Expand Remote Drivers License Services.

Removed provisions about remote driver license renewals and elimination of driving log requirements

Added new offense for criminal possession and unlawful sale of embalming fluid

Removed $5 million appropriation for eCourts technology positions

Removed $15 million appropriation for cybersecurity funding

Removed $1.4 million appropriation for State Bureau of Investigation administrative positions

Removed $3 million appropriation for State Highway Patrol administrative positions

Added detailed definitions for embalming fluid, funeral services, and related terms

Changed effective date from December 1, 2025 to when the bill becomes law

Changed the bill's short title from 'The Rakim Shackleford Embalming Fluid Act' to a broader title covering driver's license renewals, embalming fluid corrections, and appropriations.

Added provisions to authorize additional remote renewals of driver's licenses and eliminate the driving log requirement for full provisional licenses.

Modified the definitions section to correct technical errors related to embalming fluid possession and reorganized the statutory language.

Added new appropriations totaling $21.4 million for IT positions, cybersecurity, and State Bureau of Investigation administrative positions.

Added effective dates of July 1, 2025 and December 1, 2025 for various sections of the bill.

Added a new exception allowing license holders to remotely renew a REAL ID compliant license if they are converting it to a non-REAL ID compliant license for renewal purposes.

Added $3,000,000 in recurring funds to the State Highway Patrol to hire 26 full-time nonsworn administrative positions, effective July 1, 2025.

The definition of 'remote renewal, issuance, or conversion' was expanded to explicitly include conversion of a full provisional license by mail, telephone, electronic device, or other secure means approved by the Commissioner.

Removed draft committee markings, sponsor information, and session metadata that were present in the earlier version but are not needed in the final ratified bill.

Added Section 3.5 regarding embalming fluid possession, which makes possession of embalming fluid a Class I felony punishable under G.S. 90-113.154(b)(1), effective December 1, 2025.

Added Section 4 appropriations totaling $20 million ($5 million for eCourts implementation and $15 million for cybersecurity) from the IT Reserve, effective July 1, 2025.

Added Section 4.5 appropriating $1.4 million from the General Fund to create up to 10 nonsworn administrative positions for the State Bureau of Investigation, beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Renumbered sections: original Section 3 is now Section 3.5, and original Section 4 is now Section 4, with new sections inserted in between.

Minor formatting and version number updates reflecting the Fourth Edition status, with no substantive policy changes to the driver's license provisions.

Removed all provisions creating the offense of criminal possession and unlawful sale of embalming fluid

Added authority for the Division of Motor Vehicles to offer remote renewal, issuance, and conversion of driver's licenses through mail, telephone, electronic device, or other secure means

Modified the requirements for obtaining a full provisional license by eliminating the driving log requirement and allowing remote application through mail

Modified eligibility criteria for remote license renewal to include specific age requirements and conditions for consecutive remote renewals

Removed all definitions related to funeral services, embalming, and funeral establishments

Added new definition for 'remote renewal, issuance, or conversion' to clarify the methods allowed for remote driver's license services

Added effective date provision stating the act applies to licenses issued or renewed on or after the date it becomes law

Page numbering was adjusted from Edition 1 to Edition 2, with page numbers shifting from 1-4 to 2-49 to accommodate committee substitute adoption.

Primary sponsor names (Senators Newton, Lazzara, and Brinson) and original referral information were removed from the bill header.

Judiciary Committee Substitute Adopted 4/16/25 notation was added to indicate the bill version and committee approval date.

Bill version identifier was updated from S245-v-1 to S245-v-2 to track the committee substitute version.