Criminal Justice (Public Safety)

HB 1202 allocates $6.1 million in state funds to Forsyth Technical Community College to create a law enforcement driving training center in King, North Carolina. This facility will feature a driving pad, roadway, and instructional building designed to support basic law enforcement training and ongoing education for police officers. The project is a partnership between the college and the City of Winston-Salem, with funding designated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

This North Carolina bill aims to address public safety staffing issues by increasing salaries for state law enforcement and correctional officers, with changes taking effect in July 2026. It establishes new mental health benefits, including 12 confidential annual visits per year, and creates peer support programs to assist officers with stress and burnout. The legislation also introduces retention bonuses for correctional officers and provides grants to help local governments offer comparable pay increases to their own employees. Funded through state appropriations, the bill requires regular reporting on staffing levels, vacancy rates, and the usage of mental health services.

The HALO Law creates a new criminal offense in North Carolina that prohibits people from approaching or staying within 25 feet of first responders who are performing their duties, after the responders have issued a verbal warning. This law protects law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, probation officers, and other specified workers from harassment, threats, or interference. Violating these rules is classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by fines or jail time, unless a more severe penalty already exists for the specific conduct. The legislation also allocates $25,000 to the Department of Public Safety to fund a marketing campaign aimed at informing the public about these new restrictions.