SB 634, "Kayla's Act: Protecting Domestic Violence Victims," allows domestic violence victims to testify remotely in court to reduce trauma from facing their abuser. It directly affects victims in criminal cases involving domestic violence (as defined under North Carolina law), including assault, stalking, or violations of protection orders. The bill requires prosecutors to notify the defense 15 business days before remote testimony, with the defense needing to object in writing 5 days prior to prevent it. If the defense objects, a judge may still allow remote testimony if the victim would suffer serious emotional distress from testifying in person or if their communication would be impaired. The law also sets specific standards for how remote testimony must be conducted, including real-time audio/video and safeguards for cross-examination.
HB 505, "Kayla's Act: Protecting Domestic Violence Victims," allows domestic violence victim witnesses in North Carolina criminal cases to testify remotely (via video or similar technology) instead of in person during trials. This directly affects victims, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and courts in domestic violence cases involving crimes like assault or stalking under Chapter 14 of state law. The bill requires prosecutors to notify defendants 15 business days in advance of remote testimony, with defendants having 5 days to object in writing; if no objection is filed, remote testimony is permitted. If a defendant objects, a judge may still allow remote testimony only if the victim would suffer serious emotional distress from testifying in the defendant's presence or if their ability to communicate with the court would be impaired, with strict court oversight to ensure fair cross-examination.
SB 719 creates the North Carolina Victims of Crime Assistance (NC VOCA) Fund and a competitive grant program to support victim services. It establishes a fund within the Department of Public Safety, administered by the Governor’s Crime Commission, to award grants (up to $1 million per organization annually) to public agencies or nonprofits providing direct assistance to crime victims. The grants must address victims’ emotional, physical, financial, or safety needs, with recipients required to report on fund usage and victims served. This program is funded partly by increased criminal court fees ($147.50 in district court, $154.50 in superior court), with $0.95 from each fee directed to the fund, directly benefiting victims of crime across North Carolina through eligible service providers.
SB 749 allows courts to require delinquent child support payers to participate in work search or job training instead of facing jail time for nonpayment. It directly affects individuals who owe child support and are found in contempt of court, mandating they pay at least $50 monthly while enrolled in work-specific training for up to six months. Key provisions require courts to review progress every 30 days, mandate participants to notify the court of training completion or attendance issues within 14 days, and maintain enforcement authority during appeals. The bill changes enforcement procedures to prioritize workforce engagement over incarceration for this specific violation.
HB 497 prohibits defendants in North Carolina from using a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, or sex as a defense in homicide or assault cases. It bans arguments that the defendant's reaction to discovering or perceiving someone's LGBTQ+ identity justified the crime, whether the belief was true or not. The law applies to all such cases occurring on or after December 1, 2025, and does not affect prosecutions for offenses committed before that date. This changes court procedures by removing a specific legal argument that has been used to reduce charges in some cases involving LGBTQ+ victims.
HB 656 splits North Carolina's District Court District 43 into two new districts (43A and 43B) and similarly divides Defender District 43 into 43A and 43B. District 43A covers Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties (with 7 judges), while 43B covers only Haywood and Jackson counties (with 4 judges). The bill appropriates funds for new judicial and public defender staff, including one district court judge, a chief public defender, and three assistant public defenders for District 43B, effective July 2026 for funding and January 2027 for the court structure. This procedural bill directly affects counties in western North Carolina by creating more localized court and public defender services.
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.
HB 722 requires North Carolina courts to first assess a defendant's ability to pay before imposing criminal court costs and fees. It modifies rules for collecting specific costs like failure-to-appear fees ($200), crime lab services ($600 max), and digital forensics fees, requiring judges to determine affordability before assessment. The bill also mandates that courts provide 15 days' notice to government entities (like crime labs or prosecutors) before waiving or reducing fees, ensuring affected parties can object. This directly affects defendants convicted in criminal cases and government entities that collect or rely on these fees.
SB 694 automatically restores driver's licenses in North Carolina after 36 months for individuals whose licenses were revoked solely due to unpaid fines for minor traffic offenses (e.g., speeding tickets), removing a major barrier to employment. This change applies to people who haven’t paid court costs or fines but haven’t committed serious offenses like driving while license revoked. The bill requires the state to notify affected individuals via mail and online about license restoration and appropriates funds for a text reminder system to help prevent missed court dates. Individuals will still owe unpaid fines but no longer face license suspension for nonpayment after the 36-month period.
