HB 439 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Allow Concealed Carry of Knife.

HB 439 modifies North Carolina law concerning the concealed carry of bladed weapons, directly affecting individuals who wish to carry certain knives. The bill redefines an "ordinary pocket knife" as a folding knife with a blade up to 6 inches, which remains exempt from concealed carry restrictions. It also establishes new conditions allowing the concealed carry of other bladed weapons, such as bowie knives or daggers. To do so, an individual must be at least 18 years old, carry valid identification, have no felony convictions, and not carry the knife in locations where concealed handguns are prohibited.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 18, 2025 Last action May 1, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision significantly expands eligibility requirements for concealed knife carry by adding numerous disqualifying conditions. The changes transform the bill from a simple exemption for ordinary pocket knives to a more restrictive framework with expanded prohibitions and additional criteria that must be met.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on concealed knife carry, but applicability has been substantially narrowed through the addition of multiple disqualifying conditions that were not present in the original version.

ELIGIBILITY

Added 10 new eligibility requirements including restrictions on fugitives, controlled substance users, mental health adjudications, immigration status, military discharge status, citizenship renunciation, restraining orders, and misdemeanor domestic violence convictions.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement that concealed knife carry is prohibited in locations where concealed handguns are prohibited under G.S. 14-415.11.

Removed the requirement that persons must carry valid identification at all times when carrying a concealed knife.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the definition of 'knife' from a list format to a more structured format while maintaining the same five categories of weapons.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes including session year alignment, removal of sponsor information, and addition of committee substitute designation.

Floor votes · House Apr 30, 2025

How they voted

73–36

Passed · 12 other

Total votes 121

Apr 30, 2025

D Democratic46

5 Yea 35 Nay 6

76% Nay

I Independent2

1 Yea 1 Nay

50% Nay

R Republican73

67 Yea 6

91% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 1, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed 3rd Reading

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors