GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 674
Short Title: The Firearms Liberty Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Adams, Kidwell, Eddins, and Carson Smith (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Judiciary 2, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules,
Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 3, 2025
*H674 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ALLOW THE ISSUANCE OF LIFETIME CONCEALED HANDGUN 2
PERMITS, TO PROVIDE THAT A CONCEALED CAR RY PERMITTEE WHO ALLOWS 3
THE PERMIT TO LAPSE DOES NOT HAVE TO TAK E ANOTHER FIREARMS 4
SAFETY AND TRAINING COURSE UPON APPLYING FOR RENEWAL UNDER 5
CERTAIN CONDITIONS, TO PROTECT THE PROPE RTY RIGHTS OF PERSON S 6
SUBJECT TO A DOMESTI C VIOLENCE PROTECTIV E ORDER BY ALLOWING 7
THEM TO STORE THEIR FIREARMS WITH OR SELL THEIR FIREARMS THROUGH 8
A QUALIFIED LICENSED FIREARMS DEALER, AN D TO AUTHORIZE THE 9
STORAGE AND USE OF D EFENSIVE DEVICES IN BIOMETRIC SAFES FOR 10
SCHOOLS. 11
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 12
13
PART I. TITLE 14
SECTION 1.1. This act shall be known as "The Firearms Liberty Act." 15
16
PART II. LIFETIME CONCEALED HANDGUN PERM ITS 17
SECTION 2.1. G.S. 14-415.10 reads as rewritten: 18
"§ 14-415.10. Definitions. 19
The following definitions apply to this Article: 20
(1) Carry a concealed handgun. – The term includes possession of a concealed 21
handgun. 22
(1a)(2) Deployed or deployment. – Any military duty that removes a military 23
permittee from the permittee's county of residence during which time the 24
permittee's permit expires or will expire. 25
(3) Fixed duration permit. – A concealed handgun permit issued in accordance 26
with the provisions of this Article and with a stated expiration date. 27
(2)(4) Handgun. – A firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be held and 28
fired by the use of a single hand. 29
(5) Lifetime permit. – A concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with the 30
provisions of this Article with no expiration date. 31
(2a)(6) Military permittee. – A person who holds a permit who is also a member of 32
the Armed Forces of the United States, the reserve components of the Armed 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 674-First Edition
Forces of the United States, the North Carolina Army National Guard, or the 1
North Carolina Air National Guard. 2
(3)(7) Permit. – A concealed handgun permit fixed duration permit or lifetime permit 3
issued in accordance with the provisions of this Article. 4
(3a)(8) Proof of deployment. – A copy of the military permittee's deployment orders 5
or other written notification from the permittee's command indicating the start 6
and end date of deployment and that orders the permittee to travel outside the 7
permittee's county of residence. 8
(4)(9) Qualified former sworn law enforcement officer. – An individual who retired 9
from service as a law enforcement officer with a local, State, campus police, 10
or company police agency in North Carolina, other than for reasons of mental 11
disability, who has been retired as a sworn law enforcement officer two years 12
or less from the date of the permit application, and who satisfies all of the 13
following: 14
a. Immediately before retirement, the individual was a qualified law 15
enforcement officer with a local, State, or company police agency in 16
North Carolina. 17
b. The individual has a nonforfeitable right to benefits under the 18
retirement plan of the local, State, or company police agency as a law 19
enforcement officer; or has 20 or more aggregate years of law 20
enforcement service and has retired from a company police agency 21
that does not have a retirement plan; or has 20 or more aggregate years 22
of part-time or auxiliary law enforcement service. 23
c. The individual is not prohibited by State or federal law from receiving 24
a firearm. 25
(4a)(10) Qualified retired correctional officer. – An individual who retired from 26
service as a State correctional officer, other than for reasons of mental 27
disability, who has been retired as a correctional officer two years or less from 28
the date of the permit application and who meets all of the following criteria: 29
… 30
(4b)(11) Qualified retired law enforcement officer. – An individual who meets the 31
definition of "qualified retired law enforcement officer" contained in section 32
926C of Title 18 of the United States Code. 33
(4c)(12) Qualified retired probation or parole certified officer. – An individual who 34
retired from service as a State probation or parole certified officer, other than 35
for reasons of mental disability, who has been retired as a probation or parole 36
certified officer two years or less from the date of the permit application and 37
who meets all of the following criteria: 38
… 39
(5)(13) Qualified sworn law enforcement officer. – A law enforcement officer 40
employed by a local, State, campus police, or company police agency in North 41
Carolina who satisfies all of the following: 42
…." 43
SECTION 2.2. G.S. 14-415.11 reads as rewritten: 44
"§ 14-415.11. Permit to carry concealed handgun; scope of permit. 45
(a) Any person who has a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun may 46
carry a concealed handgun unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law. The person shall carry 47
the permit together with valid identification whenever the person is carrying a concealed 48
handgun, shall disclose to any law enforcement officer that the person holds a valid permit and 49
is carrying a concealed handgun when approached or addressed by the officer, and shall display 50
both the permit and the proper identification upon the request of a law enforcement officer. In 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 674-First Edition Page 3
addition to these requirements, a military permittee with a fixed duration permit whose permit 1
has expired during deployment may carry a concealed handgun during the 90 days following the 2
end of deployment and before the permit is renewed provided the permittee also displays proof 3
of deployment to any law enforcement officer. 4
(b) The sheriff shall issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun to a person who qualifies 5
for a permit under G.S. 14-415.12. The A fixed duration permit shall be valid throughout the 6
State for a period of five years from the date of issuance. A lifetime permit shall be valid 7
throughout the State until revoked or surrendered. 8
… 9
(d) A person who is issued a permit shall notify the sheriff who issued the permit of the 10
county where the person resides of any change in the person's permanent address within 30 days 11
after the change of address. If a permit is lost or destroyed, the person to whom the permit was 12
issued shall notify the sheriff who issued the permit of the loss or destruction of the permit. A 13
person may obtain a duplicate permit by submitting to the sheriff a notarized statement that the 14
permit was lost or destroyed and paying the required duplicate permit fee." 15
SECTION 2.3. G.S. 14-415.14(a) reads as rewritten: 16
"(a) The sheriff shall make permit applications readily available at the office of the sheriff 17
or at other public offices in the sheriff's jurisdiction. The permit application shall be in triplicate, 18
in a form to be prescribed by the State Bureau of Investigation, and shall include the following 19
information with regard to the applicant: name, address, physical description, signature, date of 20
birth, social security number, military status, law enforcement status, and the drivers license 21
number or State identification card number of the applicant if used for identification in applying 22
for the permit. The application shall also indicate if the application is for a fixed duration permit 23
or a lifetime permit." 24
SECTION 2.4. G.S. 14-415.15 reads as rewritten: 25
"§ 14-415.15. Issuance or denial of permit. 26
(a) Except as permitted under subsection (b) of this section, within 45 days after receipt 27
of the items listed in G.S. 14-415.13 from an applicant, and receipt of the required records 28
concerning the mental health or capacity of the applicant, the sheriff shall either issue or deny 29
the permit. The sheriff may conduct any investigation necessary to determine the qualification or 30
competency of the person applying for the permit, including record checks. The sheriff shall 31
make the request for any records concerning the mental health or capacity of the applicant within 32
10 days of receipt of the items listed in G.S. 14-415.13. No person, company, mental health 33
provider, or governmental entity may charge additional fees to the applicant for background 34
checks conducted under this subsection. A permit shall not be denied unless the applicant is 35
determined to be ineligible pursuant to G.S. 14-415.12. 36
(b) Upon presentment to the sheriff of the items required under G.S. 14-415.13 (a)(1), 37
(2), and (3), the sheriff may issue a temporary permit for a period not to exceed 45 days to a 38
person who the sheriff reasonably believes is in an emergency situation that may constitute a risk 39
of safety to the person, the person's family or property. The applicant may submit proof of a 40
protective order issued under G.S. 50B-3 for the protection of the applicant as evidence of an 41
emergency situation. The temporary permit may not be renewed and may be revoked by the 42
sheriff without a hearing. 43
(c) A person's application for a permit shall be denied only if the applicant fails to qualify 44
under the criteria listed in this Article. If the sheriff denies the application for a permit, the sheriff 45
shall, within 45 days, notify the applicant in writing, stating the grounds for denial. An applicant 46
may appeal the denial, revocation, denial of a permit or the nonrenewal of a fixed duration permit 47
by petitioning a district court judge of the district in which the application was filed. The 48
determination by the court, on appeal, shall be upon the facts, the law, and the reasonableness of 49
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
Page 4 House Bill 674-First Edition
SECTION 2.5. G.S. 14-415.16, as amended by Section 3.1 of this act, reads as 1
rewritten: 2
"§ 14-415.16. Renewal of fixed duration permit. 3
(a) At least 45 days prior to the expiration date of a fixed duration permit, the sheriff of 4
the county where the permit was issued shall send a written notice to the permittee explaining 5
that the permit is about to expire and including information about the requirements for renewal 6
of the permit. The notice shall be sent by first class mail to the last known address of the 7
permittee. Failure to receive a renewal notice shall not relieve a permittee of requirements 8
imposed in this section for renewal of the permit. 9
(b) The holder of a fixed duration permit shall apply to renew the permit within the 10
90-day period prior to its expiration date by filing with the sheriff of the county in which the 11
person resides a renewal form provided by the sheriff's office, an affidavit stating that the 12
permittee remains qualified under the criteria provided in this Article, a newly administered full 13
set of the permittee's fingerprints, and a renewal fee. The renewal form shall indicate whether the 14
holder of the permit would like the renewal to be issued as a fixed duration permit or a lifetime 15
permit. 16
… 17
(e) If the permittee does not apply to renew the fixed duration permit prior to its 18
expiration date, but does apply to renew the permit less than 180 days after the permit expires, 19
the sheriff shall waive the requirement of taking another firearms safety and training course. If 20
the permittee applies to renew the permit between 180 days and one year after the permit expires, 21
the sheriff may waive the requirement of taking another firearms and safety training course. This 22
subsection does not extend the expiration date of the fixed duration permit. 23
(f) An applicant may appeal the nonrenewal of a fixed duration permit as provided in 24
G.S. 14-415.15(c)." 25
SECTION 2.6. G.S. 14-415.16A reads as rewritten: 26
"§ 14-415.16A. Permit extensions and renewals of fixed duration permits for deployed 27
military permittees. 28
(a) A deployed military permittee whose fixed duration permit will expire during the 29
permittee's deployment, or the permittee's agent, may apply to the sheriff for an extension of the 30
military permittee's permit by providing the sheriff with a copy of the permittee's proof of 31
deployment. Upon receipt of the proof, the sheriff shall extend the fixed duration permit for a 32
period to end 90 days after the permittee's deployment is scheduled to end. A fixed duration 33
permit that has been extended under this section shall be valid throughout the State during the 34
period of its extension. 35
(b) A military permittee's fixed duration permit that is not extended under subsection (a) 36
of this section and that expires during deployment shall remain valid during the deployment and 37
for 90 days after the end of the deployment as if the permit had not expired. The military permittee 38
may carry a concealed handgun during this period provided the permittee meets all the 39
requirements of G.S. 14-415.11(a). 40
(c) A military permittee under subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section shall have 41
90 days after the end of the permittee's deployment to renew the fixed duration permit. In addition 42
to the requirements of G.S. 14-415.16, the permittee shall provide to the sheriff proof of 43
deployment. The sheriff shall renew the permit upon receipt of this documentation provided the 44
permittee otherwise remains qualified to hold a concealed handgun permit." 45
SECTION 2.7. Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by 46
adding a new section to read: 47
"§ 14-415.16B. Reissuance of a lifetime permit as a fixed duration permit. 48
The holder of a lifetime permit may apply at any time to have the lifetime permit reissued as 49
a fixed duration permit. An application for reissuance shall be submitted by the permittee and 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 674-First Edition Page 5
considered by the sheriff in the same manner as an application for renewal of a fixed duration 1
permit pursuant to the applicable provisions of G.S. 14-415.16." 2
SECTION 2.8. G.S. 14-415.17 reads as rewritten: 3
"§ 14-415.17. Permit; sheriff to retain a list of permittees; confidentiality of list and permit 4
application information; availability to law enforcement agencies. 5
(a) The permit shall be in a certificate form, as prescribed by the State Bureau of 6
Investigation, that is approximately the size of a North Carolina drivers license. It shall bear the 7
signature, name, address, date of birth, and the drivers license identification number used in 8
applying for the permit. A lifetime permit shall bear a clear indication of its lifetime duration on 9
its face. A fixed duration permit shall bear the expiration date of the permit on its face. 10
(b) The sheriff shall maintain a listing, including the identifying information, of those 11
persons who are issued a permit. permit and whether the permit issued is a fixed duration permit 12
or a lifetime permit. Within five days of the date a permit is issued, the sheriff shall send a copy 13
of the permit to the State Bureau of Investigation. 14
(c) Except as provided otherwise by this subsection, the list of permit holders and the 15
information collected by the sheriff to process an application for a permit are confidential and 16
are not a public record under G.S. 132-1. The sheriff shall make the list of permit holders and the 17
permit information available upon request to all State and local law enforcement agencies. The 18
State Bureau of Investigation shall make the list of permit holders and the information collected 19
by the sheriff to process an application for a permit available to law enforcement officers and 20
clerks of court on a statewide system. 21
(d) A sheriff shall provide any change of permanent address received pursuant to 22
G.S. 14-415.11(d) to the State Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in the statewide system 23
required by subsection (c) of this section." 24
SECTION 2.9. G.S. 14-415.18(a) reads as rewritten: 25
"(a) The sheriff of the county where the permit was issued or the sheriff of the county 26
where the person resides may revoke a permit subsequent to a hearing for any of the following 27
reasons: 28
(1) Fraud or intentional and material misrepresentation in the obtaining of a 29
permit. 30
(2) Misuse of a permit, including lending or giving a permit or a duplicate permit 31
to another person, materially altering a permit, or using a permit with the intent 32
to unlawfully cause harm to a person or property. It shall not be considered 33
misuse of a permit to provide a duplicate of the permit to a vender vendor for 34
record-keeping purposes. 35
(3) The doing of an act or existence of a condition which would have been 36
grounds for the denial of the permit by the sheriff. 37
(4) The violation of any of the terms of this Article. 38
(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-369, s. 20, effective October 1, 2013. 39
(6) The person is no longer a resident of the State. 40
A permittee may appeal the revocation, or nonrenewal revocation of a permit by petitioning 41
a district court judge of the district in which the applicant resides. The determination by the court, 42
on appeal, shall be upon the facts, the law, and the reasonableness of the sheriff's refusal. The 43
determination by the court shall be final for the purpose of appeal." 44
SECTION 2.10. G.S. 14-415.19 reads as rewritten: 45
"§ 14-415.19. Fees. 46
(a) The permit fees assessed under this Article are payable to the sheriff. The sheriff shall 47
transmit the proceeds of these fees to the county finance officer to be remitted or credited by the 48
county finance officer in accordance with the provisions of this section. Except as otherwise 49
provided by this section, the permit fees are as follows: 50
51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 House Bill 674-First Edition
Application fee ............................................................................ $80.00 1
Renewal or reissuance fee ........................................................... $75.00 2
Duplicate permit fee .................................................................... $15.00 3
4
The county finance officer shall remit forty-five dollars ($45.00) of each new application fee 5
and forty dollars ($40.00) of each renewal or reissuance fee assessed under this subsection to the 6
North Carolina Department of Public Safety for the costs of State and federal criminal record 7
checks performed in connection with processing applications and for the implementation of the 8
provisions of this Article. The remaining thirty-five dollars ($35.00) of each application or 9
renewal application, renewal, or reissuance fee shall be used by the sheriff to pay the costs of 10
administering this Article and for other law enforcement purposes. The county shall expend the 11
restricted funds for these purposes only. 12
(a1) The permit fees for a retired sworn law enforcement officer who provides the 13
information required by subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection to the sheriff, in addition to 14
any other information required under this Article, are as follows: 15
16
Application fee ............................................................................ $45.00 17
Renewal or reissuance fee ........................................................... $40.00 18
19
(1) A copy of the officer's letter of retirement from either the North Carolina 20
Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the North Carolina 21
Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System. 22
(2) Written documentation from the head of the agency where the person was 23
previously employed indicating that the person was neither involuntarily 24
terminated nor under administrative or criminal investigation within six 25
months of retirement. 26
The county finance officer shall remit the proceeds of the fees assessed under this subsection 27
to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to cover the cost of performing the State and 28
federal criminal record checks performed in connection with processing applications and for the 29
implementation of the provisions of this Article. 30
(b) An additional fee, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), shall be collected by the sheriff 31
from an applicant for a permit to pay for the costs of processing the applicant's fingerprints, if 32
fingerprints were required to be taken. This fee shall be retained by the sheriff." 33
SECTION 2.11. G.S. 17C-6(a) reads as rewritten: 34
"(a) In addition to powers conferred upon the Commission elsewhere in this Article, the 35
Commission shall have the following powers, which shall be enforceable through its rules and 36
regulations, certification procedures, or the provisions of G.S. 17C-10: 37
… 38
(16) Establish standards and guidelines for the annual firearms certification of 39
qualified retired law enforcement officers, as defined in G.S. 14-415.10(4b), 40
G.S. 14-415.10(11), to efficiently implement the provisions of 41
G.S. 14-415.25. The standards shall provide for the courses, qualifications, 42
and the issuance of the annual firearms qualification certification. The 43
Commission may adopt any rules necessary to effect the provisions of this 44
section, and may charge a reasonable fee to applicants for the costs incurred 45
in compliance with this subdivision. 46
…." 47
SECTION 2.12. G.S. 14-269(a1) reads as rewritten: 48
"(a1) It shall be unlawful for any person willfully and intentionally to willfully and 49
intentionally carry any pistol or gun concealed about his or her person any pistol or gun except 50
in the following circumstances: 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 674-First Edition Page 7
(1) The person is on the person's own premises. 1
(2) The deadly weapon is a handgun, the person has a concealed handgun permit 2
issued in accordance with Article 54B of this Chapter or considered valid 3
under G.S. 14-415.24, and the person is carrying the concealed handgun in 4
accordance with the scope of the concealed handgun permit as set out in 5
G.S. 14-415.11(c). 6
(3) The deadly weapon is a handgun and the person is a military permittee as 7
defined under G.S. 14-415.10(2a) G.S. 14-415.10(6) who provides to the law 8
enforcement officer proof of deployment as required under 9
G.S. 14-415.11(a)." 10
SECTION 2.13. This Part becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to all 11
permits issued or renewed on or after that date. 12
13
PART III. REVISE LAW ON LAPSE OF CONCEAL ED CARRY PERMIT 14
SECTION 3.1. G.S. 14-415.16(e) reads as rewritten: 15
"(e) If the permittee does not apply to renew the permit prior to its expiration date, but 16
does apply to renew the permit within 60 less than 180 days after the permit expires, the sheriff 17
may shall waive the requirement of taking another firearms safety and training course. If the 18
permittee applies to renew the permit between 180 days and one year after the permit expires, 19
the sheriff may waive the requirement of taking another firearms and safety training course. This 20
subsection does not extend the expiration date of the permit." 21
SECTION 3.2. This Part becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to renewal 22
applications submitted on or after that date. 23
24
PART IV. PROPERTY PROTECTION ACT/DVPO 25
SECTION 4.1. G.S. 50B-3.1 reads as rewritten: 26
"§ 50B-3.1. Surrender and disposal of firearms; violations; exemptions. 27
(a) Required Surrender of Firearms. – Upon issuance of an emergency or ex parte order 28
pursuant to this Chapter, the court shall order the defendant to surrender to the sheriff all firearms, 29
machine guns, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, and permits to carry concealed firearms 30
that are in the care, custody, possession, ownership, or control of the defendant if the court finds 31
any of the following factors: 32
(1) The use or threatened use of a deadly weapon by the defendant or a pattern of 33
prior conduct involving the use or threatened use of violence with a firearm 34
against persons. 35
(2) Threats to seriously injure or kill the aggrieved party or minor child by the 36
defendant. 37
(3) Threats to commit suicide by the defendant. 38
(4) Serious injuries inflicted upon the aggrieved party or minor child by the 39
defendant. 40
… 41
(d) Surrender. – Upon service of the order, the defendant shall immediately surrender to 42
the sheriff possession of all firearms, machine guns, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, 43
and permits to carry concealed firearms that are in the care, custody, possession, ownership, or 44
control of the defendant. In the event that weapons cannot be surrendered at the time the order is 45
served, the defendant shall surrender the firearms, ammunitions, and permits to the sheriff within 46
24 hours of service at a time and place specified by the sheriff. The sheriff shall store the firearms 47
or contract with a licensed firearms dealer to provide storage. 48
(1) If the court orders the defendant to surrender firearms, ammunition, and 49
permits, the court shall inform the plaintiff and the defendant of the terms of 50
the protective order and include these terms on the face of the order, including 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 8 House Bill 674-First Edition
that the defendant is prohibited from possessing, purchasing, or receiving or 1
attempting to possess, purchase, or receive a firearm for so long as the 2
protective order or any successive protective order is in effect. The terms of 3
the order shall include instructions as to how the defendant may request 4
retrieval of any firearms, ammunition, and permits surrendered to the sheriff 5
when the protective order is no longer in effect. The terms shall also include 6
notice of the penalty for violation of G.S. 14-269.8. 7
(2) The sheriff may charge the defendant a reasonable fee for the storage of any 8
firearms and ammunition taken pursuant to a protective order. The fees are 9
payable to the sheriff. The sheriff shall transmit the proceeds of these fees to 10
the county finance officer. The fees shall be used by the sheriff to pay the costs 11
of administering this section and for other law enforcement purposes. The 12
county shall expend the restricted funds for these purposes only. The sheriff 13
shall not release firearms, ammunition, or permits without a court order 14
granting the release. The defendant must remit all fees owed prior to the 15
authorized return of any firearms, ammunition, or permits. The sheriff shall 16
not incur any civil or criminal liability for alleged damage or deterioration due 17
to storage or transportation of any firearms or ammunition held pursuant to 18
this section. 19
(d1) Transfer to Licensed Firearms Dealer. – After the defendant surrenders possession of 20
all firearms, machine guns, ammunition, and permits to the sheriff pursuant to subsection (d) of 21
this section, the defendant may enter into an agreement with a qualified licensed firearms dealer 22
to take possession of the surrendered items from the custody of the sheriff if (i) the defendant is 23
the owner of the items and (ii) the items have been in the custody of the sheriff at least 15 days. 24
The defendant shall authorize the qualified licensed firearms dealer to submit the form provided 25
for in this subsection requesting the transfer of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition to 26
the sheriff currently storing the items. The qualified licensed firearms dealer must present the 27
completed form and a copy of the dealer's valid federal firearms license to the sheriff, who shall 28
have 24 hours to facilitate the transfer of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition to the 29
dealer. Any funds received from the sale of a firearm, machine gun, or ammunition by a 30
defendant pursuant to this subsection are the property of the defendant. The defendant's permits 31
to purchase firearms and permits to carry concealed firearms shall remain in the care and custody 32
of the sheriff as provided in subsection (d) of this section. 33
At the time a qualified licensed firearms dealer takes possession of the firearms, machine 34
guns, and ammunition, the dealer shall provide a copy of the record required to be maintained 35
under federal law upon the receipt or disposition of the firearm, machine gun, or ammunition to 36
both the sheriff and the owner of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition. 37
A qualified licensed firearms dealer that accepts firearms, machine guns, and ammunition 38
pursuant to this subsection shall not (i) release the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition to the 39
defendant unless the motion for a protective order is dismissed or any order of surrender has 40
expired or (ii) transfer possession of the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition to any person 41
the dealer knows or reasonably should know will allow the defendant to exercise care, custody, 42
possession, ownership, or control of the firearms, machine guns, or ammunition, and any 43
violation of this prohibition is a Class 2 misdemeanor. 44
The Administrative Office of the Courts shall create a form for use in transferring firearms, 45
machine guns, and ammunition from the custody of the sheriff to a qualified licensed firearms 46
dealer pursuant to this subsection. The form shall require the notarized signatures of both the 47
defendant and the qualified licensed firearms dealer and shall allow for either the storage or sale 48
of the firearms, machine guns, and ammunition by the qualified licensed firearms dealer. The 49
form shall also include information concerning the defendant's rights to recover the surrendered 50
firearms, machine guns, or ammunition. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 674-First Edition Page 9
The sheriff shall not charge a fee for the first 15 days of storage for any items transferred to 1
a qualified licensed firearms dealer pursuant to this subsection. 2
(e) Retrieval. – If the court does not enter a protective order when the ex parte or 3
emergency order expires, the defendant may retrieve any weapons surrendered to the sheriff or 4
the qualified licensed firearms dealer unless the court finds that the defendant is precluded from 5
owning or possessing a firearm pursuant to State or federal law or final disposition of any pending 6
criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current protective order. 7
(f) Motion Request for Return. – The defendant may request the return of any firearms, 8
ammunition, or permits surrendered by filing a motion with the court submitting a written request 9
with the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, 10
ammunition, or permits at the expiration of the current order or final disposition of any pending 11
criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current protective order 12
and not later than 90 days 30 days after the expiration of the current order or final disposition of 13
any pending criminal charges committed against the person that is the subject of the current 14
protective order. Upon receipt of the motion, request, the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms 15
dealer shall conduct a check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System 16
(NICS). If the results of the NICS check provide grounds that preclude the defendant from 17
owning or possessing a firearm under State or federal law, the sheriff or the qualified licensed 18
firearms dealer shall file a motion with the court on a form created by the Administrative Office 19
of the Courts and shall not return the firearms, ammunition, or permits until the court has ruled 20
on the motion. Upon receipt of the motion, the court shall schedule a hearing and provide written 21
notice to the plaintiff who shall have the right to appear and be heard and to the sheriff or the 22
qualified licensed firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, ammunition, or permits. The 23
court shall determine whether the defendant is subject to any State or federal law or court order 24
that precludes the defendant from owning or possessing a firearm. The inquiry shall include: 25
(1) Whether the protective order has been renewed. 26
(2) Whether the defendant is subject to any other protective orders. 27
(3) Whether the defendant is disqualified from owning or possessing a firearm 28
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922 or any State law. 29
(4) Whether the defendant has any pending criminal charges, in either State or 30
federal court, committed against the person that is the subject of the current 31
protective order. 32
The court shall deny the return of firearms, ammunition, or permits if the court finds that the 33
defendant is precluded from owning or possessing a firearm pursuant to State or federal law or 34
if the defendant has any pending criminal charges, in either State or federal court, committed 35
against the person that is the subject of the current protective order until the final disposition of 36
those charges. 37
(g) Motion for Return by Third-Party Owner. – A third-party owner of firearms, 38
ammunition, or permits who is otherwise eligible to possess such items may file a motion 39
requesting the return to said third party of any such items in the possession of the sheriff or the 40
qualified licensed firearms dealer seized as a result of the entry of a domestic violence protective 41
order. The motion must be filed not later than 30 days after the seizure of the items by the sheriff. 42
Upon receipt of the third party's motion, the court shall schedule a hearing and provide written 43
notice to all parties and the sheriff. sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer. The court 44
shall order return of the items to the third party unless the court determines that the third party is 45
disqualified from owning or possessing said items pursuant to State or federal law. If the court 46
denies the return of said items to the third party, the items shall be disposed of by the sheriff or 47
the qualified licensed firearms dealer as provided in subsection (h) of this section. 48
(h) Disposal of Firearms. – If the defendant does not file a motion requesting submit a 49
written request for the return of any firearms, ammunition, or permits surrendered within the time 50
period prescribed by this section, if the court determines that the defendant is precluded from 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 10 House Bill 674-First Edition
regaining possession of any firearms, ammunition, or permits surrendered, or if the defendant or 1
third-party owner fails to remit all fees owed for the storage of the firearms or ammunition within 2
30 days of the request for the return of firearms, ammunition, or permits or entry of the an order 3
granting the return of the firearms, ammunition, or permits, the sheriff or the qualified licensed 4
firearms dealer who has control of the firearms, ammunition, or permits shall give notice to the 5
defendant, and the sheriff or the qualified licensed firearms dealer shall apply to the court for an 6
order of disposition of the firearms, ammunition, or permits. The judge, after a hearing, may 7
order the disposition of the firearms, ammunition, or permits in one or more of the ways 8
authorized by law, including subdivision (4), (4b), (5), or (6) of G.S. 14-269.1. Additionally, for 9
firearms and ammunition surrendered to a qualified licensed firearms dealer under subsection 10
(d1) of this section, the judge may order the firearms and ammunition disposed of by sale by the 11
qualified licensed firearms dealer. If a sale by the sheriff or a qualified licensed firearms dealer 12
does occur, occur pursuant to this subsection, any proceeds from the sale after deducting any 13
costs associated with the sale, sale and any storage fees owed to the sheriff or the qualified 14
licensed firearms dealer, and in accordance with all applicable State and federal law, shall be 15
provided to the defendant, if requested by the defendant by motion made before the hearing or at 16
the hearing and if ordered by the judge.defendant. 17
(i) Failure to Surrender or Disclose. – It is unlawful for any person subject to a protective 18
order prohibiting the possession or purchase of firearms to:to do any of the following: 19
(1) Fail to surrender all firearms, ammunition, permits to purchase firearms, and 20
permits to carry concealed firearms to the sheriff as ordered by the court;court. 21
(2) Fail to disclose all information pertaining to the possession of firearms, 22
ammunition, and permits to purchase and permits to carry concealed firearms 23
as requested by the court; orcourt. 24
(3) Provide false information to the court pertaining to any of these items. 25
… 26
(l) Construction. – Nothing in this section is intended to limit the discretion of the court 27
in granting additional relief as provided in other sections of this Chapter. 28
(m) Qualified Licensed Firearms Dealer. – For purposes of this section, the term 29
"qualified licensed firearms dealer" shall mean a federally licensed firearms dealer that meets all 30
of the following requirements: 31
(1) Operates a business in a commercial building located in the State. 32
(2) Is open to the public. 33
(3) Regularly engages in the purchase and sale of firearms with members of the 34
public." 35
SECTION 4.2. This Part becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to orders 36
issued on or after that date. 37
38
PART V. AUTHORIZE TH E STORAGE AND USE OF DEFENSIVE DEVICES I N 39
BIOMETRIC SAFES FOR SCHOOLS 40
SECTION 5.1. G.S. 14-269(b) reads as rewritten: 41
"(b) This prohibition shall not apply to the following persons: 42
… 43
(10) A public school unit or nonpublic school employee who meets the following 44
requirements: 45
a. The employee has completed annual training for a device 46
classification, as required by G.S. 115C-105.52, to access any 47
defensive device stored in a locked container that is securely affixed 48
to the premises of the educational property and accessible by a 49
biometric lock that limits access to only authorized employees with 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 674-First Edition Page 11
training for defensive devices stored within the container or law 1
enforcement officers. 2
b. The employee accesses and uses a defensive device in response to a 3
threatening situation in which force was justified pursuant to 4
G.S. 14-51.3." 5
SECTION 5.2. G.S. 14-269.2(g) reads as rewritten: 6
"(g) This section shall not apply to any of the following: 7
… 8
(8) A weapon that is a defensive device stored on educational property, as 9
provided in G.S. 115C-105.52, or use of those devices by authorized 10
employees in response to a threatening situation in which force was justified 11
pursuant to G.S. 14-51.3." 12
SECTION 5.3. G.S. 115C-105.52 reads as rewritten: 13
"§ 115C-105.52. School Defensive device storage and school crisis kits. 14
(a) The following definitions apply in this section: 15
(1) Authorized employee. – An employee of a public school unit or nonpublic 16
school who meets all of the following requirements on an annual basis: 17
a. Receives training meeting the standards established by the Center for 18
Safer Schools for a device classification. 19
b. Is designated by the public school unit as an employee that may access 20
a defensive device storage container using that employee's biometric 21
information. 22
(2) Defensive device. – A device used to defend against the imminent use of 23
unlawful force. A defensive device may include, but is not limited to, a 24
disabling chemical spray, an electronic incapacitation device, or a firearm. 25
(3) Defensive device storage container. – A locked container that is securely 26
affixed to the premises of the educational property and accessible by a 27
biometric lock that limits access to only authorized employees with training 28
for any device classifications stored within the container or law enforcement 29
officers. 30
(4) Device classification. – A classification of a defensive device corresponding 31
to the required training standards established by the Center for Safer Schools 32
for use of that device by an employee of the school. 33
(5) Nonpublic school. – A school that meets the requirements of Part 1 or 2 of 34
Article 39 of this Chapter. 35
(b) Any public school unit or nonpublic school may provide for defensive devices on the 36
educational property of the school if those defensive devices are stored in a defensive device 37
storage container. The administrator for each school may affix one or more defensive device 38
storage containers at appropriate locations in the school and may post signs alerting the public to 39
the presence of the defensive device storage containers. 40
(c) No employee shall be required to complete training for any defensive device, 41
regardless of device classification. Only employees that have completed the annual training for 42
a device classification shall be eligible for biometric access to a defensive device storage 43
container with that device classification. 44
(d) A public school unit, nonpublic school, or authorized employee shall not be liable in 45
civil damages for any act or omission related to a defensive device unless the act or omission 46
amounts to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing. 47
(e) The Center for Safer Schools, in consultation with the Department of Public 48
Instruction and the Department of Public Safety, shall develop and adopt policies on the 49
placement of school crisis kits in schools and on the contents of those kits. The kits shall include, 50
at a minimum, basic first-aid supplies and communications devices. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 12 House Bill 674-First Edition
(f) The principal of each school, in coordination with the law enforcement agencies that 1
are part of the public school unit's School Risk Management Plan, may place one or more crisis 2
kits at appropriate locations in the school." 3
SECTION 5.4. G.S. 143B-1209.59(c), as recodified under Section 3J.17 of S.L. 4
2024-57, reads as rewritten: 5
"(c) Powers and Duties. – The Center for Safer Schools shall have the following duties, 6
and all other powers and duties provided in Article 8C of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes: 7
… 8
(11) Establish classifications of defensive devices and, in collaboration with the 9
North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards 10
Commission, establish minimum training standards for school employees to 11
qualify to access and use that classification of defensive device in a storage 12
container with biometric locks. The minimum training standards shall be made 13
publicly available for use of law enforcement or private entities to provide 14
training meeting those standards." 15
SECTION 5.5. Public school units awarded school safety grants for safety 16
equipment may use those grants to purchase defensive devices and defensive device storage 17
containers and associated training for public school employees. 18
SECTION 5.6. The Center for Safer Schools shall establish classifications and 19
training standards required by this section no later than January 1, 2026. 20
21
PART VI. MISCELLANEO US 22
SECTION 6.1. Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this 23
act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act 24
remain applicable to those prosecutions. 25
SECTION 6.2. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 26
law. 27