Senate amendments to the 2nd edition make the following changes.   

Part V. General Provisions

Section 5.12 Increase Penalty for Participating in Pyramid Disruption Plan

Amendment #14 adds a section amending GS 14-291.2 to make it a Class 1 misdemeanor (was, Class 2 misdemeanor) to participate in or otherwise promote a pyramid distribution plan. Makes additional technical changes. Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025. 

Section 5.18 Conforming Change to Financial Transaction Card Crime Act

Amendment #38 adds a section amending GS 14-113.7A specifying that the Article 19A (Obtaining Property or Services by False or Fraudulent Use of Credit Device or Other Means) does not apply to a financial transaction card. 

Section 5.19 Repeal Obsolete Article

Amendment #18 adds a new section repealing Article 15A (Investigation of Offenses Involving Abandonment and Nonsupport of Children) of GS Chapter 15.

Section 5.22 Make Language Gender-Neutral Throughout Geologists Licensing Act

Amendment #23 adds a new section amending the following statutes to make language gender neutral and make additional clarifying and technical changes: GS 89E-3, GS 89E-4, GS 89E-6, GS 89E-7, GS 89E-8, GS 89E-9 (also removes outdated language), GS 89E-11, GS 89E-13, GS 89E-14, GS 89E-18 (also removes outdated language), GS 89E-19, GS 89E-22, and GS 89E-24. 

Section 5.24 Repeal Obsolete Article

Amendment #40 adds a new section repealing Article 3 (Control over Child‑Caring Facilities) of GS Chapter 110. 

Section 5.25 Making Language Gender-Neutral in Child Support Statute

Amendment #25 adds a new section amending GS 110-130 to make language gender neutral, and to make clarifying and technical changes.

Section 5.29 Repeal Duplicative Statute

Amendment #20 adds a new section that repeals GS 121-42 (setting out the name of the Article).  

Section 5.34 Delete Obsolete References to the Noncommercial Leaking Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund

Amendment #49 adds a section making the following changes.

Repeals: GS 143-215.94A(5) (defining Loan Fund); GS 143-215.94B(b)(6) (allowed expenses under the Storage Tank Cleanup Fund-reimbursement to the State for damages or other costs), GS 143-215.94B(b)(12) (allowed expenses under the Storage Tank Cleanup Fund-compensation to third parties for bodily injury and property damage in excess of $100,000); GS 143-215.94F (limited amnesty for certain underground storage tanks operated prior to October 1, 1989); and GS 143-215.94P (groundwater protection loan fund).

Makes technical, organizational changes to the definitions contained in GS 143-215.94A(2)(2a) and (7). Removes requirement that pipeline facility regulated by certain State laws be intrastate facilities to qualify under the pipeline facility exception to commercial underground storage tank definition. Removes the listed exceptions from the definition of noncommercial underground storage tank. Now limits the definition to the following storage tanks: (1) farm or residential underground storage tank of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes; (2) underground storage tank of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored; and (3) underground storage tank of more than 1,100 gallon capacity used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored by four or fewer households.

Makes technical changes and conforming changes to account for repeal of commercial underground storage tank cleanup fund to GS 143-215.94E (concerning owner/operator rights under the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund).

Makes conforming changes to account for repeal of noncommercial underground storage tank cleanup fund to GS 143-215.94G (authority of Department of Environmental Quality [DEQ]), GS 143-215.94V (standards for petroleum underground storage tank cleanups) as amended by Section 23(1) of the act, and GS 143B-426.40A(l) (assignment of claims against the State). 

Section 5.35 Update Obsolete Reference and Other Conforming Changes in Administrative Law

Amendment #49 makes the following changes.

Recodifies the last sentence of GS 150B-37(c) under GS 150B-34 and requires the Office of Administrative Hearings to forward a written copy of an administrative law judge's final decision or order (was, final decision) to the parties. Makes additional clarifying and technical changes.

Amends GS 90A-30, concerning penalties for violations of GS 90A-29, and GS 104E-24, concerning administrative penalties, by updating statutory cross-references and making additional clarifying, conforming, and technical changes.

Amends GS 108A-70.9A to require the Office of Administrative Hearings, instead of the administrative law judge, to forward a written copy of the judge’s decision to the Department and the recipient in accordance with GS 150B-34; makes conforming changes. Makes conforming changes to GS 108A-70.9B and GS 108D-16.

Amends GS 122C-24, concerning adverse action on a license, by removing the provision concerning sharing the decision when an appeal is filed concerning the denial, suspension, amendment, or revocation of a license. Amends GS 122C-24.1, GS 131D-34, and GS 131E-129, concerning penalties, by making conforming and clarifying changes. Amends GS 143-215.94G by making clarifying and technical changes and removing unnecessary language.

Section 5.36 Repeal Obsolete Article

Amendment #51 adds a new section that repeals Article 29A (Governor's Council on Employment of the Handicapped) of GS Chapter 143.

Part VI. Community College System

Section 6.10 No Financial Benefit for CC Students Convicted of Assaulting Officers or Employees of the State

Amendment #32 adds a new section amending GS 115D-3 requiring the State Board of Community Colleges to adopt a policy prohibiting the Community Colleges System Office and community colleges from providing a State-funded scholarship or grant to any student convicted of assaulting an officer or employee of the State or any political subdivision of the State, while enrolled as a student. Makes the prohibition begin with the semester or academic term following the conviction. Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025. 

Part VIII. The University of North Carolina System

Section 8.27 No Financial Benefit for UNC Students Convicted of Assaulting Officers or Employees of the State

Amendment #32 adds a new section amending GS 116-11 requiring the UNC Board of Governors to adopt a policy prohibiting UNC and its constituent institutions from providing a State-funded scholarship or grant to any student convicted of assaulting an officer or employee of the State or any political subdivision of the State, while enrolled as a student. Makes the prohibition begin with the semester or academic term following the conviction. 

Enacts new GS 116-143.2A disqualifying a person enrolled at an institution of higher education from receiving in-State tuition if they have been convicted of assaulting an officer or employee of the State or its political subdivision while enrolled. Makes the disqualification begin with the semester or academic term following the conviction. 

Enacts new GS 116-209.19B requiring the Authority to adopt a rule prohibiting a student from receiving a State-funded scholarship or grant if the student has been convicted of assaulting an officer or employee of the State or its political subdivision while enrolled. Makes the disqualification begin with the semester or academic term following the conviction. 

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

Part XVI. Administrative Office of the Courts.

Section 16.2 Split of District Court District 43

Amendment #6 amends GS 7A-133 decreasing the number of district court judges in District 43A by one to three and increases the number in District 43B from three to four.

Section 16.4 Additional Assistant District Attorneys in Various Counties

Amendment #3

Increases the number of full-time assistant district attorneys in Wake County from 44 to 49 and from 40 to 41 in Guilford County in GS 7A-60(a1).

Directs, notwithstanding any provision of the act to the contrary, that the funds appropriated in the act to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) under Budget Code 100072 funding new assistant district attorney positions to be increased by $974,106 in recurring funds beginning in 2025-26 and $22,512 in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-26 year. Decreases the recurring and non-recurring funds appropriations to the Future Building Reserve under Budget Code 19050 by those same amounts.

Part XIX. Public Safety

Section 19.2 Study Increasing Energy Efficiencies

Amendment #16 corrects a reference to the Department of Adult Correction.

Part XXI. State High Patrol

Amendment #8 corrects the title of the Part to State Highway Patrol.

Part XXVI. Budget And Management - Special Appropriations

Section 27.3 State Controller Operating Budget & Staff Savings 

Amendment #12 adds a new section prohibiting the BEST Shared Services in the Office of the State Controller from being reduced by $530,000 in recurring funds for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal year, and requiring instead that the State Controller reduce funds in any division or program funded in the Office's General Fund budget code equal to $530,000 in recurring funds for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal year. Makes conforming changes. 

Part XLIV. Finance.

Section 44.1 Personal Income Tax Reduction

Amendment #2

Amends GS 105-153.7, as amended (individual income tax reductions), to specify that in no instance may the tax rate authorized under GS 105-153.7 be lower than 1.99%.

Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Amends GS 18C-132 to allow, upon request, for the identifying information of any prize winner of $5 million or more (was, $1 million in previous edition and $50 million in the current law) to be treated as confidential except for the specified purposes. 

Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Makes conforming changes to act’s long title. Makes organizational changes.  

Deletes the contents of Section 1 (changes to GS 15A-1415 and GS 15-1419) and Section 2 (expanding the required policy under GS 115C-407 to also prohibit hemp-derived consumable products) in their entirety.

Section 1 (was, Section 3).

Expands the mens rea required for culpability under GS 14-318.7 (exposing a child to a controlled substance) to include acting with reckless disregard for human life. Makes clarifying changes. Exempts persons who intentionally administer a controlled substance to a child that has been prescribed to the child by a licensed medical professional when given in the prescribed manner and amount.

Section 3 (was, Section 5).

Further modifies GS 130A-385 (duties of medical examiners), as follows. Now triggers the treatment of the listed materials as part of a criminal investigation in GS 130A-385 upon notice from the investigating or prosecuting entity. Specifies that autopsy photographs or video or audio records can only be disclosed or released pursuant to GS 130A-389.1 (governing those recordings made pursuant to autopsy). Specifies that only finalized reports may be released to the specified persons, which now also includes (1) a beneficiary of a benefit or claim associated with the decedent for purposes of receiving the benefit or resolving the claim or (2) to the decedent's spouse, child or stepchild, parent or stepparent, sibling, or legal guardian. Expands authorized disclosures to include: (1) when necessary to conduct a thorough and complete death investigation, to consult with outside physicians and other professionals during the death investigation, and to conduct necessary toxicological screenings and (2) when disclosing information to the investigating public law enforcement agency or prosecuting district attorney. Provides for notice by the investigating or prosecuting entity of the conclusion of the investigation. Specifies that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and its staff, the county medical examiner, and the autopsy center and its staff have no liability for relying upon such notices.

Designates listed records and other information compiled, prepared, or conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, a pathologist designated by the Chief Medical Examiner, a county medical examiner appointed under GS 130A-382, an investigating medical examiner, or an autopsy center in connection with the death of a child who was under 18 years of age at the time of death, including any autopsy photographs or video or audio recordings, as confidential, only to be disclosed or released: (1) with the prior written consent of the deceased child's parent or guardian or (2) a person standing in loco parentis to the deceased child. Further authorizes release to: (1) the personal representative of the decedent’s estate to enable them to fulfill their duties under law; (2) when OCME or a pathologist designated by the Chief Medical Examiner determines disclosure is necessary for the described reasons relating to public health; (3) to the decedent’s surviving spouse, parents, adult children, legal guardian or custodian (including those of the decedent’s children), or any person holding power of attorney or healthcare attorney for the deceased; and (4) the legal representatives of any person authorized to receive records under GS 130A-385.

Specifies that no person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for disclosing, releasing, possessing, or disseminating records or materials if, at the time of the disclosure, release, possession, or dissemination, notice that the record or material is a record of a criminal investigation had not been provided as required by GS 130A-385. Directs the Chief Medical Examiner to provide the finalized autopsy report to the Commissioner of Labor upon written request within five months from the date of the request. Makes organizational, clarifying, and conforming changes.

Makes conforming changes to GS 130A-389(a) (autopsies), GS 130A-389.1 (photos, video, or audio recordings made pursuant to autopsy), and GS 132-1.8 (confidentiality of photos, video, or audio recordings made pursuant to autopsy).

Section 4 (was, Section 6).

Amends GS 14-202.3 by modifying the punishment for solicitation of a minor by computer as follows: (1) from a Class E felony for first violations of the statute when the defendant does not have a prior conviction in any federal or state court in the United States that is substantially similar to GS 14-202.3 to a Class G felony; (2) makes subsequent violations a Class E felony; (3) makes it a Class E felony for defendants charged with a first offense but who have the described prior convictions; and (4) from a Class G to a Class D felony (was, Class C felony in the previous edition) when the defendant, or a person for whom the defendant was arranging the meeting, actually appears at the meeting location.

Section 9 (was, Section 11).

Amends GS 14-202 (offense of secretly peeping into a room occupied by another person) so that a person is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor when they secretly peep into any room while in possession of any device that can take a photo and have the intent to take a photo (currently, no intent to take photo required).

Section 10 (was, Section 12).

Adds definition of custody to GS 14-27.31 (offense of sexual activity by substitute parent or custodian) to mean the care, control, or supervision of a minor by any adult who, by virtue of their position, role, employment, volunteer status, or relationship to a minor; exercises supervisory authority or control over a minor; or is responsible for the minor's welfare, safety, or supervision, regardless of whether such responsibility arises from express appointment, organizational duty, professional obligation, or circumstantial necessity.

Section 11 (was, Section 13).

Changes the title of new GS 14-72.12 so that it reads “Larceny of gift cards” (was, Larceny of gift cards; receiving stolen gift cards or possessing stolen gift cards). Amends GS 1-538.2 to make any person who commits an act punishable under new GS 14-72.12 (larceny of gift cards) liable for civil damages to the property owner; also makes parents or legal guardians of unemancipated minors who commit an act punishable under new GS 14-72.12 civilly liable to the property owner if they knew or should have known of the propensity for the child to commit such an act, and had the opportunity and ability to control the child, and made no reasonable effort to correct or restrain the child. 

Section 12 (was, Section 14).

Changes the intent required under GS 14-54(b1) from “knowingly and wrongfully” entering a building not open to the public, as described, to “with intent to commit an unlawful act.”

Section 15 (was, Section 17).

Amends GS 15A-268 to remove provisions requiring the evidence to be preserved until the clerk notifies the collecting agency that preservation is no longer required under the specified time frame and the require preservation period has also passed. Now directs that a court may order that the evidence be returned to the collecting agency to be preserved during the pendency of the proceedings for which the evidence was introduced pursuant to GS 15A-268(a1) (biological evidence) at a request from the district attorney, the clerk, and the collecting agency if the court finds that the collecting agency is better equipped to preserve the evidence and the district attorney, the clerk, and the collecting agency all agree (was, court may order evidence to be returned to the collecting agency to be preserved pursuant to GS 15A-268(a4) (preservation of biological evidence) under the specified circumstances, but no mention of its introduction as evidence under GS 15A-268(a1)).

Section 19.

Amends GS 90-95 (violations of the Controlled Substances Act), as follows. Makes it a Class F felony to manufacture, sell, or deliver, or possess with intent to do any of those things any Schedule I or II controlled substance involving fentanyl or carfentanil, or any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof, or any mixture containing any of these substances. Makes it a Class F felony to manufacture, sell, or deliver, or possess with intent to do any of those things involving fentanyl or carfentanil, or any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof, or any mixture containing any of these substances. Makes conforming changes. Makes possession of a controlled substance that is fentanyl or carfentanil, or any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof, or any mixture containing any of these substances a Class H felony.

Creates the felony “trafficking in fentanyl or carfentanil,” for a person who sells, manufactures, delivers, transports, or possesses four grams or more of fentanyl or carfentanil, or any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof, or any mixture containing any of these substances, punishable as follows: (1) if the amount is four grams or more, but less than 14 grams, then the person is punished as a Class E felon and sentenced to a minimum term of 90 months and a maximum term of 120 months in the State's prison with a fine of $500,000; (2) if the amount is 14 grams or more but less than 28 grams, then the person is punished as a Class D felon and sentenced to a minimum term of 175 months and a maximum term of 222 months in the State's prison with a fine of $750,000; and (3) if the amount is 28 grams or more, the person is punished as a Class C felon and sentenced to a minimum term of 225 months and a maximum term of 282 months in the State's prison with a fine of $1 million. 

Effective December 1, 2025.

Senate committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

Specifies, in GS 108C-3, that the categorical risk level for provider screening of skilled nursing facilities (SNF) is the categorical risk required by federal law or regulation. Instructs that if federal law does not require a particular categorical risk level, SNFs are a limited categorical risk. Removes provisions that would have designated prospective (newly enrolling) skilled nursing facilities and those undergoing a change in ownership as high risk provider types. Makes technical, organizational, clarifying, and conforming changes.

Further modifies GS 108C-3, as amended by the act, as follows. Removes provisions that would have designated certain revalidating skilled nursing facilities as a moderate categorical risk provider. Expands the type of hospice organizations that are considered a high categorical risk provider to include those that are revalidating. Specifies that prospective hospice organizations and those that are newly enrolling are separate things. Clarifies that the described revalidating agencies falling into the high categorical risk category that provide durable medical equipment that includes orthotics and prosthetics (was, includes but not limited to). Removes revalidating skilled nursing facilities. Makes technical, organizational, clarifying, and conforming changes.