GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 975
Short Title: EMS Personnel/Allow Carry of Pepper Spray. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Scott, N. Jackson, and Biggs (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, Judiciary 3, if
favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H975 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ALLOW EMER GENCY MEDICAL SERVIC ES PERSONNEL, WHILE ON 2
DUTY, TO CARRY PEPPER SPRAY OPENLY OR CONCEALED. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. G.S. 131E-157 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 5
"(d) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Commission and the North 6
Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services are prohibited from adopting or enforcing any 7
rule prohibiting emergency medical services personnel from carrying concealed or openly any 8
pepper spray otherwise allowed under G.S. 14-401.6(a)(7). For purposes of this subsection, the 9
term "pepper spray" means a chemical irritant such as mace, oleoresin capsicum or pepper spray, 10
or tear gas." 11
SECTION 2. G.S. 143-508 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 12
"(e) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the North Carolina Medical 13
Care Commission is prohibited from adopting or enforcing any rule prohibiting emergency 14
medical services personnel, as defined in G.S. 131E-155, from carrying concealed or openly any 15
pepper spray otherwise allowed under G.S. 14-401.6(a)(7). For purposes of this subsection, the 16
term "pepper spray" is as defined in G.S. 131E-157." 17
SECTION 3. The North Carolina Medical Care Commission and the North Carolina 18
Office of Emergency Medical Services shall adopt rules or amend their rules consistent with the 19
provisions of this act. The Commission and Office of Emergency Medical Services may use the 20
procedure set forth in G.S. 150B-21.1 to adopt or amend any rules as required by this section. 21
SECTION 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 22