Criminal Justice

signed · North Carolina · House Jul 8, 2026

HB 206: DPS/Other Changes.

HB 206 modifies North Carolina's process for handling firearms surrendered under domestic violence protective orders. It requires defendants to immediately surrender firearms, ammunition, and permits to the sheriff when such orders are issued, with a 24-hour deadline if immediate surrender isn't possible. The bill clarifies that sheriffs must store these items, may charge reasonable storage fees, and must conduct criminal background checks before returning firearms after the order ends. This directly affects domestic violence defendants, victims, and sheriffs managing firearm storage and retrieval.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires firearm surrender in domestic violence cases to enhance victim safety and prevent gun violence, aligning with criminal justice reform priorities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Firearms Juvenile Justice

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 646: Constitutional Amendment: Remove Slavery as Punishment.

HB 646 is a constitutional amendment that would permanently ban all slavery and involuntary servitude in North Carolina, removing the current exception allowing forced labor as punishment for crimes. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, the amendment would change the state constitution to state that slavery and involuntary servitude are "forever prohibited" without any exceptions. This change would directly affect incarcerated individuals by ending the legal basis for requiring prison labor as punishment. The amendment requires voter approval through a statewide referendum before taking effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves exception allowing prison labor as punishment, ending involuntary servitude for inmates, aligning with criminal justice reform and civil rights protection.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnds forced labor for inmates by banning slavery exception, directly protecting incarcerated workers' rights under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 682: Public Safety Through Food Access Act.

HB 682 allows North Carolina to override federal restrictions that block food and cash assistance (TANF) for people convicted of certain drug-related felonies. It directly affects individuals with Class H or I controlled substance felony convictions who complete substance abuse treatment (while incarcerated or in the community) and avoid new drug offenses for six months. The bill requires counties to offer food and cash benefits to eligible individuals who meet these conditions, making treatment participation a requirement for accessing aid. This change aims to support successful reintegration by removing a barrier to basic needs assistance for this group.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves federal barriers to food/cash assistance for individuals with drug felony convictions who complete treatment and avoid new offenses, directly supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism risks.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables food/cash benefits for individuals completing substance abuse treatment, improving access to healthcare support and recovery services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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failed · North Carolina · House Aug 6, 2026

HB 308: 2026 Criminal Law Changes.

HB 308 reclassifies strangulation as a Class H felony (up from Class G) and clarifies "serious bodily injury" to include permanent disfigurement or prolonged hospitalization. It clarifies that certain domestic violence misdemeanors cannot be treated as lesser offenses under related statutes and creates a new "habitual misdemeanor assault" offense for repeat offenders involving domestic violence. The bill prohibits expunging criminal records for individuals with pending charges and requires judges to review criminal history when setting pretrial release conditions in domestic violence cases. Judges must also impose specific conditions like staying away from victims' homes or abstaining from alcohol for those charged under domestic violence laws.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies strangulation as higher felony, prohibits expungement for pending charges, creates habitual offender provision - increases penalties and restricts defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 862: Justice Improvements.

HB 862 requires district courts to record video and audio of certain felony plea proceedings (including guilty or no contest pleas to serious felonies) and key hearings like sentencing. It also mandates clerks of court to collect detailed data for impaired driving cases (like DUI), including alcohol test results, reasons for case dismissals, and sentencing details. The Administrative Office of the Courts must publish annual online reports showing statewide and county-level data on these cases. These changes apply to cases starting December 1, 2025, increasing transparency in court proceedings and case outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires court recording of felony pleas and data collection for DUI cases, enhancing transparency and oversight in criminal justice proceedings per bill title 'Justice Improvements'.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 868: Due Process in Law Enforcement Officers Field Drug Testing.

HB 868 requires North Carolina law enforcement to use confirmatory lab tests before relying on field drug tests for arrests or convictions related to drug possession. It mandates that colorimetric field drug tests alone cannot establish probable cause for arrest, initiate charges, lead to conviction, or influence sentencing after January 1, 2026. Law enforcement must adopt policies ensuring cases without a lab-confirmed result lead to release (via citation or written promise to appear) rather than continued detention. The bill directly affects all North Carolina law enforcement agencies and prosecutors handling drug possession cases under G.S. 90-95(a)(3), requiring them to implement these changes by 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires lab confirmation for drug tests, preventing wrongful arrests and upholding due process in criminal proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing Tags Civil Liberties

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 978: Establish Youth Mentoring Commission/Mentoring Funds.

HB 978 establishes the North Carolina Commission on Youth Mentoring within the Department of Health and Human Services to administer grants supporting local youth mentoring programs. The bill allocates $1.5 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund small-to-medium nonprofit organizations providing mentoring services, with specific goals to increase quality mentoring, reduce youth safety risks, and strengthen community connections. The Commission, composed of 15 appointed members including youth participants and community representatives, will manage the grant program, develop application processes, and submit annual reports on funding distribution and social impact to legislative committees. This legislation directly affects North Carolina-based youth mentoring nonprofits and aims to expand accessible, high-quality mentoring opportunities for young people across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.5M annually (2025-2027) for youth mentoring programs via DHHS, directly funding public services under budgetary provisions. Subjects explicitly include APPROPRIATIONS and BUDGETING.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds youth mentoring programs to reduce safety risks and strengthen community connections, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of prevention and recidivism reduction.85% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 961: Criminal Intent Sentence Enhancement.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases sentencing for bias-motivated hate crimes, protecting civil rights under criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Sentencing

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 987: Create Police Leadership Fellows Program.

HB 987 creates the North Carolina Police Leadership Fellows Program, which provides forgivable loans to eligible individuals pursuing undergraduate degrees in criminal justice, government, or related fields at UNC institutions. The program targets high school graduates or seniors facing economic barriers (e.g., unemployment, underemployment) or those expressing interest in criminal justice careers, with priority given to residents who intend to work as sworn law enforcement officers, correctional staff, sheriffs, or similar roles after graduation. Recipients may receive up to $20,000 total in forgivable loans ($3,000/year for first two years, $7,000/year for final two years), covering tuition, fees, and books, subject to criminal background checks and residency requirements. The program is administered by a committee appointed by the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, with annual selections of 50-100 recipients.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program (forgivable loans for criminal justice education) requiring budget appropriations, advancing government spending on workforce development and public safety.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds criminal justice education for future officers via forgivable loans, directly strengthening law enforcement workforce development and aligning with reform-focused training priorities.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides forgivable loans for criminal justice degrees at UNC institutions, expanding higher education access for economically disadvantaged students targeting law enforcement careers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Higher Education K-12 Education

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died · North Carolina · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 924: Board for General Contractors/Criminal Referrals.

HB 924 authorizes the North Carolina State Licensing Board for General Contractors to refer suspected criminal violations of contractor licensing laws to appropriate law enforcement agencies or District Attorneys. The bill allows the Board to disclose investigative records to these agencies to support investigations and potential criminal prosecutions. This measure applies to general contractors and entities regulated by the Board who are suspected of committing violations subject to criminal penalties. The act clarifies the Board's ability to assist in such prosecutions and takes effect on October 1, 2025, for violations committed on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables criminal referrals for licensing violations, directly supporting law enforcement prosecution pathways under criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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