Bill Summary for H 620 (2025-2026)

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Summary date: 

Jun 19 2025

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details(link is external)2025-2026 Session
House Bill 620 (Public) Filed Monday, March 31, 2025
AN ACT TO MODIFY PROVISIONS AFFECTING THE COURTS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS.
Intro. by Stevens.

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Bill summary

Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes. Makes conforming changes.

Adds the following new content.

Section 12.1.

Authorizes the chief district judge and the senior resident superior court judge of their respective districts to establish rules to allow for the court’s manual signature of (1) orders of the court executed outside of court and (2) fee application orders, as described. Specifies that this does not apply to criminal judgments. Assigns responsibility for filing and defines manual signature. Expires two years after the act becomes law.

Section 12.2.

Enacts Article 6, concerning education and training of jurors, to GS Chapter 9, consisting of GS 9-33. Requires the AOC to prescribe rules governing training or educational materials provided at any time to any jurors, including grand jurors. Prevents the court from providing jurors with any training or educational materials not prescribed by AOC. Directs AOC to adopt rules implementing GS 9-33, with the authority to use the APA’s temporary rules processes to do so.  Applies to training or educational materials provided to jurors on or after December 1, 2025.

Section 12.3.

Expands the type of audio recording equipment that is used to record judicial proceedings described in GS 7A-95 to include digital recording. Specifies, in GS 7A-95, that except for the original stenomask audio files and audio files of digital recording technicians, the audio recordings created by court reporters are not public records, and only disclosable by court order for good cause shown upon notice to all parties. Makes conforming changes.

Section 12.4.

Effective retroactive to September 9, 2024, removes the provisions of GS 42-46, only allowing attorneys’ fees if the landlord is the prevailing party. Limits an award of attorneys’ fees and described costs in the specified summary ejectment appeals to when a landlord is the prevailing party.

Section 12.5.

Extends the retirement age of a superior court judges and district court judges to the last day of the calendar year (was, month) when the judge reaches 72 years of age in GS 7A-40.1(superior court judges) and GS 7A-140.1 (district court judges).

Section 15.1

Expands the powers of the Conference of District Attorneys’ (Conference) so that it may authorize any expenditure or change to any funds appropriated by the NCGA for the Conference and the offices of district attorneys or any other funds received for the Conference and the offices of district attorneys, including but not limited to the reallocation and expenditure of lapsed salary savings, for the creation of paid internships, training, or to pay for any additional services, personnel, or any other expenditures otherwise authorized by law. Directs the AOC to implement any program and disburse any expenditure within 45 days of written notice by the Conference. Provides for quarterly reporting to the Conference from the AOC detailing its actual and expected expenses paid from the specified funds. Makes conforming changes, including changes to GS 7A-343 (duties of the Director of the AOC).