HB 244 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Depoliticize Government Property Act.

House Bill 244, titled "Depoliticize Government Property Act," restricts the types of flags that can be flown or displayed on property owned or leased by the State of North Carolina or its local government entities. The bill specifies a limited list of permissible flags, including the U.S. flag, the North Carolina flag, flags of local government agencies, military branch flags, the POW/MIA flag, the Honor and Remember flag, and flags of recognized nations during official visits. It also clarifies that local governments cannot prohibit the display of official governmental flags on private or public property with consent. Any violation of the display restrictions on government property would be classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Apr 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 2 → Edition 3 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill revision adds exemptions for historic museum displays and war reenactments, preventing these activities from being subject to the flag display restrictions. The change clarifies that these specific cultural and educational contexts are not subject to the disciplinary enforcement provisions of the bill.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by creating explicit exceptions for historic museum displays and war reenactments, which were previously subject to the flag display restrictions.

REQUIREMENT

Added subsection (c) to Section 3 which exempts historic displays at museums and reenactments of prior US wars from the flag display restrictions.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified the enforcement mechanism by creating exceptions that prevent disciplinary action for violations occurring during exempted museum displays or war reenactments.

TECHNICAL

Updated version numbers from Edition 2 to Edition 3 and adjusted page numbering accordingly.

Floor votes · House Apr 16, 2025

How they voted

71–43

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 121

Apr 16, 2025

D Democratic46

4 Yea 39 Nay 3

84% Nay

I Independent2

2 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican73

67 Yea 2 Nay 4

91% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 28, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed 3rd Reading

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Sub 2

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Committee

Re-ref to the Com on State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On State and Local Government

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Committee

Ref to the Com on Judiciary 1, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 16 co-sponsors