GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 623
Short Title: First Responders' Right to Assemble. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Bradley and Mohammed (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S623 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROTECT THE LABOR RIGHTS OF FIRST RESPONDERS. 2
Whereas, North Carolina is one of only two states that explicitly prohibit collective 3
bargaining for first responders, thereby denying them a fundamental labor right enjoyed by their 4
counterparts in the majority of states; and 5
Whereas, studies have demonstrated that collaborative labor-management 6
relationships in public safety sectors lead to improved public safety outcomes. The ability to 7
negotiate for better training, equipment, and protocols directly enhances first responder safety 8
and the effectiveness of service delivery; and 9
Whereas, North Carolina faces a critical shortage of first responders as threats to 10
public safety continue to expand in scale and complexity. Collective bargaining helps increase 11
job satisfaction and morale among first responders, which is essential for both recruiting new 12
staff and retaining experienced personnel to respond to current and future crises; and 13
Whereas, the dedication and sacrifice of first responders, who routinely risk their lives 14
to protect the public, merit the provision of collective bargaining rights as a means to uphold the 15
values of safety, quality, and service consistent with North Carolina's commitment to protecting 16
its citizens and supporting those who serve; Now, therefore, 17
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 18
SECTION 1. G.S. 95-98 reads as rewritten: 19
"ยง 95-98. Contracts between units of government and labor unions, trade unions or labor 20
organizations concerning public employees declared to be illegal. 21
(a) Any Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any agreement, or contract, 22
between the governing authority of any city, town, county, or other municipality, or between any 23
agency, unit, or instrumentality thereof, or between any agency, instrumentality, or institution of 24
the State of North Carolina, and any labor union, trade union, or labor organization, as bargaining 25
agent for any public employees of such city, town, county or other municipality, or agency or 26
instrumentality of government, is hereby declared to be against the public policy of the State, 27
illegal, unlawful, void and of no effect. 28
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, first responders may bargain 29
collectively with the governing authority of any city, town, county, or other municipality. This 30
section does not affect the prohibition on strikes under G.S. 95-98.1." 31
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. 32