HB 961, the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act," increases sentencing for felony convictions where the victim was targeted due to their race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, country of origin, or gender. If proven, the offender faces a sentence one felony class higher than the original charge (e.g., Class C felony becomes Class B). The bill requires the indictment to allege the bias motivation, and the state must prove it beyond a reasonable doubt during the same trial. It takes effect December 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed after that date.
HB 967 clarifies that voting places during voting hours are explicitly included as "public buildings" under North Carolina's disorderly conduct law (G.S. 14-132). This means actions like making loud disturbances, vandalism, or creating nuisances at polling locations during voting hours would now be covered by the misdemeanor statute. The bill directly affects voters, election workers, and anyone engaging in conduct near polling sites during official voting hours. It expands existing disorderly conduct protections to specifically cover voting places, effective October 1, 2025.
HB 966, the College Cost Reduction Act, prohibits all University of North Carolina (UNC) schools from requiring students to pay extra for mandatory course software (Learning Management Systems or LMS). It directly affects UNC students by banning any requirement for paid LMS access beyond existing, approved student fees. The bill mandates the UNC Board of Governors to create a policy ensuring professors or courses cannot force students to pay for LMS services - only free or fee-covered options may be required. The rule takes effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.
HB 965 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to guarantee all North Carolinians the right to clean water, clean air, and a preserved environment, including protection of natural resources like air, water, wildlife, and soils. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, it would automatically become part of the state constitution, requiring the state to act as a trustee of natural resources for present and future generations. The amendment would not change current environmental laws but would establish a new constitutional standard that future legislation must align with. This bill must still pass through the legislature and gain voter approval to take effect.
HB 977, titled "Defend NC," primarily prohibits North Carolina law enforcement agencies and officers from assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement actions, including arrests or removal warrants. This directly affects sheriffs' offices, police departments, and criminal justice officers statewide by banning cooperation with ICE under state law. The bill also includes non-binding provisions expressing intent to protect Medicaid eligibility, study federal funding losses in education, and explore replacing NIH research funds, but these do not create immediate policy changes. The core legislative action is the ban on law enforcement collaboration with ICE, effective upon enactment.
HB 964 allows individuals with a valid concealed handgun permit (or those exempt from needing one) to carry concealed non-handgun weapons like bowie knives, stun guns, or other deadly weapons described in existing law. It directly affects permit holders by expanding their permitted concealed carry to include specific weapons beyond handguns, provided they are not in locations where concealed handgun carry is prohibited. The bill amends North Carolina law to clarify that permit holders may carry these weapons concealed when permitted to carry handguns, without requiring additional permits. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, applying only to offenses committed after that date.
HB 972 allocates $15.76 million in one-time state funds to Wayne County for specific public projects, directly affecting local schools, infrastructure, and community programs. Key provisions include $5 million for Rosewood Middle School capital improvements, $2 million for Dillard Middle School athletic track upgrades, $750,000 for Union Station revitalization, and smaller grants for water/sewer upgrades, the sheriff's training facility, and local organizations like Wayne County United Way. The bill also provides separate funding for court-related positions in Wayne County and neighboring areas, including a new public defender district. All funding is designated for specific, named projects with no broad policy changes.
HB 963 creates a structured apprenticeship program for aspiring building inspectors in North Carolina, allowing local governments to hire apprentices who lack full certification. Apprentices work under direct supervision of certified inspectors and complete combined on-the-job training and approved education (including potentially free courses via community colleges), with eligibility to take certification exams after program completion. The bill also modifies certification requirements to streamline career advancement by recognizing apprenticeship hours, military construction experience, and out-of-state credentials. This directly affects local government inspection departments and individuals seeking entry into code enforcement careers, aiming to address staffing shortages while maintaining enforcement standards.
HB 969 directs North Carolina's Legislative Research Commission to study replacing the current "contributory negligence" rule (which bars injury claims if a plaintiff shares any fault) with comparative negligence systems. The study must evaluate how abolition would affect citizens, assess harms from the current rule, analyze fiscal impacts on insurance and businesses, and recommend the best negligence framework. It does not change law immediately but requires a 2026 report with legislative recommendations. This bill affects future legal claims for injury victims and insurers by examining potential policy shifts. The study is the only concrete action; no voting or implementation occurs until after the report.
HB 968 requires all North Carolina public K-12 schools to provide emergency preparedness education, beginning in grade 3 for elementary students and continuing through high school. It mandates state-developed standards for each grade level: elementary students learn about disaster types and school response plans, middle school students research past disasters and mass casualty events, and high school students are introduced to FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) materials. Local school boards must integrate this instruction into existing courses without adding new funding requirements. The law applies to all public schools statewide and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
HB 973, the Uniform Restrictive Employment Agreement Act, establishes new rules for noncompete, nonsolicitation, and other restrictive employment agreements in North Carolina. It requires employers to provide workers with a written copy of any proposed agreement at least 14 days before signing, clearly state prohibited activities, and give a separate notice as defined by the Department of Labor. The bill directly affects workers and employers by making agreements unenforceable without these specific disclosures and clear terms, covering common restrictions like noncompetes but excluding patent agreements or existing ownership interests. It aims to increase transparency in employment contracts where workers face post-employment work limitations.
HB 960 would temporarily increase North Carolina's unemployment insurance weekly benefits to $600 during declared disasters, directly affecting unemployed workers in areas impacted by disaster declarations under state emergency management law. It requires the state to set aside specific funds in the unemployment insurance fund for these enhanced benefits and mandates certification that sufficient funds are available before implementation. The benefit increase applies only for the duration of an official disaster declaration and ends when the declaration expires. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
