Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes. Makes conforming changes to the act’s long title and effective date.

Removes the exemption to the offense of possessing weapons on campus or other educational property (GS 14-269.2) for a person on private school grounds who has a concealed handgun permit valid under GS Chapter 14, Article 54B, or who is exempt from obtaining a permit pursuant to that Article, if all of the following conditions apply: (1) the property in question is owned, used, or operated by a private school; (2) the weapon is a handgun; (3) there’s no conspicuous notice barring carrying concealed handguns on the property; and (4) the person(s) having legal possession or control of the property has provided signed, written permission authorizing the person to possess and carry a handgun on the property. Removes changes to GS 14-415.11. Makes organizational changes. 

Adds the following new content.

Adds and defines the terms school administrative director and school board of trustees to the definitions pertaining to GS 14-269.2 (barring weapons on campus or other educational property, subject to certain exemptions). Increases the exemptions to GS 14-269.2(g) by including employees or volunteers of a nonpublic school meeting six specified criteria, including that the person has written authorization from the school’s administration (as specified) to possess or carry a firearm or stun gun on the school’s property, the person has successfully completed under the direct supervision of a certified National Rifle Association instructor or the equivalent a minimum of eight hours of courses, as specified, and the person has a concealed handgun permit. Modifies the exemption for a person who has a concealed handgun permit that is valid under Article 54B of GS 14, or who is exempt from obtaining a permit pursuant to that Article by allowing the person to possess and carry the handgun on the educational property if they are attending sacerdotal functions in any of the buildings that are places of religious worship on the property at any time. (Currently, can only carry such weapons outside of school operating hours.) Specifies that “attending” includes ingress and egress between the building and designated parking area for the place of religious worship.

Expands the definitions under GS 14-16.10 (definitions provision pertaining to criminal offenses against the State) to include local elected officer (an elected officer of a political subdivision of this State).

Amends GS 14-16.6 by expanding upon the statute's scope to also prohibit assault on local elected officers, or assault on another person as retaliation against a local elected officer, in addition to the already included assault on a legislative officer, executive officer, or court officer. Increases the punishment for assault on these classes of individuals from a Class I felony to a Class H felony; from a Class F felony to a Class E felony when the offense includes the use of a deadly weapon; and from a Class E felony to a Class D felony when the person inflicts serious bodily injury to a legislative, executive, court, or local elected officer.

Expands liability under GS 14-16.7 (Class I felony for threats against executive, legislative, or court officers) to include local elected officers. Increases the penalties for violating the statute from a Class I felony to a Class H felony. Makes conforming change to GS 14-16.8 (no requirement for receipt of threat for liability under GS 14-16.8).

Expands liability under GS 163-275(11) (intimidation of certain election officials by threats, menacing or attempts thereof) to include intimidating acts done because of the official’s voter registration duties or in conducting elections (currently, only includes those done to intimidate the officer in the discharge of those duties).

Adds new GS 15A-534.9 requiring a judicial official who determines conditions of pretrial release for a person charged under GS 14-16.7, GS 14-16.6, or GS 163-275(11) to be a judge. Requires the judge to direct a law enforcement officer or district attorney to provide the defendant's criminal history report and to consider that criminal history when setting conditions of release. Prohibits a judge from unreasonably delaying the determination of conditions of pretrial release for the purpose of reviewing the criminal history report. Allows a judge, if they decide that the defendant's immediate release will pose a danger of injury to persons and that executing an appearance bond will not assure that the injury will not occur, to keep the defendant in custody for a reasonable period of time while determining the conditions of pretrial release. Specifies four conditions that a judge may impose on pretrial release, which may be imposed in addition to requiring the defendant to execute a secured appearance bond. Specifies that the provisions of Article 5 (Procedure for Admission and Discharge of Clients) of GS Chapter 122C apply if the defendant is mentally ill and dangerous to himself or others or a substance abuser and dangerous to himself or others. Allows keeping a defendant in custody no more than 48 hours from the time of arrest with the judge making a determination under this statute; if a judge has not acted within those 48 hours, requires the magistrate to take action under the statute. 

Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.