Criminal Justice (Domestic Violence)

HB 230 creates a new felony offense for individuals who commit a domestic violence misdemeanor (under G.S. 14-32.5) and have two or more prior domestic violence convictions within the past 15 years. The first conviction under this law is a Class H felony, with penalties increasing for subsequent offenses (up to Class C felony). The bill also expands police authority to make warrantless arrests for domestic violence misdemeanors when officers have probable cause to believe the crime occurred. This directly affects repeat domestic violence offenders in North Carolina, with the law taking effect December 1, 2025.

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.

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.