GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S D
SENATE BILL DRS45205-ML-5A
Short Title: 2025 Public Safety Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Britt, B. Newton, and Daniel (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:
*DRS45205 -ML-5A*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO SET LIMITS ON MOTIONS FOR APPROPRIATE RELIEF IN NONCAPITAL 2
CASES; TO BAN HEMP-DERIVED CONSUMABLE PRODUCTS FROM SCHOOL 3
GROUNDS; TO CREATE A NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR EXPOSING A CHILD TO 4
A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE; TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR 5
POSSESSING A FIREARM OR WEAPON OF MASS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION BY 6
A FELON DURING THE COMMISSION OR ATTEMPTED COMMISSION OF A 7
FELONY; TO REVISE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE DISCLOSURE AND RELEASE 8
OF AUTOPSY INFORMATION COMPILED OR PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE 9
CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER; TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR 10
COMMITTING THE OFFENSE OF SOLICITATION OF MINORS BY COMPUTER ; TO 11
REVISE THE LAW GOVERNING THE GRANTING OF IMMUNITY TO WITNESSES; 12
TO REQUIRE CERTAIN PETITIONS PERTAINING TO SEX OFFENDER 13
REGISTRATION BE PLACED ON THE CRIMINAL DOCKET; TO CLARIFY THE 14
STANDING OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN CERTAIN CASES ; TO ALLOW PERSONS 15
OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE TO FILE FOR A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION 16
ORDER; TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THE CRIME VICTIMS 17
COMPENSATION ACT THAT CRIMINALLY INJURIOUS CONDUCT BE REPORTED 18
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN SEVENTY-TWO HOURS OF ITS OCCURRENCE; 19
TO REVISE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF SECRETLY PEEPING INTO ROOM 20
OCCUPIED BY ANOTHER PERSON; TO REVISE THE LAW PROHIBITING SEXUAL 21
ACTIVITY BY A SUBSTITUTE PARENT OR CUSTODIAN TO INCLUDE RELIGIOUS 22
ORGANIZATIONS OR INSTITUTIONS; TO ESTABLISH AN OFFENSE FOR 23
WRONGFULLY ENTERING A PART OF A BUILDING NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; 24
TO ESTABLISH THE OFFENSE OF LARCENY OF GIFT CARDS; TO REVISE THE 25
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT OFFENSE TO INCLUDE OFFENSES INVOLVING GIFT 26
CARDS; TO ALLOW UNLICENSED LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES TO PRACTICE 27
LAW UNDER SUPERVISION ; TO CLARIFY THAT FELONY SCHOOL 28
NOTIFICATIONS ARE LIMITED TO CLASS A THROUGH CLASS E FELONIES ; TO 29
ALLOW THE TRANSFER OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE BACK TO THE 30
COLLECTING AGENCY FOR PRESERVATION; TO REVISE THE LAW GOVERNING 31
THE RECORDING OF COURT PROCEEDINGS ; TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT 32
FOR COMMITTING THE OFFENSE OF FAILURE TO YIELD THAT RESULTS IN 33
SERIOUS BODILY INJURY; AND TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO 34
YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO A BLIND OR PARTIALLY BLIND PEDESTRIAN . 35
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 36
FILED SENATE
Mar 24, 2025
S.B. 429
PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 DRS45205-ML-5A
1
SET LIMITS ON MOTIONS FOR APPROPRIATE RELIEF IN NONCAPITAL CASES 2
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 15A-1415 reads as rewritten: 3
"§ 15A-1415. Grounds for appropriate relief which may be asserted by defendant after 4
verdict; limitation as to time. 5
(a) At any time after verdict, a noncapital defendant by motion may seek appropriate 6
relief upon any of the grounds enumerated in this section. In a capital case, a defendant may file 7
a postconviction motion for appropriate relief shall be filed based on any of the grounds 8
enumerated in this section within 120 days from the latest of any of the following: 9
(1) The court's judgment has been filed, but the defendant failed to perfect a 10
timely appeal;appeal. 11
(2) The mandate issued by a court of the appellate division on direct appeal 12
pursuant to N.C.R. App. P. 32(b) and the time for filing a petition for writ of 13
certiorari to the United States Supreme Court has expired without a petition 14
being filed;filed. 15
(3) The United States Supreme Court denied a timely petition for writ of certiorari 16
of the decision on direct appeal by the Supreme Court of North 17
Carolina;Carolina. 18
(4) Following the denial of discretionary review by the Supreme Court of North 19
Carolina, the United States Supreme Court denied a timely petition for writ of 20
certiorari seeking review of the decision on direct appeal by the North 21
Carolina Court of Appeals;Appeals. 22
(5) The United States Supreme Court granted the defendant's or the State's timely 23
petition for writ of certiorari of the decision on direct appeal by the Supreme 24
Court of North Carolina or North Carolina Court of Appeals, but subsequently 25
left the defendant's conviction and sentence undisturbed; orundisturbed. 26
(6) The appointment of postconviction counsel for an indigent capital defendant. 27
(a1) In a noncapital case, a defendant may file a postconviction motion for appropriate 28
relief based on any of the grounds enumerated in this section within 120 days from the latest of 29
any of the events listed in subdivisions (1) through (5) of subsection (a) of this section. 30
…." 31
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 15A-1419(a)(4) reads as rewritten: 32
"(4) The defendant failed to file a timely motion for appropriate relief as required 33
by G.S. 15A-1415(a).subsection (a) or (a1) of G.S. 15A-1415." 34
SECTION 1.(c) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 35
verdicts entered on or after that date. 36
37
PROHIBIT USE OF HEMP -DERIVED CONSUMABLE PRODUCTS ON SCHOOL 38
GROUNDS 39
SECTION 2.(a) The title of Article 29A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes 40
reads as rewritten: 41
"Article 29A. 42
"Policy Prohibiting Use Of Tobacco Tobacco and Hemp-Derived Consumable Products." 43
SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 115C-407 reads as rewritten: 44
"§ 115C-407. Policy prohibiting tobacco use in school buildings, grounds, and at 45
school-sponsored events. 46
(a) Not later than August 1, 2008, local boards of education Governing bodies of public 47
school units shall adopt, implement, and enforce adopt a written policy prohibiting at all times 48
the use of any tobacco product by any person in school buildings, in school facilities, on school 49
campuses, and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the local school 50
administrative public school unit. The policy shall further prohibit the use of all tobacco products 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRS45205-ML-5A Page 3
by persons attending a school-sponsored event at a location not listed in this subsection when in 1
the presence of students or school personnel or in an area where smoking is otherwise prohibited 2
by law. 3
(b) The policy shall include at least all of the following elements: 4
(1) Adequate notice to students, parents, the public, and school personnel of the 5
policy. 6
(2) Posting of signs prohibiting at all times the use of tobacco products by any 7
person in and on school property. 8
(3) Requirements that school personnel enforce the policy. 9
(c) The policy may permit tobacco products to be included in instructional or research 10
activities in public school buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty 11
member overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not include smoking, 12
chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco product. 13
(d) The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission shall work with 14
local boards of education to provide assistance with the implementation of this policy including 15
providing information regarding smoking cessation and prevention resources. Nothing in this 16
section, G.S. 143-595 through G.S. 143-601, or any other section prohibits a local board of 17
education governing body of a public school unit from adopting and enforcing a more restrictive 18
policy on the use of tobacco in school buildings, in school facilities, on school campuses, or at 19
school-related or school-sponsored events, and in or on other school property." 20
SECTION 2.(c) Article 29A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 21
adding a new section to read: 22
"§ 115C-407.1. Policy prohibiting use of hemp-derived consumable products in school 23
buildings, grounds, and at school-sponsored events. 24
(a) For purposes of this section, the term "hemp-derived consumable product" is a hemp 25
product that is a finished good intended for human ingestion or inhalation that contains a delta-9 26
THC concentration of not more than three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) on a dry weight basis but 27
may contain concentrations of other hemp-derived cannabinoids in excess of that amount. This 28
term does not include hemp products intended for topical application or seeds or seed-derived 29
ingredients that are generally recognized as safe by the United States Food and Drug 30
Administration (FDA). 31
(b) Governing bodies of public school units shall adopt a written policy prohibiting at all 32
times the use of any hemp-derived consumable product by any person in school buildings, in 33
school facilities, on school campuses, on school buses or school transportation service vehicles, 34
and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the public school unit. The policy 35
shall further prohibit the use of all hemp-derived consumable products by persons attending a 36
school-sponsored event at a location not listed in this subsection when in the presence of students 37
or school personnel or in an area where the use of hemp-derived consumable products is 38
otherwise prohibited by law. 39
(c) The policy shall include at least all of the following elements: 40
(1) Adequate notice to students, parents, the public, and school personnel of the 41
policy. 42
(2) Posting of signs prohibiting at all times the use of hemp-derived consumable 43
products by any person in and on school property. 44
(3) Requirements that school personnel enforce the policy. 45
(d) The policy may permit hemp-derived consumable products to be included in 46
instructional or research activities in public school buildings if the activity is conducted or 47
supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not 48
include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting or inhaling the hemp-derived consumable 49
product. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 DRS45205-ML-5A
(e) Nothing in this section, G.S. 143-595 through G.S. 143-601, or any other section 1
prohibits a governing body of a public school unit from adopting and enforcing a more restrictive 2
policy on the use of hemp-derived consumable products in school buildings, in school facilities, 3
on school campuses, or at school-related or school-sponsored events, and in or on other school 4
property." 5
SECTION 2.(d) G.S. 115C-218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 6
"(a1) Policies Prohibiting Use of Tobacco, Hemp-Derived Consumable Products. – A 7
charter school shall adopt policies prohibiting use of tobacco and hemp-derived consumable 8
products in school buildings, grounds, on school buses or school transportation service vehicles, 9
and at school-sponsored events in accordance with Article 29A of this Chapter." 10
SECTION 2.(e) G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 11
"(7h) Policies prohibiting use of tobacco and hemp-derived consumable products. – 12
A regional school shall adopt policies prohibiting use of tobacco and 13
hemp-derived consumable products in school buildings, grounds, on school 14
buses or school transportation service vehicles, and at school-sponsored 15
events in accordance with Article 29A of this Chapter." 16
SECTION 2.(f) G.S. 115C-150.12C is amended by adding a new subdivision to 17
read: 18
"(15a) Policies prohibiting use of tobacco and hemp-derived consumable products. – 19
The board of trustees shall adopt policies prohibiting use of tobacco and 20
hemp-derived consumable products in school buildings, grounds, on school 21
buses or school transportation service vehicles, and at school-sponsored 22
events in accordance with Article 29A of this Chapter." 23
SECTION 2.(g) G.S. 116-239.8(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 24
"(9a) Policies prohibiting use of tobacco and hemp-derived consumable products. – 25
The chancellor shall adopt policies prohibiting use of tobacco and 26
hemp-derived consumable products in school buildings, grounds, on school 27
buses or school transportation service vehicles, and at school-sponsored 28
events in accordance with Article 29A of Chapter 115C of the General 29
Statutes." 30
SECTION 2.(h) Subdivision (21) of Section 6(d) of S.L. 2018-32 reads as rewritten: 31
"(21) Article 29A, Policy Prohibiting Use of Tobacco Tobacco and Hemp-Derived 32
Consumable Products." 33
SECTION 2.(i) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning 34
with the 2026-2027 school year. 35
36
CREATE NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR EXPOSING A CHILD TO A 37
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 38
SECTION 3.(a) Article 39 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by 39
adding a new section to read: 40
"§ 14-318.7. Exposing a child to a controlled substance. 41
(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 42
(1) Child. – Any person who is less than 16 years of age. 43
(2) Controlled substance. – A controlled substance, controlled substance 44
analogue, drug, marijuana, narcotic drug, opiate, opioid, opium poppy, poppy 45
straw, or targeted controlled substance, all as defined in G.S. 90-87. 46
(3) Ingest. – Any means used to take into the body, to eat or drink, or otherwise 47
consume, or absorb into the body in any way. 48
(4) Serious bodily injury. – As defined in G.S. 14-318.4. 49
(5) Serious physical injury. – As defined in G.S. 14-318.4. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRS45205-ML-5A Page 5
(b) A person who knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causes or permits a child to be 1
exposed to a controlled substance is guilty of a Class H felony. 2
(c) A person who knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causes or permits a child to be 3
exposed to a controlled substance, and as a result the child ingests the controlled substance, is 4
guilty of a Class E felony. 5
(d) A person who knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causes or permits a child to be 6
exposed to a controlled substance, and as a result the child ingests the controlled substance, 7
resulting in serious physical injury, is guilty of a Class D felony. 8
(e) A person who knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causes or permits a child to be 9
exposed to a controlled substance, and as a result the child ingests the controlled substance, 10
resulting in serious bodily injury, is guilty of a Class C felony. 11
(f) A person who knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally causes or permits a child to be 12
exposed to a controlled substance, and as a result the child ingests the controlled substance, and 13
the ingestion is the proximate cause of death, is guilty of a Class B1 felony. 14
(g) The punishments set forth in subsections (b) through (f) of this section apply unless 15
the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment." 16
SECTION 3.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 17
offenses committed on or after that date. 18
19
INCREASE PUNISHMENT FOR POSSESSING A FIREARM OR WEAPON OF MASS 20
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION BY A FELON DURING THE COMMISSION OR 21
ATTEMPTED COMMISSION OF A FELONY 22
SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 14-415.1 reads as rewritten: 23
"§ 14-415.1. Possession of firearms, etc., by felon prohibited. 24
(a) It shall be is unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to purchase, 25
own, possess, or have in his the person's custody, care, or control any firearm or any weapon of 26
mass death and destruction as defined in G.S. 14-288.8(c). For the purposes of this section, a 27
firearm is (i) any weapon, including a starter gun, which will or is designed to or may readily be 28
converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, or its frame or receiver, or (ii) any 29
firearm muffler or firearm silencer. This section does not apply to an antique firearm, as defined 30
in G.S. 14-409.11. 31
Every person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished as subsection is guilty 32
of a Class G felon.felony. 33
(a1) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section during the commission or 34
attempted commission of a felony under (i) this Chapter or (ii) Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the 35
General Statutes is guilty of a Class F felony. 36
(a2) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section and brandishes a firearm or a 37
weapon of mass death and destruction during the commission or attempted commission of a 38
felony under (i) this Chapter or (ii) Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is guilty of a 39
Class D felony. For the purposes of this subsection, to brandish is to display all or part of the 40
firearm or weapon of mass death and destruction or otherwise make the presence of the firearm 41
or weapon of mass death and destruction known to another person. 42
(a3) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section and discharges a firearm or a 43
weapon of mass death and destruction during the commission or attempted commission of a 44
felony under (i) this Chapter or (ii) Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is guilty of a 45
Class C felony. 46
(b) Prior convictions which cause disentitlement under this section shall only include: 47
(1) Felony convictions in North Carolina that occur before, on, or after December 48
1, 1995; and 49
(2) Repealed by Session Laws 1995, c. 487, s. 3, effective December 1, 1995. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 DRS45205-ML-5A
(3) Violations of criminal laws of other states or of the United States that occur 1
before, on, or after December 1, 1995, and that are substantially similar to the 2
crimes covered in subdivision (1) which are punishable where committed by 3
imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. 4
When a person is charged under this section, records of prior convictions of any offense, whether 5
in the courts of this State, or in the courts of any other state or of the United States, shall be 6
admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving a violation of this section. The term 7
"conviction" is defined as a final judgment in any case in which felony punishment, or 8
imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, as the case may be, is authorized, without regard to 9
the plea entered or to the sentence imposed. A judgment of a conviction of the defendant or a 10
plea of guilty by the defendant to such an offense certified to a superior court of this State from 11
the custodian of records of any state or federal court shall be prima facie evidence of the facts so 12
certified. 13
(c) The indictment charging the defendant under the terms of this section shall be separate 14
from any indictment charging him with other offenses related to or giving rise to a charge under 15
this section. An indictment which charges the person with violation of this section must set forth 16
the date that the prior offense was committed, the type of offense and the penalty therefor, and 17
the date that the defendant was convicted or plead guilty to such offense, the identity of the court 18
in which the conviction or plea of guilty took place and the verdict and judgment rendered 19
therein. 20
(d) This section does not apply to a person who, pursuant to the law of the jurisdiction in 21
which the conviction occurred, has been pardoned or has had his or her firearms rights restored 22
if such restoration of rights could also be granted under North Carolina law. 23
(e) This section does not apply and there is no disentitlement under this section if the 24
felony conviction is a violation under the laws of North Carolina, another state, or the United 25
States that pertains to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, or restraints of trade." 26
SECTION 4.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 27
offenses committed on or after that date. 28
29
REVISE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE DISCLOSURE AND RELEASE OF AUTOPSY 30
INFORMATION COMPILED OR PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF 31
MEDICAL EXAMINER 32
SECTION 5.(a) G.S. 130A-385 reads as rewritten: 33
"§ 130A-385. Duties of medical examiner upon receipt of notice; reports; copies. 34
… 35
(d) Upon request by the district attorney, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the 36
local medical examiner, and the autopsy center, as applicable, shall provide a complete copy of 37
the medical examiner investigation file to the appropriate district attorney. For purposes of this 38
subsection, the "medical examiner investigation file" means the finalized toxicology report, the 39
finalized autopsy report, any autopsy examination notes, any death scene notes, the finalized 40
report of investigation of a medical examiner, the case encounter form, any case comments, any 41
case notes, any autopsy photographs, any scene photographs, and any video or audio recordings 42
of the autopsy examination in the custody and control of the North Carolina Office of the Chief 43
Medical Examiner, a pathologist designated by the Chief Medical Examiner, a county medical 44
examiner appointed under G.S. 130A-382, or an investigating medical examiner examiner, or an 45
autopsy center in connection with a death under criminal investigation by a public law 46
enforcement agency. Each records custodian shall be is responsible for providing the portions of 47
the medical examiner investigation file within its custody and control. This is a continuing 48
disclosure obligation, and each records custodian shall provide to the district attorney any records 49
or other materials responsive to the district attorney's request that are discovered or added to the 50
medical examiner investigation file after the request was made shall also be provided to the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRS45205-ML-5A Page 7
district attorney. has been made. The district attorney or investigating law enforcement agency 1
shall inform the Chief Medical Examiner, the county medical examiner, or the autopsy center, 2
Examiner, the county medical examiner appointed under G.S. 130A-382, the investigating 3
medical examiner, and the autopsy center, as applicable, if when the death is no longer under 4
criminal investigation and the continuing disclosure obligation is has terminated. 5
(d1) Any records, worksheets, reports, photographs, tests, or analyses compiled, prepared, 6
or conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, a pathologist designated by the Chief 7
Medical Examiner, a county medical examiner appointed under G.S. 130A-382, an investigating 8
medical examiner, or an autopsy center in connection with a death under criminal investigation 9
by a public law enforcement agency or during the pendency of criminal charges associated with 10
a death, including any autopsy photographs or video or audio recordings, shall be treated as 11
records of criminal investigations pursuant to G.S. 132-1.4 and only be disclosed or released to 12
individuals listed in G.S. 130A-389.1(b) and as follows: 13
(1) The custodian of the finalized autopsy report may release a copy at a time and 14
location determined by the custodial agency to a personal representative of the 15
decedent's estate to enable the personal representative to fulfill his or her 16
duties under the law. 17
(2) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, a pathologist designated by the 18
Chief Medical Examiner, a county medical examiner appointed under 19
G.S. 130A-382, an investigating medical examiner, or an autopsy center is not 20
prohibited from disclosing or releasing information or reports when necessary 21
to address public health or safety concerns; for public health purposes, 22
including public health surveillance, investigations, interventions, and 23
evaluations; to facilitate research; to comply with reporting requirements 24
under State or federal law or in connection with State or federal grants; or to 25
comply with any other duties imposed by law. 26
Any person who willfully and knowingly discloses or releases materials treated as records of 27
criminal investigations in violation of this subsection, or who willfully and knowingly possesses 28
or disseminates materials treated as records of criminal investigations that were disclosed or 29
released in violation of this subsection, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor; provided, however, 30
that more than one occurrence of disclosure, release, possession, or dissemination of the same 31
item by the same person is not a separate offense. As used in this subsection, the term "disclose" 32
means the act of making materials treated as records of criminal investigation under this 33
subsection available for viewing or listening by a person or entity upon request, at a time and 34
location chosen by the custodial agency, and the term "release" means the act of the custodial 35
agency in providing a copy of materials treated as records of criminal investigation under this 36
subsection. 37
(d2) Any other person or entity seeking disclosure or release of materials treated as records 38
of criminal investigations under subsection (d1) of this section may commence a special 39
proceeding in the superior court of the county where the death that is the subject of the materials 40
occurred to obtain a court order for disclosure or release of the materials. The court may conduct 41
an in-camera review of the materials. Upon a showing of good cause, a superior court judge may 42
issue an order authorizing the disclosure or release of the materials and may prescribe any 43
restrictions or stipulations that the superior court judge deems appropriate. The petitioner shall 44
provide reasonable notice of the commencement of the special proceeding and reasonable notice 45
of the opportunity to be present and heard at any hearing on the matter in accordance with Rule 46
5 of the Rules of Civil Procedure. The notice shall be provided, in writing, to the Office of the 47
Chief Medical Examiner, the district attorney of the county in which the death occurred, the 48
personal representative of the estate of the deceased, if any, and the surviving spouse of the 49
deceased. If there is no surviving spouse, then the notice shall be provided to the deceased's 50
parents, and if the deceased has no living parent, then to the adult child of the deceased or to the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 8 DRS45205-ML-5A
guardian or custodian of a minor child of the deceased. In determining good cause, the judge 1
shall consider whether the disclosure or release is necessary for the public evaluation of 2
governmental performance, the seriousness of the intrusion into the family's right to privacy, 3
whether the requested disclosure or release is the least intrusive means available, the need to 4
withhold the records to facilitate the investigation or prosecution of criminal offenses, the rights 5
of the defendant in any ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution, the public interest in 6
having access to the records, and the availability of similar information in other public records, 7
regardless of form. A party aggrieved by an order of the superior court authorized by this 8
subsection may appeal in accordance with Article 27 of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes. 9
(e) In cases where death occurred due to an injury received in the course of the decedent's 10
employment, the Chief Medical Examiner shall forward to the Commissioner of Labor a copy of 11
the medical examiner's report of the investigation, including the location of the fatal injury and 12
the name and address of the decedent's employer at the time of the fatal injury. The Chief Medical 13
Examiner shall forward this report within 30 days of receipt of the information from the medical 14
examiner. 15
(f) If a death occurred in a facility licensed subject to Article 2 or Article 3 of Chapter 16
122C of the General Statutes, or Articles 1 or 1A of Chapter 131D of the General Statutes, and 17
the deceased was a client or resident of the facility or a recipient of facility services at the time 18
of death, then the Chief Medical Examiner shall forward a copy of the medical examiner's report 19
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services within 30 days of after receipt of the report from 20
the medical examiner." 21
SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 130A-389.1 reads as rewritten: 22
"§ 130A-389.1. Photographs and video or audio recordings made pursuant to autopsy. 23
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, law and excluding any materials treated as 24
records of criminal investigations under G.S. 130A-385(d1), any person may inspect and 25
examine original photographs or video or audio recordings of an autopsy performed pursuant to 26
G.S. 130A-389(a) at reasonable times and under reasonable supervision of the custodian of the 27
photographs or recordings. Except as otherwise provided by this section, no custodian of the 28
original recorded images shall furnish copies of photographs or video or audio recordings of an 29
autopsy to the public. For purposes of this section, the Chief Medical Examiner shall be the 30
custodian of all autopsy photographs or video or audio recordings unless the photographs or 31
recordings were taken by or at the direction of an investigating medical examiner and the 32
investigating medical examiner retains the original photographs or recordings. If Except in cases 33
in which the materials are treated as records of criminal investigations under G.S. 130A-385(d1), 34
if the investigating medical examiner has retained the original photographs or recordings, then 35
the investigating medical examiner is the custodian of the photographs or video or audio 36
recordings and must shall allow the public to inspect and examine them in accordance with this 37
subsection. 38
… 39
(d) A person who is denied access to copies of photographs or video or audio recordings, 40
or who is restricted in the use the person may make of the photographs or video or audio 41
recordings under this section, may commence a special proceeding in accordance with Article 33 42
of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes. Upon a showing of good cause, the clerk may issue an order 43
authorizing the person to copy or disclose a photograph or video or audio recording of an autopsy 44
and may prescribe any restrictions or stipulations that the clerk deems appropriate. In determining 45
good cause, the clerk shall consider whether the disclosure is necessary for the public evaluation 46
of governmental performance; the seriousness of the intrusion into the family's right to privacy 47
and whether the disclosure is the least intrusive means available; and the availability of similar 48
information in other public records, regardless of form. In all cases, the viewing, copying, 49
listening to, or other handling of a photograph or video or audio recording of an autopsy shall be 50
under the direct supervision of the Chief Medical Examiner or the Chief Medical Examiner's 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRS45205-ML-5A Page 9
designee. A party aggrieved by an order of the clerk may appeal to the appropriate court in 1
accordance with Article 27A of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes. This subsection does not apply 2
to autopsy photographs or video or audio recordings that are treated as records of criminal 3
investigations under G.S. 130A-385(d1), which may be disclosed or released to other persons or 4
entities only in accordance with G.S. 130A-385(d2). 5
…." 6
SECTION 5.(c) G.S. 132-1.8 reads as rewritten: 7
"§ 132-1.8. Confidentiality of photographs and video or audio recordings made pursuant 8
to autopsy. 9
Except as otherwise provided in G.S. 130A-389.1, a photograph or video or audio recording 10
of an official autopsy is not a public record as defined by G.S. 132-1. However, the text of an 11
official autopsy report, including any findings and interpretations prepared in accordance with 12
G.S. 130A-389(a), is a public record and fully accessible by the public. public, unless the report 13
is treated as a record of criminal investigation under G.S. 130A-385(d1). For purposes of this 14
section, an official autopsy is an autopsy performed pursuant to G.S. 130A-389(a)." 15
SECTION 5.(d) This section becomes effective October 1, 2025. 16
17
INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR COMMITTING THE OFFENSE OF 18
SOLICITATION OF MINORS BY COMPUTER 19
SECTION 6.(a) G.S. 14-202.3(c) reads as rewritten: 20
"(c) Punishment. – A violation of this section is punishable as follows: 21
(1) A violation is a Class H E felony except as provided by subdivision (2) of this 22
subsection. 23
(2) If either the defendant, or any other person for whom the defendant was 24
arranging the meeting in violation of this section, actually appears at the 25
meeting location, then the violation is a Class G C felony." 26
SECTION 6.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 27
offenses committed on or after that date. 28
29
REVISE THE LAW GOVERNING THE GRANTING OF IMMUNITY TO WITNESSES 30
SECTION 7.(a) G.S. 15A-1052(b) reads as rewritten: 31
"(b) The application may be made whenever, in the judgment of the district attorney, the 32
witness has asserted or is likely to assert his the witness's privilege against self-incrimination and 33
his the witness's testimony or other information is or will be necessary to the public interest. 34
Before making application to the judge, the district attorney must inform the Attorney General, 35
or a deputy or assistant attorney general designated by him, of the circumstances and his intent 36
to make an application." 37
SECTION 7.(b) G.S. 15A-1053(b) reads as rewritten: 38
"(b) The application may be made when the district attorney has been informed by the 39
foreman of the grand jury that the witness has asserted his the witness's privilege against 40
self-incrimination and the district attorney determines that the testimony or other information is 41
necessary to the public interest. Before making application to the judge, the district attorney must 42
inform the Attorney General, or a deputy or assistant attorney general designated by him, of the 43
circumstances and his intent to make an application." 44
SECTION 7.(c) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 45
applications made on or after that date. 46
47
REQUIRE CERTAIN PETITIONS PERTAINING TO SEX OFFENDER 48
REGISTRATION BE PLACED ON THE CRIMINAL DOCKET 49
SECTION 8.(a) G.S. 14-208.12A(a) reads as rewritten: 50
"§ 14-208.12A. Request for termination of registration requirement. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 10 DRS45205-ML-5A
(a) Ten years from the date of initial county registration, a person required to register 1
under this Part may petition the superior court to terminate the 30-year registration requirement 2
if the person has not been convicted of a subsequent offense requiring registration under this 3
Article. 4
If the reportable conviction is for an offense that occurred in North Carolina, the petition shall 5
be filed in the district where the person was convicted of the offense. 6
If the reportable conviction is for an offense that occurred in another state, the petition shall 7
be filed in the district where the person resides. A person who petitions to terminate the 8
registration requirement for a reportable conviction that is an out-of-state offense shall also do 9
the following: (i) provide written notice to the sheriff of the county where the person was 10
convicted that the person is petitioning the court to terminate the registration requirement and (ii) 11
include with the petition at the time of its filing, an affidavit, signed by the petitioner, that verifies 12
that the petitioner has notified the sheriff of the county where the person was convicted of the 13
petition and that provides the mailing address and contact information for that sheriff. 14
Regardless of where the offense occurred, if the defendant was convicted of a reportable 15
offense in any federal court, the conviction will be treated as an out-of-state offense for the 16
purposes of this section. 17
The clerk of court, upon receipt of the petition, shall collect the applicable filing fee and place 18
the petition on the criminal docket to be calendared by the district attorney pursuant to 19
G.S. 7A-49.4." 20
SECTION 8.(b) G.S. 14-208.12B(b) reads as rewritten: 21
"(b) The petition shall be filed in the county in which the person resides using a form 22
created by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The petition must be filed with the clerk of 23
court within 30 days of the person's receipt of the notification of the requirement to register from 24
the sheriff. The person filing the petition must serve a copy of the petition on the office of the 25
district attorney and the sheriff in the county where the person resides within three days of filing 26
the petition with the clerk of court. The clerk, upon receipt of the petition, shall collect the 27
applicable filing fee and place the petition on the criminal docket to be calendared by the district 28
attorney pursuant to G.S. 7A-49.4. The petition shall be calendared at the next regularly 29
scheduled term of superior court. At the first setting, the petitioner must be advised of the right 30
to have counsel present at the hearing and to the appointment of counsel if the petitioner cannot 31
afford to retain counsel. Appointment of counsel shall be in accordance with rules adopted by 32
the Office of Indigent Defense Services." 33
SECTION 8.(c) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 34
petitions filed on or after that date. 35
36
ALLOW PERSONS OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE TO FILE FOR A DOMESTIC 37
VIOLENCE PROTECTION ORDER 38
SECTION 9.(a) G.S. 50B-2(a) reads as rewritten: 39
"(a) Any person residing in this State State, or seeking relief for acts that have occurred in 40
this State and the defendant resides in this State, may seek relief under this Chapter by filing a 41
civil action or by filing a motion in any existing action filed under Chapter 50 of the General 42
Statutes alleging acts of domestic violence against himself or herself or a minor child who resides 43
with or is in the custody of such person. Any aggrieved party entitled to relief under this Chapter 44
may file a civil action and proceed pro se, without the assistance of legal counsel. The district 45
court division of the General Court of Justice shall have original jurisdiction over actions 46
instituted under this Chapter. Any action for a domestic violence protective order requires that a 47
summons be issued and served. The summons issued pursuant to this Chapter shall require the 48
defendant to answer within 10 days of the date of service. Attachments to the summons shall 49
include the complaint, notice of hearing, any temporary or ex parte order that has been issued, 50
and other papers through the appropriate law enforcement agency where the defendant is to be 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRS45205-ML-5A Page 11
served. In compliance with the federal Violence Against Women Act, no court costs or attorneys' 1
fees shall be assessed for the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a protective order or 2
petition for a protective order or witness subpoena, except as provided in G.S. 1A-1, Rule 11." 3
SECTION 9.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 4
civil actions or motions filed on or after that date. 5
6
REVISE REQUIREMENT UNDER THE CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION ACT 7
THAT CRIMINALLY INJURIOUS CONDUCT BE REPORTED TO LAW 8
ENFORCEMENT WITHIN 72 HOURS OF ITS OCCURRENCE 9
SECTION 10.(a) G.S. 15B-11(a) reads as rewritten: 10
"(a) An award of compensation shall be denied if:if any of the following apply: 11
(1) The claimant fails to file an application for an award within two years after 12
the date of the criminally injurious conduct that caused the injury or death for 13
which the claimant seeks the award;award. 14
(2) The economic loss is incurred after one year from the date of the criminally 15
injurious conduct that caused the injury or death for which the victim seeks 16
the award, except in the case where the victim for whom compensation is 17
sought was 10 years old or younger at the time the injury occurred. In that 18
case an award of compensation will be denied if the economic loss is incurred 19
after two years from the date of the criminally injurious conduct that caused 20
the injury or death for which the victim seeks the award;award. 21
(3) The criminally injurious conduct was not reported to a law enforcement 22
officer or agency within 72 hours six months of its occurrence, and there was 23
no good cause for the delay;delay. 24
(4) The award would benefit the offender or the offender's accomplice, unless a 25
determination is made that the interests of justice require that an award be 26
approved in a particular case;case. 27
(5) The criminally injurious conduct occurred while the victim was confined in 28
any State, county, or city prison, correctional, youth services, or juvenile 29
facility, or local confinement facility, or half-way house, group home, or 30
similar facility; orfacility. 31
(6) The victim was participating in a felony at or about the time that the victim's 32
injury occurred." 33
SECTION 10.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 34
applications filed on or after that date. 35
36
REVISE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF SECRETLY PEEPING INTO ROOM OCCUPIED 37
BY ANOTHER PERSON 38
SECTION 11.(a) G.S. 14-202 reads as rewritten: 39
"§ 14-202. Secretly peeping into room occupied by another person. 40
(a) Any person who shall peep secretly into any room occupied by another person shall 41
be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. 42
(a1) Unless covered by another provision of law providing greater punishment, any person 43
who secretly or surreptitiously peeps underneath or through the clothing being worn by another 44
person, through the use of a mirror or other device, for the purpose of viewing the body of, or the 45
undergarments worn by, that other person without their consent shall be guilty of a Class 1 46
misdemeanor. 47
(b) For purposes of this section:The following definitions apply in this section: 48
(1) The term "photographic image" means any Photographic image. – Any 49
photograph or photographic reproduction, still or moving, or any videotape, 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 12 DRS45205-ML-5A
motion picture, or live television transmission, or any digital image of any 1
individual. 2
(2) Private area of an individual. – The naked or undergarment clad genitals, 3
pubic area, buttocks, or female breast of that individual. 4
(3) The term "room" shall include, Room. – Includes, but is not limited to, a 5
bedroom, a rest room, a bathroom, a shower, and a dressing room.room, a 6
dressing stall, a cubicle, or other similar area designed to provide privacy. 7
(4) Under circumstances in which that individual has a reasonable expectation of 8
privacy. – Means either of the following: 9
a. Circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that he or 10
she could disrobe in privacy, without being concerned that a 11
photographic image of a private area of the individual was being 12
created. 13
b. Circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that a 14
private area of the individual would not be visible to the public, 15
regardless of whether that person is in a public or private place. 16
(c) Unless covered by another provision of law providing greater punishment, any person 17
who, while in possession of any device which may be used to create a photographic image, shall 18
secretly peep into any room shall be guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor. 19
(d) Unless covered by another provision of law providing greater punishment, any person 20
who, while secretly peeping into any room, uses any device to create a photographic image of 21
another person in that room for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any 22
person shall be guilty of a Class I felony. 23
(e) Any person who secretly or surreptitiously uses any device to create a photographic 24
image of another person underneath or through the clothing being worn by that other person for 25
the purpose of viewing the body of, or the undergarments worn by, that other person without 26
their consent shall be guilty of a Class I felony. 27
(e1) Unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, any 28
person who, with the intent to create a photographic image of a private area of an individual 29
without the individual's consent, knowingly does so under circumstances in which the individual 30
has a reasonable expectation of privacy shall be guilty of a Class I felony. 31
(f) Any person who, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any 32
person, secretly or surreptitiously uses or installs in a room any device that can be used to create 33
a photographic image with the intent to capture the image of another without their consent shall 34
be guilty of a Class I felony. 35
(g) Any person who knowingly possesses a photographic image that the person knows, 36
or has reason to believe, was obtained in violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class I 37
felony. 38
(h) Any person who disseminates or allows to be disseminated images that the person 39
knows, or should have known, were obtained as a result of the violation of this section shall be 40
guilty of a Class H felony if the dissemination is without the consent of the person in the 41
photographic image. 42
(i) A second or subsequent felony conviction under this section shall be punished as 43
though convicted of an offense one class higher. A second or subsequent conviction for a Class 44
1 misdemeanor shall be punished as a Class A1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction 45
for a Class A1 misdemeanor shall be punished as a Class I felony. 46
(j) If the defendant is placed on probation as a result of violation of this section: 47
(1) For a first conviction under this section, the judge may impose a requirement 48
that the defendant obtain a psychological evaluation and comply with any 49
treatment recommended as a result of that evaluation. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRS45205-ML-5A Page 13
(2) For a second or subsequent conviction under this section, the judge shall 1
impose a requirement that the defendant obtain a psychological evaluation and 2
comply with any treatment recommended as a result of that evaluation. 3
(k) Any person whose image is captured or disseminated in violation of this section has 4
a civil cause of action against any person who captured or disseminated the image or procured 5
any other person to capture or disseminate the image and is entitled to recover from those persons 6
actual damages, punitive damages, reasonable attorneys' fees and other litigation costs reasonably 7
incurred. 8
(l) When a person violates subsection (d), (e), (e1), (f), (g), or (h) of this section, or is 9
convicted of a second or subsequent violation of subsection (a), (a1), or (c) of this section, the 10
sentencing court shall consider whether the person is a danger to the community and whether 11
requiring the person to register as a sex offender pursuant to Article 27A of this Chapter would 12
further the purposes of that Article as stated in G.S. 14-208.5. If the sentencing court rules that 13
the person is a danger to the community and that the person shall register, then an order shall be 14
entered requiring the person to register. 15
(m) The provisions of subsections (a), (a1), (c), (e), (e1), (g), (h), and (k) of this section 16
do not apply to:to either of the following: 17
(1) Law enforcement officers while discharging or attempting to discharge their 18
official duties; orduties. 19
(2) Personnel of the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction or 20
of a local confinement facility for security purposes or during investigation of 21
alleged misconduct by a person in the custody of the Division or the local 22
confinement facility. 23
(n) This section does not affect the legal activities of those who are licensed pursuant to 24
Chapter 74C, Private Protective Services, or Chapter 74D, Alarm Systems, of the General 25
Statutes, who are legally engaged in the discharge of their official duties within their respective 26
professions, and who are not engaging in activities for an improper purpose as described in this 27
section." 28
SECTION 11.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 29
offenses committed on or after that date. 30
31
REVISE LAW PROHIBITING SEXUAL ACTIVITY BY A SUBSTITUTE PARENT OR 32
CUSTODIAN TO INCLUDE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS OR INSTITUTIONS 33
SECTION 12.(a) G.S. 14-27.31(b) reads as rewritten: 34
"(b) If a person having custody of a victim of any age or a person who is an agent or 35
employee of any person, or institution, including a religious organization or institution, whether 36
such institution is private, charitable, or governmental, having custody of a victim of any age 37
engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with such victim, the defendant is guilty of a Class 38
E felony." 39
SECTION 12.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 40
offenses committed on or after that date. 41
42
ESTABLISH THE OFFENSE OF LARCENY OF GIFT CARDS AND REVISE THE 43
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT OFFENSE TO INCLUDE OFFENSES INVOLVING 44
GIFT CARDS 45
SECTION 13.(a) Article 16 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by 46
adding a new section to read: 47
"§ 14-72.12. Larceny of gift cards; receiving stolen gift cards or possessing stolen gift cards. 48
(a) Definitions. – For purposes of this section, the terms "gift card," "gift card issuer," 49
"gift card redemption information," and "gift card value" are as defined in G.S. 14-86.5. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 14 DRS45205-ML-5A
(b) Offense. – A person commits the offense of larceny of gift cards if the person does 1
any of the following: 2
(1) Acquires or retains possession of a gift card or gift card redemption 3
information without the consent of the cardholder or card issuer. 4
(2) Obtains a gift card or gift card redemption information from a cardholder or 5
card issuer by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or 6
promises. 7
(3) Alters or tampers with a gift card or its packaging with intent to defraud 8
another. 9
(c) Punishment. – A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor if the value of the 10
gift card acquired, retained, or for which the card redemption information is obtained, or is altered 11
or tampered with, is not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). Any other violation of this 12
section is a Class H felony." 13
SECTION 13.(b) G.S. 14-86.5 reads as rewritten: 14
"§ 14-86.5. Definitions. 15
The following definitions apply in this Article: 16
(1) "Retail property." – Any article, product, commodity, item, or component 17
intended to be sold in retail commerce.Gift card. – A record evidencing a 18
promise, made for monetary consideration, by a seller or issuer that goods or 19
services will be provided to the owner of the record to the value shown in the 20
record. A gift card includes a record that contains a microprocessor chip, 21
magnetic strip, or other storage medium that is prefunded and for which the 22
value is adjusted upon each use, a gift certificate, a stored-value card or 23
certificate, a store card, or a prepaid long-distance telephone service that is 24
activated by a prepaid card that requires dialing an access number or an access 25
code in addition to dialing the phone number to which the user of the prepaid 26
card seeks to connect. 27
(2) Repealed by Session Laws 2024-22, s. 2(a), effective December 1, 2024, and 28
applicable to offenses committed on or after that date. 29
(3) "Theft." – To take possession of, carry away, transfer, or cause to be carried 30
away the retail property of another with the intent to steal the retail 31
property.Gift card issuer. – Any person or entity that sells, distributes, or 32
supplies a gift card. 33
(4) "Value." – The retail value of an item as advertised by the affected retail 34
establishment, to include all applicable taxes.Gift card redemption 35
information. – Any information unique to a gift card that allows the cardholder 36
to access, transfer, or spend the funds on that gift card. 37
(5) Gift card value. – The maximum monetary value that can be applied to the 38
card. 39
(6) Retail property. – Any article, product, commodity, item, or component 40
intended to be sold in retail commerce. 41
(7) Theft. – To take possession of, carry away, transfer, or cause to be carried 42
away the retail property of another with the intent to steal the retail property. 43
(8) Value. – The retail value of an item as advertised by the affected retail 44
establishment, to include all applicable taxes." 45
SECTION 13.(c) G.S. 14-86.6 reads as rewritten: 46
"§ 14-86.6. Organized retail theft. 47
(a) Offense. – A person commits the offense of organized retail theft if the person does 48
any of the following: 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRS45205-ML-5A Page 15
(1) Conspires with another person to commit theft of retail property from retail 1
establishments with the intent to sell, transfer, or possess that retail property 2
for monetary or other gain. 3
(2) Receives or possesses any retail property that has been taken or stolen in 4
violation of subdivision (1) of this subsection while knowing or having 5
reasonable grounds to believe the property is stolen. 6
(3) Conspires with two or more other persons as an organizer, supervisor, 7
financier, leader, or manager to engage for profit in a scheme or course of 8
conduct to effectuate or intend to effectuate the transfer or sale of property 9
stolen from a merchant in violation of this section. 10
(4) Conspires with another person to acquire or retain possession of a gift card or 11
gift card redemption information without the consent of the cardholder or card 12
issuer. 13
(5) Devises a scheme with one or more persons to obtain a gift card or gift card 14
redemption information from a cardholder or card issuer by means of false or 15
fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises. 16
(6) Conspires with another person to alter or tamper with a gift card or its 17
packaging with intent to defraud another. 18
… 19
(a2) Punishments. – The following classifications apply to the offense of organized retail 20
theft: 21
(1) An offense when the gift card value or the retail property has a value 22
exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) aggregated over a 23
90-day period is a Class H felony. 24
(2) An offense when the gift card value or the retail property has a value 25
exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) aggregated over a 90-day period 26
is a Class G felony. 27
(3) An offense when the gift card value or the retail property has a value 28
exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) aggregated over a 90-day period is 29
a Class F felony. 30
(4) An offense when the gift card value or the retail property has a value 31
exceeding one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) aggregated over a 90-day 32
period is a Class C felony. 33
… 34
(c) Multiple Thefts. – Thefts of gift cards, gift card redemption information, or retail 35
property occurring in more than one county may be aggregated into an alleged violation of this 36
section. Each county where a part of the charged offense occurs has concurrent venue as 37
described in G.S. 15A-132." 38
SECTION 13.(d) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 39
offenses committed on or after that date. 40
41
ESTABLISH AN OFFENSE FOR WRONGFULLY ENTERING A PART OF A 42
BUILDING NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 43
SECTION 14.(a) G.S. 14-54 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 44
"(b1) Any person who knowingly and wrongfully enters any area of a building that is (i) 45
commonly reserved for personnel of a commercial business where money or other property is 46
kept or (ii) clearly marked with a sign that indicates to the public that entry is forbidden is guilty 47
of a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class I felony for a second or subsequent 48
offense." 49
SECTION 14.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 50
offenses committed on or after that date. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 16 DRS45205-ML-5A
1
ALLOW UNLICENSED LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES TO PRACTICE LAW UNDER 2
SUPERVISION 3
SECTION 15. G.S. 84-7.1 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 4
"(4) Any law school graduate permitted by the North Carolina State Bar to act as 5
a legal intern for a federal, State, local government agency, or for a nonprofit 6
corporation qualified to render legal services pursuant to G.S. 84-5.1." 7
8
CLARIFY THAT ALL FELONY SCHOOL NOTIFICATIONS ARE LIMITED TO 9
CLASS A THROUGH CLASS E FELONIES 10
SECTION 16. G.S. 7B-3101(a) reads as rewritten: 11
"(a) Notwithstanding G.S. 7B-3000, the juvenile court counselor shall deliver verbal and 12
written notification of any of the following actions to the principal of the school that the juvenile 13
attends: 14
(1) A petition is filed under G.S. 7B-1802 that alleges delinquency for an offense 15
that would constitute a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an 16
adult. The principal of the school shall make an individualized decision related 17
to the status of the student during the pendency of the matter and not have an 18
automatic suspension policy. 19
(2) The court transfers jurisdiction over a juvenile to the superior court under 20
G.S. 7B-2200.5 or G.S. 7B-2200.G.S. 7B-2200 for an offense that would 21
constitute a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult. 22
(3) The court dismisses under G.S. 7B-2411 the petition that alleges delinquency 23
for an offense that would be a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed 24
by an adult. 25
(4) The court issues a dispositional order under Article 25 of Chapter 7B of the 26
General Statutes including, but not limited to, an order of probation that 27
requires school attendance, concerning a juvenile alleged or found delinquent 28
for an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult. 29
(5) The court modifies or vacates any order or disposition under G.S. 7B-2600 30
concerning a juvenile alleged or found delinquent for an offense that would 31
be a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, or E felony if committed by an adult. 32
Notification of the school principal in person or by telephone shall be made before the 33
beginning of the next school day. Delivery shall be made as soon as practicable but at least within 34
five days of the action. Delivery shall be made in person or by certified mail. Notification that a 35
petition has been filed shall describe the nature of the offense. Notification of a dispositional 36
order, a modified or vacated order, or a transfer to superior court shall describe the court's action 37
and any applicable disposition requirements. As used in this subsection, the term "offense" does 38
not include any offense under Chapter 20 of the General Statutes." 39
40
ALLOW TRANSFER OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE BACK TO THE COLLECTING 41
AGENCY FOR PRESERVATION 42
SECTION 17. G.S. 15A-268(a3) reads as rewritten: 43
"(a3) When physical evidence is offered or admitted into evidence in a criminal proceeding 44
of the General Court of Justice, the presiding judge shall inquire of the State and defendant as to 45
the identity of the collecting agency of the evidence and whether the evidence in question is 46
reasonably likely to contain biological evidence and if that biological evidence is relevant to 47
establishing the identity of the perpetrator in the case. If either party asserts that the evidence in 48
question may have biological evidentiary value, and the court so finds, the court shall instruct 49
that the evidence be so designated in the court's records and that the evidence be preserved 50
pursuant to the requirements of this section. The court may order that the evidence be returned 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRS45205-ML-5A Page 17
to the collecting agency to be preserved pursuant to subsection (a4) of this section at a request 1
from the district attorney, the clerk, and the collecting agency if the court finds that the collecting 2
agency is better equipped to preserve the evidence and the district attorney, the clerk, and the 3
collecting agency all agree. If the court orders the return pursuant to this subsection, the evidence 4
shall be preserved until such time as the clerk notifies the collecting agency that preservation is 5
no longer required for the period prescribed in subsection (a4) of this section and the period 6
required pursuant to subsection (a6) of this section has also passed." 7
8
REVISE LAW GOVERNING THE RECORDING OF COURT PROCEEDINGS 9
SECTION 18.(a) G.S. 15A-1241 reads as rewritten: 10
"§ 15A-1241. Record of proceedings. 11
(a) The trial judge must require that the reporter make a true, complete, and accurate 12
record of all statements from the bench and all other proceedings except: 13
(1) Selection of the jury in noncapital cases; 14
(2) Opening statements and final arguments of counsel to the jury; and 15
(3) Arguments of counsel on questions of law. 16
(b) Upon motion of any party or on the judge's own motion, proceedings excepted under 17
subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of this section must be recorded. The motion for 18
recordation of jury arguments must be made before the commencement of any argument and if 19
one argument is recorded all must be. Upon suggestion of improper argument, when no 20
recordation has been requested or ordered, the judge in his discretion may require the remainder 21
to be recorded. 22
…." 23
SECTION 18.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 24
proceedings commenced on or after that date. 25
26
INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR COMMITTING THE OFFENSE OF FAILURE 27
TO YIELD THAT RESULTS IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY 28
SECTION 19.(a) G.S. 20-160.1(a) reads as rewritten: 29
"(a) Unless the conduct is covered under some other law providing greater punishment, a 30
person who commits the offense of failure to yield while approaching or entering an intersection, 31
turning at a stop or yield sign, entering a roadway, upon the approach of an emergency vehicle, 32
or at highway construction or maintenance shall be punished under this section. When there is 33
serious bodily injury but no death resulting from the violation, the violator is guilty of a Class 2 34
misdemeanor, which shall be fined include a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) and and, upon 35
conviction, revocation of the violator's drivers license or commercial drivers license shall be 36
suspended for 90 days." 37
SECTION 19.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 38
offenses committed on or after that date. 39
40
INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO YIELD THE RIGHT -OF-WAY TO A 41
BLIND OR PARTIALLY BLIND PEDESTRIAN 42
SECTION 20.(a) G.S. 20-175.2 reads as rewritten: 43
"§ 20-175.2. Right-of-way at crossings, intersections and traffic-control signal points; white 44
cane or guide dog to serve as signal for the blind. 45
At any street, road or highway crossing or intersection, where the movement of traffic is not 46
regulated by a traffic officer or by traffic-control signals, any blind or partially blind pedestrian 47
shall be entitled to the right-of-way at such crossing or intersection, if such blind or partially 48
blind pedestrian shall extend before him at arm's length a cane white in color or white tipped with 49
red, or if such person is accompanied by a guide dog. Upon receiving such a signal, all vehicles 50
at or approaching such intersection or crossing shall come to a full stop, leaving a clear lane 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 18 DRS45205-ML-5A
through which such pedestrian may pass, and such vehicle shall remain stationary until such blind 1
or partially blind pedestrian has completed the passage of such crossing or intersection. At any 2
street, road or highway crossing or intersection, where the movement of traffic is regulated by 3
traffic-control signals, blind or partially blind pedestrians shall be entitled to the right-of-way if 4
such person having such cane or accompanied by a guide dog shall be partly across such crossing 5
or intersection at the time the traffic-control signals change, and all vehicles shall stop and remain 6
stationary until such pedestrian has completed passage across the intersection or crossing. Any 7
person who fails to yield the right-of-way to a blind or partially blind pedestrian as required by 8
this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor." 9
SECTION 20.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2026, and applies to 10
offenses committed on or after that date. 11
12
SEVERABILITY, SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND EFFECTIVE DATE 13
SECTION 21.(a) If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, the 14
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect 15
without the invalid provisions or application and, to this end, the provisions of this act are 16
severable. 17
SECTION 21.(b) Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of 18
this act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for 19
this act remain applicable to those prosecutions. 20
SECTION 21.(c) Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 21
law. 22