Criminal Justice

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 717: Enhanced Penalty/Dom. Violence Strangulation.

SB 717 (North Carolina) increases penalties for assault by strangulation by creating three new felony classifications based on injury severity. It establishes a Class F felony for strangulation causing serious bodily injury (defined as risk of death, disfigurement, permanent impairment, or prolonged hospitalization), a Class H G felony for strangulation causing physical injury, and a Class H felony for strangulation without specified injury. The law directly affects individuals convicted of strangulation assaults in North Carolina, defining "strangulation" as pressure on the throat/neck or obstruction of nose/mouth. The bill takes effect June 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for domestic violence strangulation, strengthening sentencing within criminal justice by creating higher felony classifications based on injury severity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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passed · North Carolina · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 164: Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency.

SB 164 creates a new Class F felony offense for entering someone's property without legal justification during a declared emergency in an emergency area and taking, damaging, or destroying *temporary shelter* - such as tents, trailers, mobile homes, or vehicles used as living quarters. It directly affects individuals who might loot temporary housing following disasters like floods or storms, where standard security is compromised. The law specifies that victims can sue offenders for triple their actual damages plus legal fees. This amendment to North Carolina law (effective December 2025) targets the specific act of stealing or damaging emergency housing, not general property crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new Class F felony for theft of emergency housing, expanding criminalization. Matches 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization in criminal justice context.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProtects temporary housing (tents, trailers) from theft during emergencies, ensuring shelter availability for displaced residents during disasters.90% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 61: Assaults on First Responders.

HB 61 increases penalties for assaulting certain emergency personnel with a firearm in North Carolina. It reclassifies assaults against law enforcement officers, probation/parole officers, National Guard members, detention facility staff, emergency medical technicians, medical responders, firefighters, and law enforcement telecommunicators as a Class B1 felony (instead of Class D) when committed during their duties. The bill specifically targets firearm assaults, making them punishable by more severe prison sentences. This law takes effect December 1, 2025, for offenses occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assaulting first responders by reclassifying assaults as Class B1 felony, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare workers (EMTs, medical responders) by increasing penalties for firearm assaults against them during duties, directly strengthening healthcare workforce safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Probation & Parole

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 350: Report Lost/Stolen Firearm Within 24 Hours.

HB 350 requires North Carolina firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms to local law enforcement or the State Bureau of Investigation within 24 hours of discovery. Owners must provide specific details like the firearm’s make, model, serial number, and circumstances of the loss or theft. Law enforcement must then enter key details into the National Crime Information Center database. Violations are punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor for a first offense, escalating to a Class I felony for repeat violations. The law takes effect December 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires prompt reporting of lost/stolen firearms to law enforcement and NCIC, enhancing public safety and aiding crime investigations within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 733: The Everybody Eats Act.

HB 733, the "Everybody Eats Act," would allow North Carolina to bypass federal rules that block food assistance benefits for people convicted of certain drug-related felony offenses (Class H or I). It requires individuals to complete substance abuse treatment or avoid new drug offenses for six months after release or conviction to qualify for benefits, and extends the period for renewing eligibility from less than a year to 12 months. The bill directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals with specific drug felony convictions who meet treatment or offense-free conditions. It makes no changes to federal law but adjusts North Carolina's program implementation for food assistance and temporary aid.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores food benefits for formerly incarcerated individuals completing substance abuse treatment, reducing barriers to reintegration and aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to nutrition assistance for formerly incarcerated individuals, strengthening public health support through extended eligibility and reduced barriers to food benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 282: Clubhouse Expansion.

SB 282 aims to expand access to clubhouse model psychosocial rehabilitation programs for adults with severe mental illness in North Carolina who are Medicaid beneficiaries. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a statewide reimbursement plan by December 2025, including incentives for clubhouse accreditation, consistent payment rates across managed care organizations, and staff training. The bill also appropriates $2.5 million annually (2025-2027) from the General Fund to the North Carolina Clubhouse Coalition to support member clubhouses for program expansion, accreditation, or staff training. This directly affects Medicaid-funded clubhouses, managed care organizations, and the coalition itself. The plan must be reported to the legislature by December 2025, with implementation effective July 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2.5M annually (2025-2027) for mental health programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for public services under APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGETING subjects.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands mental health rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of improving offender rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health access via Medicaid-funded clubhouse programs with $2.5M annual appropriation. Directly advances healthcare services for severe mental illness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 137: Gabe Torres Act.

HB 137, the "Gabe Torres Act," expands death benefits under North Carolina's Public Safety Employees' Death Benefits Act to include public safety workers (like police, fire, and emergency personnel) who are killed while traveling to or from work. The bill amends the law to define "official duties" to explicitly cover commuting between home and work, as well as travel for training or responding to emergencies. It also appropriates $300,000 in recurring funds for these expanded benefits, effective July 1, 2025. This change directly affects eligible families of covered public safety employees who die during work-related travel, ensuring they qualify for death benefits previously limited to on-duty incidents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands death benefits for law enforcement officers killed commuting or on duty, appropriating $300k to fund these protections for public safety personnel.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands death benefits for public safety workers (including commuting) with $300k funding, directly strengthening worker benefits under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases felony classifications and penalties for traffic offenses, expanding criminalization rather than promoting reform or rehabilitation.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 662: Modernize Domestic Violence Protection Order.

SB 662 updates North Carolina's domestic violence protective order law to explicitly include same-sex couples in dating relationships. It amends the definition of "personal relationship" by removing the requirement that dating partners be of opposite sex, ensuring same-sex couples who are romantically involved can seek protective orders under the same criteria as opposite-sex couples. The bill changes Section 50B-1(b)(6) of the statute to clarify that a dating relationship is defined by ongoing romantic involvement, not gender. This policy change applies to protective orders issued on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands equal access to domestic violence protective orders for same-sex couples, strengthening civil rights and court protections within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 534: Sexual Assault Nurse Programs/Funds.

HB 534 appropriates $700,000 from North Carolina's General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to establish sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training programs at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Wake Technical Community College. Each college receives $350,000 to hire a full-time faculty member ($105,000), a clinical coordinator ($105,000), purchase equipment/supplies ($45,000), and cover program development and accreditation costs ($95,000). The bill directly affects these two community colleges and future healthcare professionals seeking SANE certification. It creates a concrete funding mechanism to expand training capacity for nurses specializing in sexual assault victim care.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $700,000 from General Fund for SANE training programs, directly funding public health services through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds SANE training to improve evidence collection in sexual assault cases, directly enhancing criminal justice system effectiveness for sex offenses.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $700,000 to fund SANE training programs at community colleges, directly supporting higher education initiatives and professional education within the specified topic area.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $700k for SANE training programs at community colleges, directly funding healthcare services for sexual assault victims through specialized nurse examiner programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Violent Crime Higher Education Healthcare Workforce

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