Section 1.

Includes High Point University School of Law in the recipient list of the state appellate division reports required by GS 7A-343.1.

Section 2.

Replaces reference to “drug treatment” courts with “local judicially managed accountability” courts in GS 7A-801 (goals of the Local Judicially Managed Accountability and Recovery Court Act). Just refers to "local judicially managed accountability courts” instead of “local judicially managed accountability courts funded under/pursuant to this Article” in GS 7A-792 and GS 7A-793.

Effective August 1, 2025.

Section 3.

Prevents a form issued by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) under GS 7A-232 from being modified in a way that maintains an appearance that the form was promulgated by AOC. Requires attorneys or parties modifying AOC forms to clearly notate that the form was changed and how it was changed. Applies to modified forms used on or after the act becomes law.

Section 4.

Repeals the courthouse posting of public notice of name change requirement under GS 101-2. Requires that a name change matter remain confidential if an applicant is either (1) a participant in the address confidentiality program under GS Chapter 15C or (2) provides evidence (as described) that the applicant is a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking. Effective December 1, 2025, and applies to all applications for a name change pursuant to GS Chapter 101 filed on or after that date.

Section 5.

Clarifies that no bond is required for a bank or trust company licensed to do business in the State and that has powers or privileged granted in its charter to serve as a guardian for it to receive its ward’s property under GS 35A-1230. Allows a bond required for letters of guardianship to also be approved by a notary public under GS 35A-1231. Limits the guardian’s filings required under GS 35A-1261 to inventories (currently, inventories or accounts). Increases the ways a guardianship can be terminated under GS 35A-1295 to include when the court has transferred the guardianship to another state. Makes technical changes. Effective December 1, 2025.

Section 6.

Replaces reference to “coverture” with “marriage” under GS 29-30, concerning the election of surviving spouse to take life interest in lieu of intestate share provided. Now requires a commission instead of a jury in such cases. Replaces references to “citizen” with “resident” under GS 28A-2A-15 (certified copies of wills provided in another state or country) and GS 28A-2A-17 (recording of will of nonresident). Enlarges the timeframes governing an implied renunciation by an executor under GS 28A-5-1 (renunciation by executor) from fifteen to twenty days. Extends the provisions governing what estate accounts filed with the clerk of superior court must contain to include those filed with an assistant clerk of court under GS 28A-2-2. Makes technical changes. Modifies the requirement pertaining to recording of a will in each county where the decedent had real property when the will is admitted to probate to clarify that the petitioner must affirm that the will will be recorded in those counties once it is admitted to probate as part of the petition for probate in GS 28A-28-2 (currently, must affirm that the will has been recorded). Makes technical changes. Requires a copy of a probated will in order for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to effect the transfer of a motor vehicle upon presentment of a will or other estate document in GS 20-77 (currently, just have the option of presenting a will). Changes the person who may executive an affidavit and transfer the interest in a motor vehicle of the decedent’s minor or incompetent children where such minor or incompetent does not have a guardian from the surviving spouse to the surviving parent of a minor or incompetent. Makes clarifying changes.  

Clarifies in GS 31-11 (depositories where living persons may file their will) that the will that should be filed by a living testator, or agent or attorney thereof is the original paper will. Instructs the clerk not to receive any will for its receptacle from any agent or attorney once the testator has died.  Directs that once the clerk has received proof of death, that the office is authorized to allow the will be made open for inspection by any person interested in the testator’s estate until the will is offered for probate. Instructs the clerk to retain the original paper will until withdrawn, filed in the deceased testator's estate file, or once 60 years have passed since the will was originally deposited with the clerk. If after 60 years the will has not been withdrawn or filed in the deceased testator's estate file, explains that the clerk is authorized to comply with records retention rules for deposited wills set by the Director of AOC. Makes technical and clarifying changes.

Effective December 1, 2025.

Section 7.

Enacts GS 7A-47.4, instructing that when the Chief Justice assigns a resident judge, special judge, or emergency judge to preside over a specific case, the assigned judge has the same power and authority over the assigned case as that of a regular judge over matters arising in the regular judge's district or set of districts (defined).

Section 8.

Makes technical change by removing reference to statute that is part of repealed GS Chapter 28 from GS 28C-10 (claims against an absentee).

Section 9.

Only requires the clerk to require service by law enforcement of ex parte domestic violence orders (GS 50B-2) or petitions for contempt for violations of any order pertaining to domestic violence (GS 50B-4) if the person to be served is in the State. Makes conforming changes. Applies to service of process occurring on or after December 1, 2025.

Section 10.

Expands the proceedings where an order for nonsecure custody may be issued in GS 7B-1903 to include criminal proceedings (currently just delinquency proceedings). Makes conforming changes to allow the court to examine criminal charging documents. Allows for an initial order for secure custody to be issued under GS 7B-1904 when the superior court has ordered the removal of a case to juvenile court, with copies provided as described. Requires the described copies to be provided to the specified persons if the order is for nonsecure custody, the official executing the order shall also give a copy of the order. Specifies in GS 15A-960, that if the superior court removes the case to juvenile court for adjudication and the juvenile has been granted pretrial release, the obligor shall be released from the juvenile's bond upon the superior court's review of whether the juvenile will be placed in secure custody. Expands the occurrences that terminate an obligor’s bond obligations to include the court's review of a juvenile's secure or nonsecure custody status pursuant to remand under GS 7B-2603 (right to appeal transfer decisions) or the removal under GS 15A-960 for disposition as a juvenile case. Effective December 1, 2025, and applies to proceedings occurring on or after that date.

Section 11.

Provides for copies of an inpatient involuntary commitment order for reasons of mental illness to be sent to the persons described in GS 122C-271 by no less than 48 hours after the hearing. Provides for copies of an inpatient involuntary commitment order for reasons of substance abuse to be sent to the persons described in GS 122C-287 by the most reliable and expeditious means. Applies to orders issued on or after the act becomes law.

Section 12.

Expands the reasons a judge may be unavailable in proceedings for judicial settlement to include their retirement in GS 1-283. Applies to actions taken on or after the act becomes law.

Section 13.

Sets forth a procedure for the suspension, removal, and reinstatement of a clerk of the superior court (currently procedures applicable to superior court district attorney apply in such cases), in GS 7A-105 as described. Requires a filing fee. Provides for a pre-hearing probable cause determination on whether the allegations should be dismissed. Authorizes the reviewing judge to suspend the clerk but requires that the suspension be with pay until the matter is resolved. Allows for the procedure to be stalled by the presiding judge if criminal charges are filed against the clerk. Makes organizational changes. Applies to proceedings based upon clerk conduct occurring on or after the act becomes law.

Section 14.

Modifies the number of judges that the Chief Justice may designate as a special business judge from one or more to up to six in complex business cases and makes technical changes to GS 7A-45.3.  Enlarges the mandatory designations of complex business cases in GS 7A-45.4 to include (1) an appeal of a decision of the North Carolina Oil and Gas Commission concerning trade secret or confidential information and (2) those cases or groups of cases designated by the Chief Justice as a “complex business.” Requires a notice of designation to also be filed by any defendant contemporaneously with the filing of a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim giving rise to designation that would give rise to a complex business designation. Makes technical changes. Makes conforming changes to GS 113-391.1. Effective December 1, 2025, and applies to judges designated and proceedings held on or after that date.

Section 15.

Expands the AOC Director’s duties under GS 7A-343 to including adopting and copywriting an official flag, seal, and other emblems appropriate in connection with the management and operation of the judicial branch, as described.

Section 16.

Removes provisions in GS 7A-171 that specify that the number of magistrates appointed in a county, above the minimum quota set by the General Assembly, is determined by the Administrative Office of the Courts after consultation with the chief district court judge for the district in which the county is located.

Section 17.

Removes the requirement that the State Auditor approve alternative methods for payment of juror fees, witness fees, and other small expense items under GS 7A-301, and adds that those allowable alternative payment procedures include providing debit cards to payees.

Section 18.

Contains severability clause. 

Amends the scope of the following statutes to also include the Catawba Indian Nation.

Amends GS Chapter 1E, currently applicable to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, so that it is also applicable to the Catawba Indian Nation. Makes conforming changes throughout the Chapter as well as the following changes. Amends GS 1E-2, concerning county services by adding that agreements between a county and the Catawba Indian Nation are valid as a matter of State law. Amends GS 1E-12, concerning qualifications for law enforcement, by defining law enforcement officer for the statute as also including: (1) the Chief of the Catawba Indian Nation Tribal Police Department; and (2) a police officer, marshal, auxiliary police, or resources officer with the Catawba Indian Nation Tribal Police Department or Catawba Indian Nation Marshals Service. Defines the jurisdiction of the Catawba law enforcement as: (1) on all property owned by or leased to the Catawba Indian Nation located within the trust lands of the Catawba Indian Nation and (2) during the immediate and continuous flight of an offender in accordance with the specified law. Specifies that neither Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians nor Catawba Indian Nation law enforcement officers have jurisdiction on the other's land without a separate agreement between the tribes. Specifies that this Chapter and Article 13 of GS Chapter 160A do not limit or revoke the authority of the Catawba Indian Nation, the Catawba Indian Nation Tribal Police Department, Catawba Indian Nation Marshals Service, or a police officer, auxiliary police, or resources officer with the Catawba Indian Nation Tribal Police Department or any of the Catawba Nation Tribal Police Department, or any law enforcement officers or other persons appointed or employed by those entities, in the exercise of their inherent powers of self-government, or exercise of authority conferred by federal law, regulation, or common law. Amends GS 1E-20 to allow the Catawba Indian Nation to establish a probation and parole agency. Sets out requirements for Marshals of the Catawba Indian Nation. Provides for sharing probation and parole records.

Includes the Catawba Indian Nation in the following: GS 7A-343 (concerning the duties of the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts to establishing policies n systems for exchange of information with the Catawba Indian Nation); GS 7A-343.1 (adding them as recipient of copies of the appellate division reports); GS 14-159.12 (concerning first degree trespass); GS 20-4.01, effective July 1, 2025 (including the Catawba Indian Nation in the definition of state for GS Chapter 20); GS 70-13 (concerning consultation on archaeological investigations); GS 70-32 (concerning consultation when skeletal remains are found); GS 70-51 (concerning notification and consultation in archaeological investigations); GS 104-33 (exclusion from the provisions of Article 3, concerning Jurisdiction over National Park System Lands); GS 105-275 (excluding from taxation proper on lands held for the Catawba Indian Nation); GS 108D-62 (concerning enrollment in the children and families specialty plan); GS 113-276 (exemptions to fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses); GS 115C-210.1 (concerning appointment of members to the State Advisory Council on Indian Education); GS 115C-270.21(agreements with the State Board of Education on criteria to teach Catawba language and culture classes); GS 115D-5 (waiver of tuition and fees by the State Board of Community Colleges for courses required by Catawba Indian Nation public safety entities); GS 143-254.2 (exclusion from the statute concerning the Wildlife Resources Commission’s enforcement powers); GS 143-652.2 (adding a member of the Catawba Indian Nation to the North Carolina Boxing and Combat Sports Commission; GS 143B-135.5 (adding a member of the Catawba Indian Nation to the American Indian Heritage Commission); and GS 164-7 (specifying that the general statutes do not repeal statutes related to Catawba lands that were in force on the effective date of the general statutes).

Allows the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a Catawba Indian Nation license plate in GS 20-79.4, with no additional fee.

Enacts new GS 105-449.114A specifying that the Catawba Indian Nation possesses sovereign legal rights over its members and its trust lands. Allows the Department of Revenue to enter into a memorandum of understanding or an agreement with the Catawba Nation to make refunds of motor fuels and alternative fuels taxes to the Catawba Nation on behalf of its members who reside on or engage in otherwise taxable transactions within Catawba Nation trust lands; requires the agreement to be approved by the Catawba Council and signed by specified individuals. Specifies that the agreement may not affect the right of an individual member of the Catawba Nation to a refund and must provide for deduction of amounts refunded to individual members of the Catawba Nation from the amounts to be refunded to the Catawba Nation on behalf of all members.

Amends GS 108A-87 by adding that when the Catawba Indian Nation assumes responsibility for any social services, Medicaid healthcare benefit programs, and ancillary services, nonfederal matching funds and State funds for Sate programs designated to Cleveland County to serve the Catawba Indian Nation for programs previously borne by the State must be allocated direct to the Catawba Indian Nation rather to the County and must not exceed the amount expended by the State for programs or services assumed by the Catawba Indian Nation. Makes conforming changes to the statute.

Amends GS 143B-1406 making the Catawba Indian Nation eligible for public safety answering points (PSAP), designating the Executive Committee as the local entity. Sets out provisions for calculating the base amount and per capita distribution.

Limits the authority of local governments to exercise planning, zoning, and development regulation to the authority expressly authorized in statute by repealing GS 160D-101 subsection (d), and adopting new subsection (e). Effective and applicable to ordinances in effect on or adopted after January 1, 2026, making any ordinances inconsistent with the law void and unenforceable.

Amends GS 160D-702 (Grant of power) to clarify that except as expressly provided, local governments may not apply regulations prohibited by the section to any zoning or conditional district. Prohibits development regulations from setting a minimum width or length of structures regulated under the North Carolina Residential Code, making parking space requirements except as required by the ADA, specifying the minimum width, length, or square footage of driveways in a development unless they abut a public road, and requiring design standards for roads within a development in excess of Department of Transportation standards unless the city is accepting ownership and maintenance responsibility for the road in subsection (c). Requires that zoning regulations in a city of 150,000 or more allow five dwellings or more per acre in areas zoned for residential use; for cities 149,999 or less, requires no fewer than four dwellings per acre, and makes bona fide farm use an exemption to these requirements. Specifies that a local government must use quasi-judicial procedures to adopt a zoning or development regulation authorized by the statute. Effective and applicable to ordinances in effect on or adopted after July 1, 2025, making any ordinances inconsistent with the law void and unenforceable.

Amends GS 160D-703(b), prohibiting a local government from mandating as a condition for approval of a conditional district (1) any requirement not specifically authorized by law, or any requirement that the courts have held to be unenforceable if imposed directly by the local government, or (2) any offer from the petitioner to consent to requirements not authorized by law. Requires a local government to use quasi-judicial procedures to adopt a zoning or development regulation authorized by the statute.

Adds “conditional use permits” to the list of appeals requiring quasi-judicial procedures in GS 160D-406(a).

Expands the scope of actions where a party may obtain attorneys’ fees under GS 6-21.7 to include where a court finds that a city or county’s actions were arbitrary and capricious. Adds new subsection (b), specifying that when a local elected official is a party, if a court finds that the official’s act was “fraudulent, unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, beyond the scope of his or her statutory authority, or malicious or corrupt,” the official may be held personally liable for injury and damages, and attorneys’ fees are to be awarded to the other party. Specifically waives public official immunity, legislative immunity and judicial immunity. Does not hold local elected officials responsible for unlawful acts by officers and employees, unless the acts were by the authority of the local elected official or the official had knowledge of the act or should have known of the act under reasonable circumstances.

Amends GS 160A-307 (Curb cut regulations) to specify that a city may only regulate to the extent authorized by GS Chapter 160D, and to require the city to show through substantial evidence the need for any required improvements is directly related to the traffic using the driveway in question.

Allows a civil action for declaratory relief under GS 160D-1403.1 when a person claims a decision of a local government under GS 160D-702 or GS 160D-703 is an abuse of discretion, unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, or otherwise in excess of legal authority. Amends subsection (b) to grant standing to an association or organization of persons who otherwise qualify for standing under the statute.

Creates new GS 160D-1403.3 (Private remedies), that allows a person to bring a civil action to recover damages, costs, and attorneys’ fees and obtain equitable relief for a violation of the Chapter, in addition to the other remedies available.

Except for the amendments to GS 160D-702, effective January 1, 2026.

Amends GS 20-24.1 (Revocation for failure to appear or pay fine, penalty or costs for motor vehicle offenses) to create new subsection (b2), providing that a driver’s license revoked for failure to pay a fine, penalty, or court costs will be restored 36 months after the person’s most recent conviction for a violation under GS Chapter 20, unless that revocation was for impaired driving. Directs the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to develop a procedure to implement the restorations and provide notice to the license holders. Removes gendered language and makes organizational changes to the statute and to GS 20-24.2. Effective and applicable to license revocations before, on, or after December 1, 2025.

Requires the DMV to publish a report no later than October 1, 2025, showing the number of suspensions that were terminated along with demographic data about the suspended person, the number of licenses reinstated, and the amount of fees waived.

Creates new GS 20-24.4, requiring AOC to collect data from courts that adjudicate motor vehicle offenses, including the fines and fees imposed, collected, and waived in the preceding year.

Amends GS 20-28 (Unlawful to drive while license revoked, after notification, or while disqualified) to allow as of October 1, 2025, the person or a prosecutor to petition the court for waiver of unpaid fees imposed for driving while license revoked. If the person’s license is suspended for not paying fees under GS 20-24.1(a)(2), requires the court to reinstate the driver’s license.

Makes conforming amendments to GS 20-13.2(e), GS 20-19(k), GS 20-28.1(a), GS 20-217(g2), and GS 110-142.2(f).

Amends the effective date of SL 2015-186 (North Carolina Drivers License Restoration Act) to make the act applicable to offenses committed before December 1, 2015, as well as offenses committed on or after that date.

Except as provided, effective July 1, 2025.

Amends GS Chapter 15A, Article 11 (Search Warrants) to require law enforcement to provide probable cause to support the issuance of a no-knock search warrant.

Amends GS 15A-244 (Contents of the application for a search warrant) to create new subsection (b), requiring applications for search warrants to enter a vehicle or premises without notice to include (1) a statement that there is probable cause to believe giving notice would endanger the life or safety of a person, and (2) allegations of fact setting out the probable cause to believe that giving notice when executing the search warrant would endanger a person’s life or safety.

Creates new subsection (b) in GS 15A-249, requiring an officer executing a search warrant to give notice and then provide enough time for the occupant of the premises to respond or for the officer to determine that admittance is being delayed, or the premises is unoccupied, before entering by force.

Amends GS 15A-251 (Entry by force), to allow entry by force when executing a search warrant if either (1) the officer previously announced and waited pursuant to GS 15A-249, or (2) the warrant includes the requirements for entry without notice from GS 15A-244(b).

Makes conforming changes and removes gendered language throughout Article 11.

Effective and applicable to search warrants issued on or after October 1, 2025.

Subject to approval by voters of the State at the general election in November 2026, makes the following constitutional changes. Enacts Section 25 to Article II of the NC Constitution to charge the NCGA with establishing by law an independent process to revise the electoral districts for Congress and the NCGA after return of the decennial census, subject to the following limitations. Prohibits NCGA involvement in revising electoral districts. Requires each NCGA member and US House member to represent as equal numbers of inhabitants as possible. Mandates districts to consist of contiguous territory. Prohibits division of a county for NCGA districts to the extent practicable and consistent with federal law. Mandates that the districts remain unaltered until the return of another decennial census. Grants adopted electoral districts legislative force and effect. Makes conforming changes to Sections 3 and 5 of Article II to charge the NCGA with establishing an independent process to revise legislative districts and the apportionment of legislators among those districts. Amends subsection 5 of Section 22 of Article II to require that every bill in which the General Assembly makes an appointment or appointments to public office must be read three times in each house before it becomes law and must also be signed by the presiding officers of each house (currently, applies to bills that solely pertain to: appointments, revisions to senatorial and representative districts, and revisions to districts for elections to the US House of Representatives). Provides for certification and enrollment. Makes effective upon certification.

Effective January 1, 2030, subject to voter approval of the constitutional amendments set forth above, enacts Article 1B, Redistricting, to GS Chapter 120. Sets forth 16 defined terms. Establishes the NC Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission (Commission), charged with preparing preliminary, proposed, and alternative plans for legislative and congressional apportionment and adopting final plans for the purpose of nominating and electing legislative and congressional members. Details Commission member eligibility, including residency and voter registration requirements, and a number of disqualifications, among them: contributing more than 20% of the contributions limit specified by state law to any candidate for public office and no more than $10,000 in total to candidates for public office, having been a staff member or legal counsel to the NCGA, having served in any public office except if the candidate has served in a federal or State recognized Native American tribe, having held any political appointment, and having been convicted of a crime against a governmental body of the United States or a crime with a direct connection to espionage, terrorism, treason, sabotage, sedition, and insurrection (including the following: overthrowing or attacking any governmental body of the United States, preventing any official of any governmental body of the United States from performing his or her official duties, or preventing persons from exercising their rights under the laws of any governmental body of the United States). 

Details member application procedures, including applying to the State Ethics Commission with relevant information and disclosures for eligibility review, who will then review the application pool and submit a diverse group of up to 60 applicants to the NCGA, as specified. Requires the Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate President Pro Tempore, and Senate Minority leader to each strike six candidates. After that occurs, provides for selection of 15 diverse Commission members, as specified. Sets terms at 10 years. Details other parameters of the Commission, including appointment of a chair, removal from office, vacancies, and reimbursement of member expenses. Bars a person having served as a member of the Commission from serving as a member of the NCGA or Congress until conclusion of the term they were appointed to serve, even if they resign or are removed prior to the conclusion of their term. Provides for a $2,000 stipend for each month the Commission meets. Details Commission staffing and selection, and the application of open meetings and public records laws. Prohibits serving as a staff member of the Commission if the person would be ineligible to serve as a Commission member.

Enumerates eight criteria that all redistricting plans must meet, including electoral impartiality and respecting the integrity of communities of interest, as defined. Provides for Commission adoption of preliminary, proposed, alternative, and final plans depending on appointed member affiliations. Directs the State Ethics Commission to submit to the Commission a list of qualified persons who can serve as a special master, who must draw and submit a plan that the Commission must adopt in the event a plan cannot be adopted pursuant to the statute. Provides for appointment of the special master by the Commission, depending on appointed member affiliations.

Mandates the Commission hold a minimum of 20 public hearings across the State, requiring providing the seven enumerated resources for public input, including sufficient time to review the plan, access to demographic data and mapping software.

Authorizes the NCGA to assign to the Commission the duty to prepare district plans for local government if their governing board or an appropriate court so requests. 

Part II.

Makes conforming changes to GS 120-2.3, regarding judgments invalidating apportionment or redistricting acts.

Makes conforming changes to GS 120-2.4, requiring a court to grant the Commission two weeks' time to remedy any defects a court has identified in a plan apportioning or redistricting legislative or congressional districts prior to the court imposing its own substitute plan. Makes further conforming changes.

Effective January 1, 2030, subject to voter approval of the constitutional amendments set forth in Part I of the act.

Part III.

States legislative intent to provide ample funding to implement the described independent redistricting system, allocating sufficient funding for the Commission to meet estimated expenses for 11 listed components of the system, including required public hearings, language translations, and litigation expenses. 

Makes various amendments to GS Chapter 15A, Article 26 (Bail), to update and modernize laws regarding bail bonds. Makes clarifying and conforming changes throughout Article 26.

Amends GS 15A-531 to allow a defendant’s address of record to include the address on the bond, the defendant’s permanent or temporary address, an address on court records, an address the defendant provided to the bondsman, or an address provided by anyone with actual or constructive notice of the defendant’s address.

Provides in GS 15A-534(h) that a bail bond under that statute is valid for not more than three years in cases without a pending forfeiture. Requires the surety to inform the district attorney 30 days before the bond expires. Provides two new circumstances where an obligor’s obligation on a bond is terminated, when a prosecutor enters a dismissal with leave or when a court grants a motion to set aside a bond forfeiture.

Amends GS 15A-544.5 (Setting aside forfeiture) to include reference to electronic delivery through the court’s case management system. Also amends subparagraph (d)(6) to specify that after a court allows a motion to set aside forfeiture as outlined in the section, the surety is relieved of the obligation and no other forfeitures will be issued for that bail bond.

Amends GS 15A-544.8 (Relief from final judgment of forfeiture) to include reference to electronic delivery through the court’s case management system and makes a conforming change to GS 15A-544.3.

Creates new GS 15A-545, requiring district attorneys to submit information about criminal defendants who fail to appear in court to the National Crime Information Center within 10 days of their failure to appear.

Requires the district attorney for each county and the attorney for each county board of education to be listed in the county's electronic filing or case management system as parties for purposes of Article 26, and requires those attorneys to maintain current contact information.

Adds a definition of “residential address” to GS 58-71-1, which includes the defendant’s address of record or any other place they may be occupying as lodging.

Specifies that no electronic system can act in the capacity of a bondsman in GS 58-71-40(a1).

Adds a reference to the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Odyssey system in GS 58-71-200(a).

Effective and applicable to motions, orders, and notice made or given on or after October 1, 2025.

Contains whereas clauses.

Amends GS 148-84(a) to remove the cap on compensation for persons erroneously convicted of felonies, which is currently $750,000. Effective and applicable to claims before, on, or after the date the act becomes law, but the retroactive applicability is limited to claimants who are still living on that date.

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits (DHB) to submit a waiver request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide Medicaid coverage for any person qualifying as a petitioner under GS 148-82 based on an erroneous conviction. Requires DHB to submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid on whether a waiver was approved or denied. If the waiver is approved, the report must specify the date coverage will begin and the cost to the state to implement the coverage. If the waiver is denied, the report must contain the cost to the state for extending coverage without a federal percentage. Specifies that if DHB does not receive a response on the waiver request by June 30, 2027, it should submit a report as if the waiver request was denied.

Requires the Department of Adult Correction to provide transition services to for any person qualifying as a petitioner under GS 148-82 after their release from custody in new GS 148-84.1. Places emphasis on housing, employment, and sustenance. Allows the Department to contract with third parties to provide services. Caps expenses for transition services at $25,000 per person. Applies to persons released on or after the effective date of the act.

Contains a severability clause.

Amends law enforcement retirement benefits GS 135-5 (Benefits under the Retirement System for Teachers and State Employees-TSERS) and GS 128-27 (Local Government Employees Referment System-LGERS), as follows.

Effective January 1, 2026, only requires that a person have twenty-five years of credible service for a person to qualify that eligibility option for retirement (currently, a person must twenty-five years of credible service, with at least fifteen of those years in law enforcement).  

Specifies that the service retirement allowance for members retiring on or after July 1, 2019, now only applies to those members retiring after that date but before January 1, 2026. Creates a service retirement allowance, computed as specified for members retiring on or after January 1, 2026. Creates two prongs of eligibility for law enforcement officers: one for those officers whose service retirement date occurs on or after the member's 55th birthday and completion of five years of creditable service as a law enforcement officer or after the completion of 25 years of creditable service and the second for those officers whose service retirement date occurs on or after the member's 50th birthday and before the member's 55th birthday and after the completion of 15 or more years of creditable service as a law enforcement officer but before the completion of 25 years of creditable service. Imports the eligibility and calculation requirements for members who are not law enforcement from the service retirement allowance for members retiring between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2026.  

Effective January 1, 2026, makes technical and conforming changes to the survivor’s alternate benefit provisions. 

Reduces the amount of credible service a State (GS 143-166.41) or local (GS 143-166.42) law enforcement officer must complete to be eligible for a special separation allowance from 30 years to 25 years of service. Defines allowance, law enforcement officer, officer, and in GS 143-166.41 only, probation/parole officer. Makes organizational and technical changes. Effective January 1, 2026, and applies to law enforcement officers retiring on or after that date.

Removes the individual income rates for taxable years beginning in 2022 through 2025 and beyond, in GS 105-153.7 and instead requires those taxes to be computed at the following percentages of the taxpayer’s income for taxable year 2025 and computed at the specified percentages reduced by .26% for taxable years after 2025. Sets rates based on income and filing status (i.e., married individuals filing jointly, heads of household, unmarried individuals other than surviving spouses and heads of household, and married individuals that do not file a joint return). Applies those amounts to the withholding tables established under GS 105-153.7(b). Expands the other deductions that a taxpayer may deduct from their adjusted gross income under GS 105-153.5 to include income for work performed as either a firefighter, emergency service services personnel, emergency management worker, 911 call center workers, sworn law enforcement officers with the power of arrest, child care workers, public school unit employees, probation or parole officers, and corrections officers. Effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Effective July 1, 2025, appropriates $165 million from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-26 fiscal biennium to provide subsidized child care services to a family that includes an individual employed as a qualifying caregiver worker (defined). Requires the Division to give priority to child care workers in award of these subsidies.

Contains whereas clauses.

Prohibits corporal punishment in public school units by amending GS 115C-390.4. Provides that physical restrain under GS 115C-391.1 and reasonable use of force under GS 115C-390.3 are not considered corporal punishment.

Makes corresponding changes to remove corporal punishment references in GS 115C-12(27), GS 115C-107.7, GS 115C-276(r), and GS 115C-390.2(h).

Repeals GS 6-21.4, regarding counsel fees and costs in lawsuits regarding corporal punishment against public school principals or teachers. Not applicable to civil actions arising before the effective date of the act.

Effective and applicable for the 2025-2026 school year.

Contains whereas clauses.

Directs the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a study assessing (1) the costs and benefits of the current energy market in the state, (2) possible reforms to the Southeastern Energy Exchange Market, (3) the feasibility and costs/benefits of an energy imbalance market or regional transmission organization along with South Carolina, or in the Southeastern United States, and (4) what legal and procedural requirements would be required for establishing a market with South Carolina or an organization with a larger geographic grid. Provides relevant definitions for the terms used in the study.

Requires the Commission to initiate the study within 90 days of the effective date of the act, and to submit a written report to the Joint Legislative Energy Policy Commission within one year of the effective date. Allows the Commission to contract for professional and consultant services, and directs the Commission to seek federal funding to the extent available. Provides broader direction on the analysis for each of the four categories for the study.

Appropriates $350,000 from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the Public Utilities Commission to conduct the study.

Adds new Article 18, Fair Procurement and Ownership Reform Act, in GS Chapter 62, providing as follows. Sets out the title and purpose of the Article.

Defines terms as they are used in the Article, including the following. Defines All-Source procurement as a competitive process for procuring energy resources from various generation technologies, including solar, wind, battery storage, hydropower, geothermal, and other renewable technologies as defined in GS 62-133.8. Defines large commercial or industrial customer as a retail customer of an electric public utility whose annual peak demand exceeds five megawatts. Defines offering utility as an electric public utility serving more than 150,000 North Carolina retail jurisdictional customers as of January 1, 2021. Defines small commercial or industrial customer as a retail customer of an electric public utility whose annual peak demand is less than or equal to five megawatts, excluding government customers.

Requires electric public utilities serving over 150,000 North Carolina customers to do the following: (1) conduct all-source competitive procurements at least once every two years or as directed by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (Commission), to meet future energy needs, including renewable energy and storage resources, with no technology-specific ownership mandates; (2) address identified system needs, including capacity, energy, and ancillary services of all solicitations; and (3) consider utility-owned resources alongside third-party proposals, with clear documentation to ensure compliance with this Chapter and equitable evaluation of all bids. Sets out the process for evaluating bids. Requires independent evaluators to oversee the procurement and solicitation process to ensure fairness and transparency; also requires them to review bids, scoring methods, and award decision and summarize them in a public report. Sets out criteria that must be used in evaluating proposals.

Prohibits offering public utilities and their affiliate from holding any mandated ownership percentages for procured energy resources. Eliminates utility ownership mandates for electricity generation. Prohibits public utilities from holding equity stakes in renewable projects procured through competitive bidding. Requires the Commission to allow public utilities to provide self-developed projects when procurement targets aren't met.

Requires the Commission to implement all-source procurement for renewable energy facilities with a nameplate capacity of 80 MW or less.

Sets out the process for the procurement process. Sets out requirements for the request for proposals. Sets out reporting requirements for public utilities within 90 days of the awarding of contracts. 

Requires the shared solar program capacity to be reassessed and reallocated as follows (1) large commercial or industrial customers, 45%, (2) small commercial or industrial customers, 25%, (3) government customers, 15%, and (4) residential customers, 15%. Requires customers of shared solar programs to receive bill credits based on the actual market value of energy and capacity from their allocated share. Retires renewable energy attributes and requires programs to include flexibility for subscription termination without penalty.

Sets out costs that public utilities may recover and sets out provisions governing capital cost caps. Provides that if a utility fails to meet procurement and carbon reduction targets, third-party developers may propose self-developed projects with faster review processes, so long as costs remain below market rate. Allows public utilities to propose self-developed projects only if bids fail to meet procurement targets and if proposed capital costs are below the cap.

Provides that if less than 50% of available program subscriptions are claimed within two years, the Commission may: (1) adjust bill credits to incentivize faster participation and greater equity and (2) implement monthly subscription incentives for customers who subscribe early, making participation easier and more cost-effective. Makes programs subject to biennial evaluations. Subjects programs that don't meet participation or deployment benchmarks to immediate reforms. Allows assessing penalties for public utilities that fail to comply with the all-source procurement requirements or demonstrate bias in the process. 

Sets out a timeline for implementation.

Includes a severability clause.

Effective October 1, 2025. 

 

Adds new Article 11, Online Safety Division, to GS Chapter 114, providing as follows. Establishes the Online Safety Division (Division) within the Office of the Attorney General, with the following duties: (1) investigation of complaints made under GS Chapter 114B (Children's Online Safety Act); (2) education of law enforcement agencies and the general public about the online safety of all North Carolinians, with an emphasis targeting harmful activities and dark patterns; (3) issuance of online safety standards and guidelines and review of relevant industry codes pertaining to internet safety, age-appropriate design, and compliance with the Children's Online Safety Act; and (4) facilitating advisory panels on internet safety, including child development experts, technology specialists, parent representatives, community stakeholders, and industry representatives.

Appropriates $5 million for 2025-26 and $4.5 million for 2026-27 from the General Fund to the Department of Justice to establish the Division. Effective July 1, 2025.

Enacts new GS Chapter 114B, Children’s Online Safety Act, providing as follows. Defines terms used in the Chapter, including defining covered platform as an internet platform providing online services having more than 5 million users in North Carolina and revenue exceeding $25 million annually. Makes it State public policy that its children are owned a duty of care with regard to their online activities in order to limit foreseeable harm and their exposure to dark patterns and harmful content on covered platforms; also endorses age-appropriate design and strong parental controls as central to protecting children. Requires covered platforms to require parental notifications for accounts created by children (defines child as an individual under age 18) and requires offering robust, easy-to-use parental supervision tools. Makes it illegal for covered platforms to use dark patterns (manipulative design elements in online environments) or deploy features known to be addictive or manipulative. Requires covered platforms to define cyberbullying and include provisions for reporting to the Division and provide intervention and support services for affected children. Requires platforms to submit an annual Child Impact Assessment to the Division for new and existing services; sets out required content and requires retaining documentation supporting the annual assessments for at least three years. Requires covered platforms to use the highest privacy settings by default for all users likely to be children and establish strict data minimization principles that include the nine specified elements, including requiring deletion when no longer needed, prohibiting profiling and behavioral advertising targeting children, and data broker restrictions for children’s information. Allows the Attorney General to bring civil actions to enforce this Article. Allows, when the defendant is found to have knowingly violated the Chapter, imposing civil penalties of up to $500,000 per violation. Sets out what must be considered in setting the amount of the penalty. Requires penalty proceeds to be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund. Includes a severability clause. Effective December 1, 2025, and applies to acts or omissions after that date.

Enacts new GS 143B-1209 establishing the Cyberbullying Unit (Unit) within the State Bureau of Investigation to protect children online and aid in the enforcement of new Article 11. Requires the Unit, in addition to other duties, to operate a toll-free number and website on online child safety and cyberbullying.

Appropriates $2 million for 2025-26 and $1 million for 2026-27 from the General Fund to the State Bureau of Investigation to create the Unit.

Establishes the nine-member North Carolina Online Child Safety Commission (Commission) to protect the state’s children from online harms through research, education, regulation enforcement and ongoing adaptation to the evolving digital landscape. Sets out additional Commission duties. Members are to be appointed by the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction and must have expertise and commitment to child welfare, digital technology, mental health, education, or related fields relevant to children’s online safety; sets out additional membership qualifications. Sets terms at four years and prohibits serving more than two consecutive terms.

Allows the Commission, with assistance and input from the Department of Justice, to: (1) issue binding regulations implementing the provisions of this act; (2) establish safety standards for covered platforms; (3) review and approve industry codes of practice; (4) initiate investigations into potential violations; (5) issue orders requiring compliance with the act; (6) impose penalties for violations as provided in this act; and (7) seek injunctive relief through the courts when necessary to prevent harm to children. Requires the Commission to give expert guidance to, among others, the Governor and General Assembly on matters relating to online child safety, educational institutions on digital literacy and safety curricula, and parents and caregivers on tools and strategies to protect children online. Requires the Commission to: (1) conduct research and data collection as specified, (2) develop and oversee the specified educational initiatives, (3) handle complaints in the specified manner, and (4) coordinate and collaborate with listed entities. Requires the Commission to prepare and publish an annual “State of Children’s Online Safety in North Carolina” report that includes the specified items. Requires the Commission to conduct annual compliance reviews of covered platforms that include seven specified measures. Requires the Commission to submit annual recommendations to the NCGA on five specified issues. Requires the Commission to hold at least four public hearings including specialized hearings on emerging issues of concern. Requires the Commission to engage with the industry in four specified ways, including convening an annual Industry Safety Summit with platform representatives and reviewing and approving updates to industry codes of practice. Requires the Commission to publish annual transparency reports that detail information related to enforcement actions, complaints, penalties, and other Commission actions. Requires the Commission to annually audit and evaluate five listed programs and initiatives, including digital literacy programs in schools and public awareness campaign effectiveness. Requires the Commission to establish annual research priorities based on identified gaps, commission or conduct studies on priority areas, award research grants from the Children's Online Safety Fund, publish findings and recommendations based on research, and ensure research informs regulatory and educational approaches.

Also sets out provisions governing the Commission’s staffing and structure, funding, technological capabilities, ethics, and accountability mechanisms.

Requires initial appointments to the Commission to be made and the first meeting to be convened within 90 days of the act’s effective date. Requires the Commission to take specified actions during its first year. Requires the Commission to develop a phased implementation plan that: (1) prioritizes addressing the most serious harms; (2) accommodates different compliance timelines based on platform size; (3) allows for industry adjustment to new requirements; and (4) includes benchmarks for measuring progress. Requires the Commission, every three years, to: (1) review its activities and impact; (2) assess changing technological landscapes and emerging challenges; (3) revise strategic priorities and approaches as needed; and (4) recommend statutory amendments to maintain effectiveness.

Enacts GS 160D-917 prohibiting unauthorized street camping in public parks, rights-of-way, and other public spaces, as specified. Defines campsite (public grounds designated as a recreational camping ground, area, or facility that allows temporary overnight occupancy without a permanently fixed structure) and public camping (the act of sleeping upon, occupying, or otherwise using as a substitute for regular shelter, any public property or right-of-way as evidenced by, but not limited to, the erection of a tent or other temporary shelter, the presence of bedding or pillows, or the storage of personal property). Makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor to intentionally or knowingly engage in public camping in any location  not designated as a campsite by the State or a county, city, or other political subdivision of the State. Exempts public property that has been designated by a State or local government as a temporary site for unsheltered homeless encampments. Instructs that a violator will not be charged with a misdemeanor for first violations but instead be directed to the nearest emergency shelter for homeless persons.

Prevents a county or municipality from (1) authorizing or otherwise allowing any person to regularly engage in public camping or sleeping on any public property that has not been designated as a campsite by the State or a county, city, or other political subdivision with jurisdiction over the area, including, but not limited to, any public building, public grounds, or public rights-of-way, except for temporary sites for homeless encampments or (2) prohibiting or discouraging law enforcement officers or prosecuting attorneys under their employ from enforcing any ordinance or other regulation prohibiting public camping, sleeping, or obstruction of sidewalks or other rights-of-way within the jurisdictional limits of the county or municipality. Allows any resident of a county or city, owner of a business located within a county or city, or the Attorney General to bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction against any county or municipality to enjoin a violation of the above. If the plaintiff prevails, allows the court to award reasonable expenses incurred in bringing the civil action, including court costs, attorneys' fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition costs. Instructs that an application for an injunction must be accompanied by an affidavit as described. Prevents State funds from being appropriated to a county or municipality for homelessness assistance, prevention, or services if the county or municipality violates the provisions of GS 160D-917 and fails to remedy the violation.

Effective October 1, 2025.

Amends GS 62-133.8 as the title indicates.

Defines synthetic media, provenance (verifiable information about the origin, creation, and modification history of a piece of digital content, including any transformations applied), cryptographic authentication, and false attribution. Defines state-generated content as any official communication, media, or digital file created or disseminated by a State agency, department, or official in the course of their duties. Establishes the Digital Content Provenance Initiative (Initiative) to be implemented in phases as described. Specifies that Phase I, coordinated by the Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Department of Information Technology (DIT), will develop and implement cryptographic authentication standards for digital content across State platforms, official communications, and election-related public information, to mitigate digital misinformation that poses an escalating threat to consumers, the public trust, election integrity, and information authenticity. It will also study methods to detect and deter false attribution of synthetic media to public officials, election authorities, or government agencies. Where feasible, directs the Initiative to lead the State's effort to adopt or align with existing open technical standards for content provenance and authenticity, including those specified. Instructs the Initiative to create a Digital Content Provenance Advisory Board (Board) to advise on technical standards, privacy safeguards, civil liberties impacts, and implementation strategies.

Effective July 1, 2025, appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to DOC for 2025-26 to implement Phase I, including the development of comprehensive content authentication framework for North Carolina's digital communications infrastructure as described. Authorizes use of the funds to engage consultants, develop technical infrastructure, increase staff expertise, conduct public education campaign, and to support ongoing threat assessment. By December 1, 2025, requires DOC and DIT to submit an interim Phase I report to the General Assembly and publish it on a public website, to include a summary of technical progress, public input received, initial recommendations for election-year implementation, and early indicators of public risk. Requires a final Phase I report, with recommendations for Phase II to be submitted by March 1, 2026.