House committee substitute to the 1st edition reorganizes the act’s provisions and makes the following changes.  Removes changes to GS 14-269.2 (weapons on campus or other educational property) and changes to GS 14-269 (adding to the exception from the prohibition set forth in GS 14-269 against carrying a concealed weapon when a person is not on their own premises to include any elected official or person appointed to fill an elective office when the person is acting in the discharge of their official duties and possess a concealed handgun permit or an out-of-state permit as specified). Makes conforming changes, including to act’s long title.

Section 1 (was, Section 1.2).

Modifies those former servicemembers prevented from carrying a concealed handgun under new GS 14-415.35 so that it is limited to those discharged under dishonorable conditions (was, conditions other than honorable). Changes timeframe under which a person committed of certain crimes is prevented from carrying a concealed weapon from three years prior to the date of the application to three years prior to the date on which the person is carrying the weapon. Removes provision preventing a person convicted of an impaired driving offense under the circumstances described from carrying a concealed weapon.

Reduces the penalty for violations of GS 14-415.36 (barring concealed weapons in certain areas) from a Class 1 misdemeanor to an infraction that may incur a fine up to $500.

Section 2 (was, Section 1.11).

Clarifies, in GS 14-415.10A, that the concealed handgun permit system under GS Chapter 14 does not prevent a person from carrying a handgun pursuant to GS Chapter 54.

Section 3.

Amends GS 14-415.12(b) as follows. Modifies those former servicemembers whose concealed weapons permit applications must be denied by the sheriff so that they are limited to those discharged under dishonorable conditions (was, conditions other than honorable). Removes provision requiring the sheriff to deny an application for a concealed weapons permit to a person convicted of an impaired driving offense under the circumstances described.

Section 4 (was, Section 1.1).

Amends GS 14-269, which prohibits carrying concealed weapons, to establish that the term weapon does not include a firearm for purposes of subsection (a) (was, the statute). Reinstates GS 14-269(a1) so that it now makes it unlawful for a person to carry a concealed firearm, except a handgun carried pursuant to Articles 54B or 54C of GS Chapter 14. Reinstates provisions making violations of GS 14-269(a1) a Class 2 misdemeanor for the first violation and a Class H felony for the second or subsequent offenses.

Section 7 (was, Section 1.4).

Makes clarifying change to GS 14-269.4 (concerning weapons of State property and in courthouses).

Section 18 (was, Section 3.2).

Changes the effective date to December 1, 2025 and specifies that the act applies to offenses committed on or after that date (was, effective when it became law).