Sign Up
HB 894 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Gun Dealer Door Lock Exemption.

HB 894 modifies the North Carolina State Building Code to allow certain licensed federal firearms dealers to be exempt from standard door lock requirements during nonbusiness hours. This exemption applies to businesses primarily selling firearms or ammunition with up to 15,000 square feet of retail space, allowing doors to remain locked from the inside when closed to the public. To qualify, businesses must pay a $500 permit fee, have an approved alarm system, provide a locking plan to employees, and post warning signs. The State Building Code Council is directed to adopt permanent rules for this exemption, with temporary provisions in effect until then.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 10, 2025 Last action May 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

A1: ABB-22-V-1 → Edition 1 · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from an amendment document to a complete legislative bill. It establishes a door lock exemption for licensed gun dealers, allowing them to keep doors locked from the inside during non-business hours when a permit is issued by local fire officials.
Scope change
Changed from an amendment to a standalone bill that creates new statutory authority for a specific exemption rather than modifying existing text.
ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility criteria requiring businesses to have sales space no larger than 15,000 square feet on a single floor.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement for businesses to pay a $500 permit fee to the local inspection department.

New requirement for businesses to provide employees with a written facility locking plan within 10 days of permit issuance or hiring.

ENFORCEMENT

New enforcement mechanism allowing local inspection departments to revoke permits if requirements are not met or if the exemption is used during business hours.

DEFINITION

New definitions for 'Council', 'Code', 'door lock requirements', and 'local inspection department' to clarify the bill's terms.

TIMELINE

Changed from an amendment dated 2025 to a complete bill with an effective date clause stating it becomes effective when it becomes law.

Floor votes · House May 7, 2025

How they voted

109–1
Passed · 11 other
Total votes 121
May 7, 2025
D Democratic46
40 Yea 1 Nay 5
86% Yea
I Independent2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican73
67 Yea 6
91% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Amendments
1
May 7, 2025
Committee
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed 3rd Reading
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amend Adopted A1
lower
May 6, 2025
Committee
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reptd Fav
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Re-ref to the Com on Commerce and Economic Development, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
Filed
lower
0 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.