+	notice of the penalty for violation of G.S. 14-269.8. 4
	367	+	(2) The sheriff may charge the defendant a reasonable fee for the storage of any 5
	368	+	firearms and ammunition taken pursuant to a protective order. The fees are 6
	369	+	payable to the sheriff. The sheriff shall transmit the proceeds of these fees to 7
	370	+	the county finance officer. The fees shall be used by the sheriff to pay the costs 8
	371	+	of administering this section and for other law enforcement purposes. The 9
	372	+	county shall expend the restricted funds for these purposes only. The sheriff 10
	373	+	shall not release firearms, ammunition, or permits without a court order 11
	374	+	granting the release. The defendant must remit all fees owed prior to the 12
	375	+	authorized return of any firearms, ammunition, or permits. The sheriff shall 13
	376	+	not incur any civil or criminal liability for alleged damage or deterioration due 14
	377	+	to storage or transportation of any firearms or ammunition held pursuant to 15
	378	+	this section. 16
	379	+	(d1) Transfer to Licensed Firearms Dealer. – After the defendant surrenders possession of 17
	380	+	all firearms, machine guns, ammunition, and permits to the sheriff pursuant to subsection (d) of 18
	381	+	this section, the defendant may enter into an agreement with a qualified licensed firearms dealer 19
	382	+	to take possession of the surrendered items from the custody of the sheriff if (i) the defendant is 20
	383	+	the owner of the items and (ii) the items have been in the custody of the sheriff at least 15 days. 21
	384	+	The defendant shall authorize the qualified licensed firearms dealer to submit the form provided 22
	385	+	for in this subsection requesting the transfer of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition to 23
	386	+	the sheriff currently storing the items. The qualified licensed firearms dealer must present the 24
	387	+	completed form and a copy of the dealer's valid federal firearms license to the sheriff, who shall 25
	388	+	have 24 hours to facilitate the transfer of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition to the 26
	389	+	dealer. Any funds received from the sale of a firearm, machine gun, or ammunition by a 27
	390	+	defendant pursuant to this subsection are the property of the defendant. The defendant's permits 28
	391	+	to purchase firearms and permits to carry concealed firearms shall remain in the care and custody 29
	392	+	of the sheriff as provided in subsection (d) of this section. 30
	393	+	At the time a qualified licensed firearms dealer takes possession of the firearms, machine 31
	394	+	guns, and ammunition, the dealer shall provide a copy of the record required to be maintained 32
	395	+	under federal law upon the receipt or disposition of the firearm, machine gun, or ammunition to 33
	396	+	both the sheriff and the owner of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition. 34
	397	+	A qualified licensed firearms dealer that accepts firearms, machine guns, and ammunition 35
	398	+	pursuant to this subsection shall not (i) release the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition to the 36
	399	+	defendant unless the motion for a protective order is dismissed or any order of surrender has 37
	400	+	expired or (ii) transfer possession of the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition to any person 38
	401	+	the dealer knows or reasonably should know will allow the defendant to exercise care, custody, 39
	402	+	possession, ownership, or control of the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition, and any 40
	403	+	violation of this prohibition is a Class 2 misdemeanor. 41
	404	+	The Administrative Office of the Courts shall create a form for use in transferring firearms, 42
	405	+	machine guns, and ammunition from the custody of the sheriff to a qualified licensed firearms 43
	406	+	dealer pursuant to this subsection. The form shall require the notarized signatures of both the 44
	407	+	defendant and the qualified licensed firearms dealer and shall allow for either the storage or sale 45
	408	+	of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition by the qualified licensed firearms dealer. The 46
	409	+	form shall also include information concerning the defendant's rights to recover the surrendered 47
	410	+	firearms, machine guns, or ammunition. 48
	411	+	The sheriff shall not charge a fee for the first 15 days of storage for any items transferred to 49
	412	+	a qualified licensed firearms dealer pursuant to this subsection. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	413	+	DRH30256-ML-11 Page 9
	414	+	(e) Retrieval. – If the court does not enter a protective order when the ex parte or 1
	415	+	emergency order expires, the defendant may retrieve any weapons surrendered to the sheriff or 2
	416	+	the qualified licensed firearms dealer unless the court finds that the defendant is precluded from 3
	417	+	owning or possessing a firearm pursuant to State or federal law or final disposition of any pending 4
	418	+	criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current protective order. 5
	419	+	(f) Motion Request for Return. – The defendant may request the return of any firearms, 6
	420	+	ammunition, or permits surrendered by filing a motion with the court submitting a written request 7
	421	+	with the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, 8
	422	+	ammunition, or permits at the expiration of the current order or final disposition of any pending 9
	423	+	criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current protective order 10
	424	+	and not later than 90 days 30 days after the expiration of the current order or final disposition of 11
	425	+	any pending criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current 12
	426	+	protective order. Upon receipt of the motion, request, the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms 13
	427	+	dealer shall conduct a check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System 14
	428	+	(NICS). If the results of the NICS check provide grounds that preclude the defendant from 15
	429	+	owning or possessing a firearm under State or federal law, the sheriff or the qualified licensed 16
	430	+	firearms dealer shall file a motion with the court on a form created by the Administrative Office 17
	431	+	of the Courts and shall not return the firearms, ammunition, or permits until the court has ruled 18
	432	+	on the motion. Upon receipt of the motion, the court shall schedule a hearing and provide written 19
	433	+	notice to the plaintiff who shall have the right to appear and be heard and to the sheriff or the 20
	434	+	qualified licensed firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, ammunition, or permits. The 21
	435	+	court shall determine whether the defendant is subject to any State or federal law or court order 22
	436	+	that precludes the defendant from owning or possessing a firearm. The inquiry shall include: 23
	437	+	(1) Whether the protective order has been renewed. 24
	438	+	(2) Whether the defendant is subject to any other protective orders. 25
	439	+	(3) Whether the defendant is disqualified from owning or possessing a firearm 26
	440	+	pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922 or any State law. 27
	441	+	(4) Whether the defendant has any pending criminal charges, in either State or 28
	442	+	federal court, committed against the person that is the subject of the current 29
	443	+	protective order. 30
	444	+	The court shall deny the return of firearms, ammunition, or permits if the court finds that the 31
	445	+	defendant is precluded from owning or possessing a firearm pursuant to State or federal law or 32
	446	+	if the defendant has any pending criminal charges, in either State or federal court, committed 33
	447	+	against the person that is the subject of the current protective order until the final disposition of 34
	448	+	those charges. 35
	449	+	(g) Motion for Return by Third-Party Owner. – A third-party owner of firearms, 36
	450	+	ammunition, or permits who is otherwise eligible to possess such items may file a motion 37
	451	+	requesting the return to said third party of any such items in the possession of the sheriff or the 38
	452	+	qualified licensed firearms dealer seized as a result of the entry of a domestic violence protective 39
	453	+	order. The motion must be filed not later than 30 days after the seizure of the items by the sheriff. 40
	454	+	Upon receipt of the third party's motion, the court shall schedule a hearing and provide written 41
	455	+	notice to all parties and the sheriff. sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer. The court 42
	456	+	shall order return of the items to the third party unless the court determines that the third party is 43
	457	+	disqualified from owning or possessing said items pursuant to State or federal law. If the court 44
	458	+	denies the return of said items to the third party, the items shall be disposed of by the sheriff or 45
	459	+	the qualified licensed firearms dealer as provided in subsection (h) of this section. 46
	460	+	(h) Disposal of Firearms. – If the defendant does not file a motion requesting submit a 47
	461	+	written request for the return of any firearms, ammunition, or permits surrendered within the time 48
	462	+	period prescribed by this section, if the court determines that the defendant is precluded from 49
	463	+	regaining possession of any firearms, ammunition, or permits surrendered, or if the defendant or 50
	464	+	third-party owner fails to remit all fees owed for the storage of the firearms or ammunition within 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	465	+	Page 10 DRH30256-ML-11
	466	+	30 days of the request for the return of firearms, ammunition, or permits or entry of the an order 1
	467	+	granting the return of the firearms, ammunition, or permits, the sheriff or the qualified licensed 2
	468	+	firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, ammunition, or permits shall give notice to the 3
	469	+	defendant, and the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer shall apply to the court for an 4
	470	+	order of disposition of the firearms, ammunition, or permits. The judge, after a hearing, may 5
	471	+	order the disposition of the firearms, ammunition, or permits in one or more of the ways 6
	472	+	authorized by law, including subdivision (4), (4b), (5), or (6) of G.S. 14-269.1. Additionally, for 7
	473	+	firearms and ammunition surrendered to a qualified licensed firearms dealer under subsection 8
	474	+	(d1) of this section, the judge may order the firearms and ammunition disposed of by sale by the 9
	475	+	qualified licensed firearms dealer. If a sale by the sheriff or a qualified licensed firearms dealer 10
	476	+	does occur, occur pursuant to this subsection, any proceeds from the sale after deducting any 11
	477	+	costs associated with the sale, sale and any storage fees owed to the sheriff or the qualified 12
	478	+	licensed firearms dealer, and in accordance with all applicable State and federal law, shall be 13
	479	+	provided to the defendant, if requested by the defendant by motion made before the hearing or at 14
	480	+	the hearing and if ordered by the judge.defendant. 15
	481	+	(i) Failure to Surrender or Disclose. – It is unlawful for any person subject to a protective 16
	482	+	order prohibiting the possession or purchase of firearms to:to do any of the following: 17
	483	+	(1) Fail to surrender all firearms, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, and 18
	484	+	permits to carry concealed firearms to the sheriff as ordered by the court;court. 19
	485	+	(2) Fail to disclose all information pertaining to the possession of firearms, 20
	486	+	ammunition, and permits to purchase and permits to carry concealed firearms 21
	487	+	as requested by the court; orcourt. 22
	488	+	(3) Provide false information to the court pertaining to any of these items. 23
	489	+	… 24
	490	+	(l) Construction. – Nothing in this section is intended to limit the discretion of the court 25
	491	+	in granting additional relief as provided in other sections of this Chapter. 26
	492	+	(m) Qualified Licensed Firearms Dealer. – For purposes of this section, the term 27
	493	+	"qualified licensed firearms dealer" shall mean a federally licensed firearms dealer that meets all 28
	494	+	of the following requirements: 29
	495	+	(1) Operates a business in a commercial building located in the State. 30
	496	+	(2) Is open to the public. 31
	497	+	(3) Regularly engages in the purchase and sale of firearms with members of the 32
	498	+	public." 33
	499	+	SECTION 4.2. This Part becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to orders 34
	500	+	issued on or after that date. 35
	501	+	36
	502	+	PART V. AUTHORIZE THE STORAGE AND USE OF DEFENSIVE DEVICES IN 37
	503	+	BIOMETRIC SAFES FOR SCHOOLS 38
	504	+	SECTION 5.1. G.S. 14-269(b) reads as rewritten: 39
	505	+	"(b) This prohibition shall not apply to the following persons: 40
346	506		… 41
347		-	(d) Surrender. – Upon service of the order, the defendant shall immediately surrender to 42
348		-	the sheriff possession of all firearms, machine guns, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, 43
349		-	and permits to carry concealed firearms that are in the care, custody, possession, ownership, or 44
350		-	control of the defendant. In the event that weapons cannot be surrendered at the time the order is 45
351		-	served, the defendant shall surrender the firearms, ammunitions, and permits to the sheriff within 46
352		-	24 hours of service at a time and place specified by the sheriff. The sheriff shall store the firearms 47
353		-	or contract with a licensed firearms dealer to provide storage. 48
354		-	(1) If the court orders the defendant to surrender firearms, ammunition, and 49
355		-	permits, the court shall inform the plaintiff and the defendant of the terms of 50
356		-	the protective order and include these terms on the face of the order, including 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
357		-	Page 8 House Bill 674-First Edition
358		-	that the defendant is prohibited from possessing, purchasing, or receiving or 1
359		-	attempting to possess, purchase, or receive a firearm for so long as the 2
360		-	protective order or any successive protective order is in effect. The terms of 3
361		-	the order shall include instructions as to how the defendant may request 4
362		-	retrieval of any firearms, ammunition, and permits surrendered to the sheriff 5
363		-	when the protective order is no longer in effect. The terms shall also include 6
364		-	notice of the penalty for violation of G.S. 14-269.8. 7
365		-	(2) The sheriff may charge the defendant a reasonable fee for the storage of any 8
366		-	firearms and ammunition taken pursuant to a protective order. The fees are 9
367		-	payable to the sheriff. The sheriff shall transmit the proceeds of these fees to 10
368		-	the county finance officer. The fees shall be used by the sheriff to pay the costs 11
369		-	of administering this section and for other law enforcement purposes. The 12
370		-	county shall expend the restricted funds for these purposes only. The sheriff 13
371		-	shall not release firearms, ammunition, or permits without a court order 14
372		-	granting the release. The defendant must remit all fees owed prior to the 15
373		-	authorized return of any firearms, ammunition, or permits. The sheriff shall 16
374		-	not incur any civil or criminal liability for alleged damage or deterioration due 17
375		-	to storage or transportation of any firearms or ammunition held pursuant to 18
376		-	this section. 19
377		-	(d1) Transfer to Licensed Firearms Dealer. – After the defendant surrenders possession of 20
378		-	all firearms, machine guns, ammunition, and permits to the sheriff pursuant to subsection (d) of 21
379		-	this section, the defendant may enter into an agreement with a qualified licensed firearms dealer 22
380		-	to take possession of the surrendered items from the custody of the sheriff if (i) the defendant is 23
381		-	the owner of the items and (ii) the items have been in the custody of the sheriff at least 15 days. 24
382		-	The defendant shall authorize the qualified licensed firearms dealer to submit the form provided 25
383		-	for in this subsection requesting the transfer of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition to 26
384		-	the sheriff currently storing the items. The qualified licensed firearms dealer must present the 27
385		-	completed form and a copy of the dealer's valid federal firearms license to the sheriff, who shall 28
386		-	have 24 hours to facilitate the transfer of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition to the 29
387		-	dealer. Any funds received from the sale of a firearm, machine gun, or ammunition by a 30
388		-	defendant pursuant to this subsection are the property of the defendant. The defendant's permits 31
389		-	to purchase firearms and permits to carry concealed firearms shall remain in the care and custody 32
390		-	of the sheriff as provided in subsection (d) of this section. 33
391		-	At the time a qualified licensed firearms dealer takes possession of the firearms, machine 34
392		-	guns, and ammunition, the dealer shall provide a copy of the record required to be maintained 35
393		-	under federal law upon the receipt or disposition of the firearm, machine gun, or ammunition to 36
394		-	both the sheriff and the owner of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition. 37
395		-	A qualified licensed firearms dealer that accepts firearms, machine guns, and ammunition 38
396		-	pursuant to this subsection shall not (i) release the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition to the 39
397		-	defendant unless the motion for a protective order is dismissed or any order of surrender has 40
398		-	expired or (ii) transfer possession of the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition to any person 41
399		-	the dealer knows or reasonably should know will allow the defendant to exercise care, custody, 42
400		-	possession, ownership, or control of the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition, and any 43
401		-	violation of this prohibition is a Class 2 misdemeanor. 44
402		-	The Administrative Office of the Courts shall create a form for use in transferring firearms, 45
403		-	machine guns, and ammunition from the custody of the sheriff to a qualified licensed firearms 46
404		-	dealer pursuant to this subsection. The form shall require the notarized signatures of both the 47
405		-	defendant and the qualified licensed firearms dealer and shall allow for either the storage or sale 48
406		-	of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition by the qualified licensed firearms dealer. The 49
407		-	form shall also include information concerning the defendant's rights to recover the surrendered 50
408		-	firearms, machine guns, or ammunition. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
409		-	House Bill 674-First Edition Page 9
410		-	The sheriff shall not charge a fee for the first 15 days of storage for any items transferred to 1
411		-	a qualified licensed firearms dealer pursuant to this subsection. 2
412		-	(e) Retrieval. – If the court does not enter a protective order when the ex parte or 3
413		-	emergency order expires, the defendant may retrieve any weapons surrendered to the sheriff or 4
414		-	the qualified licensed firearms dealer unless the court finds that the defendant is precluded from 5
415		-	owning or possessing a firearm pursuant to State or federal law or final disposition of any pending 6
416		-	criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current protective order. 7
417		-	(f) Motion Request for Return. – The defendant may request the return of any firearms, 8
418		-	ammunition, or permits surrendered by filing a motion with the court submitting a written request 9
419		-	with the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, 10
420		-	ammunition, or permits at the expiration of the current order or final disposition of any pending 11
421		-	criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current protective order 12
422		-	and not later than 90 days 30 days after the expiration of the current order or final disposition of 13
423		-	any pending criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current 14
424		-	protective order. Upon receipt of the motion, request, the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms 15
425		-	dealer shall conduct a check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System 16
426		-	(NICS). If the results of the NICS check provide grounds that preclude the defendant from 17
427		-	owning or possessing a firearm under State or federal law, the sheriff or the qualified licensed 18
428		-	firearms dealer shall file a motion with the court on a form created by the Administrative Office 19
429		-	of the Courts and shall not return the firearms, ammunition, or permits until the court has ruled 20
430		-	on the motion. Upon receipt of the motion, the court shall schedule a hearing and provide written 21
431		-	notice to the plaintiff who shall have the right to appear and be heard and to the sheriff or the 22
432		-	qualified licensed firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, ammunition, or permits. The 23
433		-	court shall determine whether the defendant is subject to any State or federal law or court order 24
434		-	that precludes the defendant from owning or possessing a firearm. The inquiry shall include: 25
435		-	(1) Whether the protective order has been renewed. 26
436		-	(2) Whether the defendant is subject to any other protective orders. 27
437		-	(3) Whether the defendant is disqualified from owning or possessing a firearm 28
438		-	pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922 or any State law. 29
439		-	(4) Whether the defendant has any pending criminal charges, in either State or 30
440		-	federal court, committed against the person that is the subject of the current 31
441		-	protective order. 32
442		-	The court shall deny the return of firearms, ammunition, or permits if the court finds that the 33
443		-	defendant is precluded from owning or possessing a firearm pursuant to State or federal law or 34
444		-	if the defendant has any pending criminal charges, in either State or federal court, committed 35
445		-	against the person that is the subject of the current protective order until the final disposition of 36
446		-	those charges. 37
447		-	(g) Motion for Return by Third-Party Owner. – A third-party owner of firearms, 38
448		-	ammunition, or permits who is otherwise eligible to possess such items may file a motion 39
449		-	requesting the return to said third party of any such items in the possession of the sheriff or the 40
450		-	qualified licensed firearms dealer seized as a result of the entry of a domestic violence protective 41
451		-	order. The motion must be filed not later than 30 days after the seizure of the items by the sheriff. 42
452		-	Upon receipt of the third party's motion, the court shall schedule a hearing and provide written 43
453		-	notice to all parties and the sheriff. sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer. The court 44
454		-	shall order return of the items to the third party unless the court determines that the third party is 45
455		-	disqualified from owning or possessing said items pursuant to State or federal law. If the court 46
456		-	denies the return of said items to the third party, the items shall be disposed of by the sheriff or 47
457		-	the qualified licensed firearms dealer as provided in subsection (h) of this section. 48
458		-	(h) Disposal of Firearms. – If the defendant does not file a motion requesting submit a 49
459		-	written request for the return of any firearms, ammunition, or permits surrendered within the time 50
460		-	period prescribed by this section, if the court determines that the defendant is precluded from 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
461		-	Page 10 House Bill 674-First Edition
462		-	regaining possession of any firearms, ammunition, or permits surrendered, or if the defendant or 1
463		-	third-party owner fails to remit all fees owed for the storage of the firearms or ammunition within 2
464		-	30 days of the request for the return of firearms, ammunition, or permits or entry of the an order 3
465		-	granting the return of the firearms, ammunition, or permits, the sheriff or the qualified licensed 4
466		-	firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, ammunition, or permits shall give notice to the 5
467		-	defendant, and the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer shall apply to the court for an 6
468		-	order of disposition of the firearms, ammunition, or permits. The judge, after a hearing, may 7
469		-	order the disposition of the firearms, ammunition, or permits in one or more of the ways 8
470		-	authorized by law, including subdivision (4), (4b), (5), or (6) of G.S. 14-269.1. Additionally, for 9
471		-	firearms and ammunition surrendered to a qualified licensed firearms dealer under subsection 10
472		-	(d1) of this section, the judge may order the firearms and ammunition disposed of by sale by the 11
473		-	qualified licensed firearms dealer. If a sale by the sheriff or a qualified licensed firearms dealer 12
474		-	does occur, occur pursuant to this subsection, any proceeds from the sale after deducting any 13
475		-	costs associated with the sale, sale and any storage fees owed to the sheriff or the qualified 14
476		-	licensed firearms dealer, and in accordance with all applicable State and federal law, shall be 15
477		-	provided to the defendant, if requested by the defendant by motion made before the hearing or at 16
478		-	the hearing and if ordered by the judge.defendant. 17
479		-	(i) Failure to Surrender or Disclose. – It is unlawful for any person subject to a protective 18
480		-	order prohibiting the possession or purchase of firearms to:to do any of the following: 19
481		-	(1) Fail to surrender all firearms, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, and 20
482		-	permits to carry concealed firearms to the sheriff as ordered by the court;court. 21
483		-	(2) Fail to disclose all information pertaining to the possession of firearms, 22
484		-	ammunition, and permits to purchase and permits to carry concealed firearms 23
485		-	as requested by the court; orcourt. 24
486		-	(3) Provide false information to the court pertaining to any of these items. 25
487		-	… 26
488		-	(l) Construction. – Nothing in this section is intended to limit the discretion of the court 27
489		-	in granting additional relief as provided in other sections of this Chapter. 28
490		-	(m) Qualified Licensed Firearms Dealer. – For purposes of this section, the term 29
491		-	"qualified licensed firearms dealer" shall mean a federally licensed firearms dealer that meets all 30
492		-	of the following requirements: 31
493		-	(1) Operates a business in a commercial building located in the State. 32
494		-	(2) Is open to the public. 33
495		-	(3) Regularly engages in the purchase and sale of firearms with members of the 34
496		-	public." 35
497		-	SECTION 4.2. This Part becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to orders 36
498		-	issued on or after that date. 37
499		-	38
500		-	PART V. AUTHORIZE TH E STORAGE AND USE OF DEFENSIVE DEVICES I N 39
501		-	BIOMETRIC SAFES FOR SCHOOLS 40
502		-	SECTION 5.1. G.S. 14-269(b) reads as rewritten: 41
503		-	"(b) This prohibition shall not apply to the following persons: 42
504		-	… 43
505		-	(10) A public school unit or nonpublic school employee who meets the following 44
506		-	requirements: 45
507		-	a. The employee has completed annual training for a device 46
508		-	classification, as required by G.S. 115C-105.52, to access any 47
509		-	defensive device stored in a locked container that is securely affixed 48
510		-	to the premises of the educational property and accessible by a 49
511		-	biometric lock that limits access to only authorized employees with 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
512		-	House Bill 674-First Edition Page 11
513		-	training for defensive devices stored within the container or law 1
514		-	enforcement officers. 2
515		-	b. The employee accesses and uses a defensive device in response to a 3
516		-	threatening situation in which force was justified pursuant to 4
517		-	G.S. 14-51.3." 5
518		-	SECTION 5.2. G.S. 14-269.2(g) reads as rewritten: 6
519		-	"(g) This section shall not apply to any of the following: 7
520		-	… 8
521		-	(8) A weapon that is a defensive device stored on educational property, as 9
522		-	provided in G.S. 115C-105.52, or use of those devices by authorized 10
523		-	employees in response to a threatening situation in which force was justified 11
524		-	pursuant to G.S. 14-51.3." 12
525		-	SECTION 5.3. G.S. 115C-105.52 reads as rewritten: 13
526		-	"§ 115C-105.52. School Defensive device storage and school crisis kits. 14
527		-	(a) The following definitions apply in this section: 15
528		-	(1) Authorized employee. – An employee of a public school unit or nonpublic 16
529		-	school who meets all of the following requirements on an annual basis: 17
530		-	a. Receives training meeting the standards established by the Center for 18
531		-	Safer Schools for a device classification. 19
532		-	b. Is designated by the public school unit as an employee that may access 20
533		-	a defensive device storage container using that employee's biometric 21
534		-	information. 22
535		-	(2) Defensive device. – A device used to defend against the imminent use of 23
536		-	unlawful force. A defensive device may include, but is not limited to, a 24
537		-	disabling chemical spray, an electronic incapacitation device, or a firearm. 25
538		-	(3) Defensive device storage container. – A locked container that is securely 26
539		-	affixed to the premises of the educational property and accessible by a 27
540		-	biometric lock that limits access to only authorized employees with training 28
541		-	for any device classifications stored within the container or law enforcement 29
542		-	officers. 30
543		-	(4) Device classification. – A classification of a defensive device corresponding 31
544		-	to the required training standards established by the Center for Safer Schools 32
545		-	for use of that device by an employee of the school. 33
546		-	(5) Nonpublic school. – A school that meets the requirements of Part 1 or 2 of 34
547		-	Article 39 of this Chapter. 35
548		-	(b) Any public school unit or nonpublic school may provide for defensive devices on the 36
549		-	educational property of the school if those defensive devices are stored in a defensive device 37
550		-	storage container. The administrator for each school may affix one or more defensive device 38
551		-	storage containers at appropriate locations in the school and may post signs alerting the public to 39
552		-	the presence of the defensive device storage containers. 40
553		-	(c) No employee shall be required to complete training for any defensive device, 41
554		-	regardless of device classification. Only employees that have completed the annual training for 42
555		-	a device classification shall be eligible for biometric access to a defensive device storage 43
556		-	container with that device classification. 44
557		-	(d) A public school unit, nonpublic school, or authorized employee shall not be liable in 45
558		-	civil damages for any act or omission related to a defensive device unless the act or omission 46
559		-	amounts to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing. 47
560		-	(e) The Center for Safer Schools, in consultation with the Department of Public 48
561		-	Instruction and the Department of Public Safety, shall develop and adopt policies on the 49
562		-	placement of school crisis kits in schools and on the contents of those kits. The kits shall include, 50
563		-	at a minimum, basic first-aid supplies and communications devices. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
564		-	Page 12 House Bill 674-First Edition
	507	+	(10) A public school unit or nonpublic school employee who meets the following 42
	508	+	requirements: 43
	509	+	a. The employee has completed annual training for a device 44
	510	+	classification, as required by G.S. 115C-105.52, to access any 45
	511	+	defensive device stored in a locked container that is securely affixed 46
	512	+	to the premises of the educational property and accessible by a 47
	513	+	biometric lock that limits access to only authorized employees with 48
	514	+	training for defensive devices stored within the container or law 49
	515	+	enforcement officers. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	516	+	DRH30256-ML-11 Page 11
	517	+	b. The employee accesses and uses a defensive device in response to a 1
	518	+	threatening situation in which force was justified pursuant to 2
	519	+	G.S. 14-51.3." 3
	520	+	SECTION 5.2. G.S. 14-269.2(g) reads as rewritten: 4
	521	+	"(g) This section shall not apply to any of the following: 5
	522	+	… 6
	523	+	(8) A weapon that is a defensive device stored on educational property, as 7
	524	+	provided in G.S. 115C-105.52, or use of those devices by authorized 8
	525	+	employees in response to a threatening situation in which force was justified 9
	526	+	pursuant to G.S. 14-51.3." 10
	527	+	SECTION 5.3. G.S. 115C-105.52 reads as rewritten: 11
	528	+	"§ 115C-105.52. School Defensive device storage and school crisis kits. 12
	529	+	(a) The following definitions apply in this section: 13
	530	+	(1) Authorized employee. – An employee of a public school unit or nonpublic 14
	531	+	school who meets all of the following requirements on an annual basis: 15
	532	+	a. Receives training meeting the standards established by the Center for 16
	533	+	Safer Schools for a device classification. 17
	534	+	b. Is designated by the public school unit as an employee that may access 18
	535	+	a defensive device storage container using that employee's biometric 19
	536	+	information. 20
	537	+	(2) Defensive device. – A device used to defend against the imminent use of 21
	538	+	unlawful force. A defensive device may include, but is not limited to, a 22
	539	+	disabling chemical spray, an electronic incapacitation device, or a firearm. 23
	540	+	(3) Defensive device storage container. – A locked container that is securely 24
	541	+	affixed to the premises of the educational property and accessible by a 25
	542	+	biometric lock that limits access to only authorized employees with training 26
	543	+	for any device classifications stored within the container or law enforcement 27
	544	+	officers. 28
	545	+	(4) Device classification. – A classification of a defensive device corresponding 29
	546	+	to the required training standards established by the Center for Safer Schools 30
	547	+	for use of that device by an employee of the school. 31
	548	+	(5) Nonpublic school. – A school that meets the requirements of Part 1 or 2 of 32
	549	+	Article 39 of this Chapter. 33
	550	+	(b) Any public school unit or nonpublic school may provide for defensive devices on the 34
	551	+	educational property of the school if those defensive devices are stored in a defensive device 35
	552	+	storage container. The administrator for each school may affix one or more defensive device 36
	553	+	storage containers at appropriate locations in the school and may post signs alerting the public to 37
	554	+	the presence of the defensive device storage containers. 38
	555	+	(c) No employee shall be required to complete training for any defensive device, 39
	556	+	regardless of device classification. Only employees that have completed the annual training for 40
	557	+	a device classification shall be eligible for biometric access to a defensive device storage 41
	558	+	container with that device classification. 42
	559	+	(d) A public school unit, nonpublic school, or authorized employee shall not be liable in 43
	560	+	civil damages for any act or omission related to a defensive device unless the act or omission 44
	561	+	amounts to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing. 45
	562	+	(e) The Center for Safer Schools, in consultation with the Department of Public 46
	563	+	Instruction and the Department of Public Safety, shall develop and adopt policies on the 47
	564	+	placement of school crisis kits in schools and on the contents of those kits. The kits shall include, 48
	565	+	at a minimum, basic first-aid supplies and communications devices. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	566	+	Page 12 DRH30256-ML-11
565	567		(f) The principal of each school, in coordination with the law enforcement agencies that 1
566	568		are part of the public school unit's School Risk Management Plan, may place one or more crisis 2
567	569		kits at appropriate locations in the school." 3
568	570		SECTION 5.4. G.S. 143B-1209.59(c), as recodified under Section 3J.17 of S.L. 4
569	571		2024-57, reads as rewritten: 5
570	572		"(c) Powers and Duties. – The Center for Safer Schools shall have the following duties, 6
571	573		and all other powers and duties provided in Article 8C of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes: 7
572	574		… 8
573	575		(11) Establish classifications of defensive devices and, in collaboration with the 9
574	576		North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards 10
575	577		Commission, establish minimum training standards for school employees to 11
576	578		qualify to access and use that classification of defensive device in a storage 12
577	579		container with biometric locks. The minimum training standards shall be made 13
578	580		publicly available for use of law enforcement or private entities to provide 14
579	581		training meeting those standards." 15
580	582		SECTION 5.5. Public school units awarded school safety grants for safety 16
581	583		equipment may use those grants to purchase defensive devices and defensive device storage 17
582	584		containers and associated training for public school employees. 18
583	585		SECTION 5.6. The Center for Safer Schools shall establish classifications and 19
584	586		training standards required by this section no later than January 1, 2026. 20
585	587		21
586	588		PART VI. MISCELLANEOUS 22
587	589		SECTION 6.1. Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this 23
588	590		act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act 24
589	591		remain applicable to those prosecutions. 25
590	592		SECTION 6.2. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 26
591	593		law. 27