HB 5 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

NC Constitutional Carry Act.

HB 5, the NC Constitutional Carry Act, allows any U.S. citizen aged 18 or older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit, effective upon enactment. This directly affects most adult residents who are not prohibited from firearm ownership under existing state or federal law. The bill removes the permit requirement for concealed carry (per new Section 14-415.35(a)), while maintaining all existing prohibitions - such as for felons, domestic violence offenders, or those under indictment. It also preserves the ability to obtain permits for reciprocity or other purposes, and continues allowing officials with permits to carry while on duty. The law does not change restrictions for prohibited individuals, who remain barred from concealed carry.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action Mar 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision removes the requirement for a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun in North Carolina, effectively establishing constitutional carry rights for eligible citizens aged 18 and older. The changes also update penalty classifications and add specific disqualifying conditions for carrying concealed weapons.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from requiring a concealed handgun permit to allow permitless carry for eligible citizens, while maintaining restrictions for certain individuals with criminal records or other disqualifying factors.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement that persons must have a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun in public, establishing permitless carry rights for eligible citizens.

Added specific disqualifying criteria including misdemeanor crimes of violence, domestic violence convictions, and threats against law enforcement officers.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed penalty classifications from Class 2 misdemeanor for first offense to Class 3 misdemeanor for violating the concealed carry provision, with Class 2 misdemeanor for first offense and Class H felony for subsequent offenses of carrying in prohibited circumstances.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that persons carrying concealed handguns must carry valid identification and disclose to law enforcement officers when carrying a concealed weapon.

TECHNICAL

Removed references to the old permit-based system and related provisions in G.S. 14-269 that governed permit requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

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

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

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

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 23 co-sponsors