HB 961 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

Criminal Intent Sentence Enhancement.

HB 961, the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act," increases sentencing for felony convictions where the victim was targeted due to their race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, country of origin, or gender. If proven, the offender faces a sentence one felony class higher than the original charge (e.g., Class C felony becomes Class B). The bill requires the indictment to allege the bias motivation, and the state must prove it beyond a reasonable doubt during the same trial. It takes effect December 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed after that date.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 10, 2025 Last action Apr 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Filed → Edition 1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill version update primarily involves formatting and sponsorship information changes rather than substantive policy modifications. The bill's core provisions regarding sentence enhancements for crimes motivated by victim characteristics remain unchanged. Sponsorship details were expanded to include additional representatives, and the bill identifier was updated from a draft number to a formal edition number.

TECHNICAL

Added additional primary sponsors (Davis, Balkcom, and Majeed) to the bill's sponsorship list and included a reference to the General Assembly website for a complete sponsor list.

Changed the bill identifier from draft number DRH30378-ML-68 to formal edition number H961-v-1 and updated the page header to reflect 'House Bill 961-First Edition'.

Removed the original filing date of April 10, 2025 and replaced it with the current session date and bill edition information.

Added a reference date of April 14, 2025 to the Judiciary Committee referral information.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 4 co-sponsors