REVISE LAWS ON MINORS/HUMAN TRAFFICKING. (NEW)

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View NCGA Bill Details2025-2026 Session
House Bill 83 (Public) Filed Monday, February 10, 2025
AN ACT TO AMEND THE OFFENSE OF DISSEMINATING OBSCENITY TO MINORS; TO ADD THE OFFENSES OF DISSEMINATING OBSCENITY TO MINORS, DISSEMINATING HARMFUL MATERIAL TO MINORS, AND EXHIBITING HARMFUL PERFORMANCES TO MINORS TO THE LIST OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SEX OFFENDER AND PUBLIC PROTECTION REGISTRATION PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM VENDORS ON A SYSTEM FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
Intro. by Torbett.
Status: Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (Jun 10 2026)

SOG comments (2):

Long title change

Submitted by jhenders@sog.unc.edu on

Committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original long title was AN ACT TO INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR COMMITTING THE OFFENSE OF DISSEMINATING HARMFUL MATERIAL TO MINORS OR EXHIBITING HARMFUL PERFORMANCES TO MINORS; TO ESTABLISH THE OFFENSE OF HABITUAL INDECENT EXPOSURE; TO ADD THE OFFENSES OF DISSEMINATING HARMFUL MATERIAL TO MINORS AND EXHIBITING HARMFUL PERFORMANCES TO MINORS TO THE LIST OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SEX OFFENDER AND PUBLIC PROTECTION REGISTRATION PROGRAM; AND TO PROHIBIT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES FROM PROVIDING SERVICE TO UNEMANCIPATED MINORS WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING CONSENT FROM THE MINOR'S PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN.

Long title change

Submitted by jhenders@sog.unc.edu on

Committee substitute to the 2nd edition changed the long title. Previous title was AN ACT TO AMEND THE OFFENSE OF DISSEMINATING OBSCENITY TO MINORS; TO ADD THE OFFENSES OF DISSEMINATING OBSCENITY TO MINORS, DISSEMINATING HARMFUL MATERIAL TO MINORS, AND EXHIBITING HARMFUL PERFORMANCES TO MINORS TO THE LIST OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SEX OFFENDER AND PUBLIC PROTECTION REGISTRATION PROGRAM; AND TO ESTABLISH THE OFFENSES OF HABITUAL INDECENT EXPOSURE AND AGGRAVATED HABITUAL INDECENT EXPOSURE AND REQUIRE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION FOR THOSE OFFENSES.

Bill History:

H 83

Bill Summaries:

  • Bill H 83 (2025-2026)
    Summary date: Jun 10 2026 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes. Amends the act’s titles.

    Removes the following: (1) proposed changes to GS 14-190.9 that established the offenses of habitual indecent exposure and aggravated habitual indecent exposure and (2) proposed changes to GS 14-208.6, which added habitual indecent exposure and aggravated habitual indecent exposure to the definition of sexually violent offense. Moves the remaining provisions into Section 1 of the act and makes those provisions applicable to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2026 (was, 2025).

    Adds the following.

    Section 2

    Sets out NCGA findings related to human trafficking. Requires the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission (Commission) to conduct a request for information from vendors equipped to study human trafficking reporting, including information on the development process for a statewide human trafficking reporting and response system (system). Encourages the Commission, after receiving responses, to start developing a system that facilitates referral to the National Human Trafficking hotline for crisis support. Sets out the NCGA’s intent that the system will: (1) notify law enforcement and child protection officials of high priority reports; (2) provide a secure dashboard for authorized personnel to view, triage, and respond to reports; and (3) support real-time communication between investigators and survivors or reporters with consent.

    Section 3

    Amends GS 143-805 to add officials or employees investigating matters involving incarcerated offenders or matters related to misuse of Department of Adult Correction devices to list of exceptions to the prohibition on viewing pornography on government devices. Effective upon becoming law and applicable to investigations before, on, or after that date.

    Amends GS 42A-39 (Human trafficking awareness reporting and training requirements for vacation rentals) to require third-party contractors to ensure that employees performing housekeeping or check-in/check-out services receive human trafficking awareness training. Effective upon becoming law and applicable to training required to be completed on or after that date.

    Amends GS 130A-511(b)(1) to provide that human trafficking training for lodging establishment employees does not have to conform to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. Effective upon becoming law and applicable to training developed or identified before, on, or after that date.

    Courts/Judiciary, Criminal Justice, Criminal Law and Procedure, Development, Land Use and Housing, Property and Housing
    GS 14, GS 42A, GS 130A, GS 143
  • Bill H 83 (2025-2026)
    Summary date: Mar 11 2025 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.  Removes Part II from the act, which was comprised of: (1) amendments to GS 20-280.5 to require transportation network company (TNC) drivers to obtain consent from an unemancipated minor’s parent or legal guardian before providing service to that minor and (2) new GS 14-401.28 making it an infraction with $250 fine for a TNC driver to provide TNC service (defined) to an unemancipated minor, without first obtaining consent from that minor child's parent or legal guardian. Makes organizational changes. Makes conforming changes, including to the act’s title. Makes technical changes.

    Modifies the age requirement under GS 14-190.7 (dissemination of obscene materials to minors) so that a person is now guilty of a Class H felony (was, Class G felony in 1st edition and H under current law) if the person age 18 or older is at least four years older than the minor (currently, GS 14-190.7 requires that the minor be under the age of sixteen).  Makes organizational and conforming changes, including to the statute's title.

    Removes the proposed felony class modifications to GS 14-190.8 (dissemination of obscene material to minors under age 13 by persons aged 18 or older) and GS 14-190.15 (dissemination of harmful material to minors). 

    Makes clarifying changes to the new offense of habitual indecent exposure under new GS 14-190.9(a6) and upgrades felony classification to Class F felony (was, Class H felony). Makes additional clarifying changes to the statute. Adds new GS 14-190.9(a7) creating a Class E felony for aggravated habitual indecent exposure when the person is at least 18 years old and willfully expose themselves to a minor in a public place and has two or more prior convictions under any combination of the listed offenses (except for habitual indecent exposure) in GS 14-190.9.  Removes designation as reportable conviction under GS 14-208.6, the definitions pertaining to sex offender registration, of final convictions of habitual indecent exposure. Instead, lists both habitual indecent exposure and aggravated habitual indecent exposure as sexually violent offenses under that statute.

    Courts/Judiciary, Criminal Justice, Criminal Law and Procedure
    GS 14
  • Bill H 83 (2025-2026)
    Summary date: Feb 10 2025 - View Summary

    Part I.

    Increases the punishment classes as follows for these crimes:

    • A Class G Felony from a Class H felony for dissemination of obscene material to minors under age 16 by persons aged 18 or older (GS 14-190.7).
    • A Class F felony from a Class G felony for dissemination of obscene material to minors under age 13 by persons aged 18 or older (GS 14-190.8).
    • A Class H felony from a Class 1 misdemeanor for dissemination of harmful material to minors, including exhibition of live performances (GS 14-190.15).

    Requires the sentencing court to consider whether the person is a danger to the community and whether they should be required to register as a sex offender upon conviction of these offenses. Provides for court order requiring registration if court finds the offender to be a danger to the community.

    Makes conforming changes to GS 14-208.6(4) to account for new registration provisions. Makes additional technical changes and makes language gender neutral.

    Establishes the offense of habitual indecent exposures to minors for persons with two or more prior convictions under GS 14-190.9 (indecent exposure) as a class H felony unless the conduct is punishable for another law providing greater punishment. Designates such a conviction a reportable conviction under GS 14-208.6(4), the definitions pertaining to sex offender registration.

    Part II

    Amends GS 20-280.5 to require transportation network company (TNC) drivers to obtain consent from an unemancipated minor’s parent or legal guardian before providing service to that minor.  Requires the TNC to ensure that the company's online-enabled application or platform provides a reliable method for confirming a parent's or guardian's consent. Effective December 1, 2025.

    Enacts new GS 14-401.28 making it an infraction with $250 fine for a TNC driver to provide TNC service (defined) to an unemancipated minor, without first obtaining consent from that minor child's parent or legal guardian.

    Part III

    Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.  Directs that prosecutions for offenses committed before then are not abated or affected by the act and that the statutes that would be applicable but for the act remain applicable there. 

    Courts/Judiciary, Motor Vehicle, Criminal Justice, Criminal Law and Procedure, Transportation
    GS 14, GS 20
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