Criminal Justice (Corrections)

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.

SB 620, the STRONG Act of 2025, targets North Carolina's fentanyl crisis through several key measures. It significantly increases prison terms and fines for drug trafficking, especially for fentanyl, heroin, or carfentanil (e.g., 28+ grams carries a minimum 225-month sentence), and adds 60 months to sentences for offenses near schools or parks (Section 3.3). The bill appropriates $10 million for the State Bureau of Investigation's Drug Task Force (Section 4.1) and expands the Controlled Substances Reporting System. It also funds opioid prevention/treatment programs and creates a tax credit for businesses hiring staff trained in substance use disorder (Section 4.2). These provisions directly affect traffickers, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and eligible businesses.

SB 724 prohibits unauthorized camping in public parks, sidewalks, and other public spaces (like non-designated areas), except for temporary sites specifically approved for homeless encampments. It defines "public camping" as using tents, bedding, or personal items on public property without authorization, making violations a misdemeanor punishable by fines or short jail time (with first offenses directed to shelters instead of charges). Local governments must enforce this ban and cannot allow regular camping on non-designated public areas, while citizens can sue municipalities that fail to comply. The bill also withholds state homelessness funding from counties or cities that violate these provisions and fail to correct violations after notice.