GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 274
Short Title: Repeal Crime Against Nature Law. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Grafstein (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 13, 2025
*S274 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REPEAL THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF CRIME AGAINST NATUR E AND 2
ESTABLISH A SEPARATE OFFENSE OF BESTIALITY. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. G.S. 14-177 is repealed. 5
SECTION 2. G.S. 7B-101(1)d. reads as rewritten: 6
"d. Commits, permits, or encourages the commission of a violation of the 7
following laws by, with, or upon the juvenile: first-degree forcible 8
rape, as provided in G.S. 14-27.21; second-degree forcible rape as 9
provided in G.S. 14-27.22; statutory rape of a child by an adult as 10
provided in G.S. 14-27.23; first-degree statutory rape as provided in 11
G.S. 14-27.24; first-degree forcible sex offense as provided in 12
G.S. 14-27.26; second-degree forcible sex offense as provided in 13
G.S. 14-27.27; statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult as 14
provided in G.S. 14-27.28; first-degree statutory sexual offense as 15
provided in G.S. 14-27.29; sexual activity by a substitute parent or 16
custodian as provided in G.S. 14-27.31; sexual activity with a student 17
as provided in G.S. 14-27.32; unlawful sale, surrender, or purchase of 18
a minor, as provided in G.S. 14-43.14; crime against nature, as 19
provided in G.S. 14-177; bestiality, as provided in G.S. 14-363.4; 20
incest, as provided in G.S. 14-178; preparation of obscene 21
photographs, slides, or motion pictures of the juvenile, as provided in 22
G.S. 14-190.5; employing or permitting the juvenile to assist in a 23
violation of the obscenity laws as provided in G.S. 14-190.6; 24
dissemination of obscene material to the juvenile as provided in 25
G.S. 14-190.7 and G.S. 14-190.8; displaying or disseminating material 26
harmful to the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14-190.14 and 27
G.S. 14-190.15; first and second degree sexual exploitation of the 28
juvenile as provided in G.S. 14-190.16 and G.S. 14-190.17; promoting 29
the prostitution of the juvenile as provided in G.S. 14-205.3(b); and 30
taking indecent liberties with the juvenile, as provided in 31
G.S. 14-202.1;" 32
SECTION 3. G.S. 75D-3(c)(1)b. reads as rewritten: 33
"b. Chapter 14 of the General Statutes of North Carolina except 34
Articles 9, 22A, 38, 40, 43, 46, 47, 59 thereof; and further 35
excepting G.S. Sections 14-78.1, 14-82, 14-86, 14-145, 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 274-First Edition
14-146, 14-147, 14-177, 14-178, 14-179, 14-183, 14-184, 1
14-186, 14-190.9, 14-195, 14-197, 14-201, 14-202, 14-247, 2
14-248, 14-313 thereof." 3
SECTION 4. G.S. 115C-270.35(b) reads as rewritten: 4
"(b) Automatic Revocation With No Hearing. – The State Board shall automatically 5
revoke the license of a professional educator without the right to a hearing upon receiving 6
verification of the identity of the professional educator together with a certified copy of a criminal 7
record showing that the professional educator has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to 8
or has been finally convicted of any of the following crimes: 9
… 10
(7) Crime against nature, G.S. 14-177. 11
(7a) Bestiality, G.S. 14-363.4. 12
… 13
The State Board shall mail notice of its intent to act pursuant to this subsection by certified 14
mail, return receipt requested, directed to the professional educator's last known address. The 15
notice shall inform the professional educator that it will revoke the person's license unless the 16
professional educator notifies the State Board in writing within 10 days after receipt of the notice 17
that the defendant identified in the criminal record is not the same person as the professional 18
educator. If the professional educator provides this written notice to the State Board, the State 19
Board shall not revoke the license unless it can establish as a fact that the defendant and the 20
professional educator are the same person." 21
SECTION 5. Article 47 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 22
a new section to read: 23
"§ 14-363.4. Bestiality. 24
(a) Offense. – A person commits the offense of bestiality when the person performs or 25
submits to any sexual act with an animal involving the sex organs of the one and the mouth, anus, 26
penis, or vagina of the other. 27
(b) Punishment. – A violation of this section is a Class I felony." 28
SECTION 6. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 29
committed on or after that date. 30