Issue · Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

Every criminal justice bill, vote, and legislator stance in North Carolina, automatically classified by Maddy, our AI policy reader.

Total bills
10
2025-2026 Session
Top supporter
Allison Dahle
100% support rate
Top opponent
Alan Branson
0% support rate
Ranked legislators
10
5 support · 5 oppose
Key legislators

Who's moving criminal justice in North Carolina

Legislators moving criminal justice in North Carolina
Legislator Party Stance Support rate Decisive votes
Allison Dahle
Allison Dahle House · District 11
D
Strong +
100% 9
Becky Carney
Becky Carney House · District 102
D
Strong +
100% 9
Julie von Haefen
Julie von Haefen House · District 36
D
Strong +
100% 9
Marcia Morey
Marcia Morey House · District 30
D
Strong +
100% 9
Maria Cervania
Maria Cervania House · District 41
D
Strong +
100% 9
Alan Branson
Alan Branson House · District 59
R
Strong −
0% 9
Bill Ward
Bill Ward House · District 5
R
Strong −
0% 9
Blair Eddins
Blair Eddins House · District 94
R
Strong −
0% 9
Brian Biggs
Brian Biggs House · District 70
R
Strong −
0% 9
Brian Echevarria
Brian Echevarria House · District 82
R
Strong −
0% 9
Showing 10 of 10 bills

All criminal justice bills

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 2, 2026

HB 83: Revise Laws on Minors/Human Trafficking.

HB 83 increases criminal penalties for adults who share inappropriate content with minors under 13 (Class G felony) or under 16 (Class H felony), and creates a new felony for habitual indecent exposure near minors (two prior convictions). It requires courts to consider sex offender registration for these offenses and prohibits transportation companies (like ride-share services) from serving unemancipated minors without parental consent. The bill directly affects adults sharing content with minors, individuals exposing themselves to minors, and transportation companies serving minors. It focuses on concrete policy changes to strengthen protections for minors through stricter penalties and registration requirements.
signed · North Carolina · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 484: Clarify Tourism-Related Expenditures.

This bill amends North Carolina's workplace violence prevention laws to include "mass picketing" as a form of unlawful conduct. It defines mass picketing as any picketing that obstructs entry to or exit from a workplace or public roads. The bill expands the definition of "unlawful conduct" to include hindering work or blocking access through mass picketing. This allows employers to seek civil no-contact orders against individuals engaging in these newly defined unlawful acts. The legislation explicitly states it does not apply to union activities or labor disputes protected by federal law.
signed · North Carolina · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 315: Prohibit Litigation Investments/Amend Workers' Compensation Benefits.

HB 315 creates new criminal offenses for wrongfully entering restricted business areas (like secure storage rooms) and for stealing or fraudulently obtaining gift cards. It directly affects businesses (by protecting secure areas), gift card holders (by criminalizing theft of their cards), and individuals who commit these acts. Key provisions include classifying unauthorized building entry as a misdemeanor or felony based on prior offenses, defining gift card theft as a Class 1 misdemeanor for cards under $1,000 (or felony for higher value), and expanding "organized retail theft" to include conspiracy around gift cards with penalties tied to total value stolen. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed after that date.
passed both · North Carolina · House Sep 22, 2025

HB 42: Back the Blue Pay Act.

This bill revises North Carolina's burglary and breaking-and-entering laws to increase penalties when a firearm or deadly weapon is used. It raises the felony classification by one level for offenses like burglary (first/second degree), breaking out of a dwelling at night, or entering a building with intent to commit a felony or terrorize occupants, if a weapon was present during the crime. The law directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses when a firearm was involved, not the general public. It does not change sentencing for weapon-free offenses or address police pay, despite the title "Back the Blue Pay Act" suggesting otherwise. The changes take effect December 1, 2025.
passed · North Carolina · House May 5, 2025

HB 483: Juvenile Justice Legislative Proposals.

HB 483 proposes several changes to juvenile justice procedures. The bill extends the maximum terms of probation and post-release supervision for youth adjudicated of certain violent offenses (Class A, B1, or B2 felonies) to up to three years. It clarifies a victim's right to be notified and heard regarding the termination of a juvenile's probation or post-release supervision. Additionally, the bill modifies criteria for secure custody, allowing a superior court judge to issue such an order after a case is moved to juvenile court and authorizing it for juveniles who violate domestic violence protective orders.
passed · North Carolina · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 246: Liam's Law.

HB 246, also known as "Liam's Law," increases penalties for specific driving offenses. The bill elevates reckless driving that causes serious bodily injury to a Class I felony. For street racing, it establishes new felony classifications for causing serious injury (Class F felony) or death (Class B2 felony), and mandates longer driver's license revocations, including permanent revocation for fatalities. Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for hit-and-run offenses that result in death to a Class D felony. These provisions directly affect drivers involved in such incidents.
passed · North Carolina · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 330: Controlled Substances Act - Updates.

HB 330 updates North Carolina's Controlled Substances Act by adding specific synthetic drugs and chemical structures to Schedule I, making them illegal without exception. It directly affects law enforcement, healthcare providers, and individuals using these substances, as it automatically controls new variants of fentanyl derivatives (like 4-fluorofentanyl), nitazenes, synthetic cannabinoids (including indole carboxamides), and other novel psychoactive substances based on their chemical structure - not just named compounds. Key mechanisms include defining "structurally derived" compounds (e.g., fentanyl modifications) and listing specific examples to close loopholes where manufacturers alter molecules slightly to evade existing laws. This policy change aims to address emerging drug threats by expanding the legal definition of controlled substances.
passed · North Carolina · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 95: Threaten Elected Official/Increase Punishment.

HB 95 increases penalties for threats against certain elected and public officials in North Carolina, making such threats a Class I felony. It directly affects individuals who make threats against legislative, executive, court, local elected, or election officials, requiring a $50,000 secured appearance bond for anyone charged with these offenses. The bill amends existing statutes to clarify that threats need not be received or believed by the targeted official, and it specifically covers threats made in retaliation for an official's duties. The law applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.
passed · North Carolina · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 28: Gun Violence Prevention Act.

HB 28, the "Gun Violence Prevention Act," creates a new criminal offense for individuals convicted of a felony who possess a firearm or "weapon of mass death and destruction" (as defined in state law) during the commission or attempt of another felony. It imposes stricter penalties: a Class C felony if the weapon is discharged, Class D for brandishing (displaying the weapon), and Class F for other violations. This law applies specifically to convicted felons who already face restrictions on firearm possession, treating this additional offense as separate from the underlying felony. The bill takes effect December 1, 2025, for offenses committed on or after that date.
passed · North Carolina · House Mar 17, 2025

HB 182: Revise Law Permanent Protective Order/Child Abuse.

HB 182 creates two key policy changes: First, it allows judges to issue lifetime no-contact orders against defendants convicted of certain violent offenses (including sex offenses requiring registration), requiring a show-cause hearing to determine if the victim fears future contact. Second, it clarifies that caregivers of children under 16 who commit or allow sexual acts with the child face Class D felony charges, specifically expanding penalties for permitting such abuse. The law directly affects victims of violent crimes (through the no-contact protections) and caregivers of children under 16 (through updated felony charges for sexual abuse). These provisions apply to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.