HB 472 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Commercial Vehicle and Cargo Protection.

HB 472, the "Commercial Vehicle and Cargo Protection Act," introduces new regulations for commercial motor vehicles and their cargo. The bill prohibits the immobilization of commercial motor vehicles using devices like boots, making such actions a misdemeanor. It also requires towing companies performing nonconsensual or government-initiated tows to promptly return commercial cargo to its owner or their designee. Furthermore, if a towed trailer contains commercial cargo, the tower must allow it to be exchanged for a different trailer of equal or better condition.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action May 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 Edition 2 · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to strengthen protections for commercial vehicles and cargo. The changes clarify when commercial vehicles can be immobilized, expand cargo return requirements, and update the effective date language for enforcement.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly excludes parking enforcement as a reason to immobilize commercial vehicles and adds law enforcement direction as a condition for cargo return.
REQUIREMENT

Added explicit language that commercial vehicles cannot be immobilized for parking enforcement purposes, clarifying the scope of the prohibition.

Changed the misdemeanor classification from unspecified to a Class 2 misdemeanor for violations of the immobilization prohibition.

Expanded cargo return requirements to include situations where cargo is towed pursuant to law enforcement direction, and added a request requirement for cargo owners.

Updated trailer exchange requirements to specify trailers must be of similar type, in working condition, and manufactured within five years of the original or newer.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date language from 'offenses charged' to 'offenses committed' for Section 1, affecting when the law applies.

TECHNICAL

Removed sponsor information and committee referral details from the header section.

Floor votes · House May 1, 2025

How they voted

1090
Passed · 12 other
Total votes 121
May 1, 2025
D Democratic46
41 Yea 5
89% Yea
I Independent2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican73
66 Yea 7
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
4
Committee
7
May 5, 2025
Committee
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed 3rd Reading
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reptd Fav
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Committee
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reptd Fav
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Committee
Re-ref Com On Judiciary 1
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reptd Fav Com Substitute
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
Ref to the Com on Transportation, if favorable, Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Filed
lower
3 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors