HB 166 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Allow Extreme Risk Protection Orders to Prevent Suicides and Save Lives.

HB 166 creates a legal process for courts to issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) that temporarily restrict a person's access to firearms when they pose a danger of harming themselves or others. The bill allows family members, law enforcement, or healthcare providers to petition a court for an ERPO, requiring the court to order the seizure of firearms if the respondent fails to surrender them. It specifically defines "firearm" and outlines procedures for filing petitions, service, and court hearings, with no court costs for petitioners. The law aims to prevent gun-related harm through court-supervised temporary firearm removal, while including safeguards like mandatory mental health evaluations and annual reporting requirements.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 21, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2025

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What changed between versions

Filed → Edition 1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill underwent minor formatting and sponsorship updates during its transition from filing to Edition 1. The primary substantive change involves expanding the scope of Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) to include protection for family members residing with the petitioner, not just the petitioner themselves. This broadens who can be protected under the order.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include family members residing with the petitioner as eligible recipients of protection under ERPOs, in addition to the petitioner.

SCOPE

The language protecting the petitioner's family members residing with them was modified to clarify that their physical safety would be jeopardized if access or contact is not restricted, expanding protection beyond just the petitioner.

TECHNICAL

Additional sponsors (Representatives Harrison, Price, and Clark) were added to the bill, and the bill number was updated from a draft identifier to H166-v-1.

The bill was formally referred to the Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House with a specific date of February 24, 2025.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 24, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 18 co-sponsors