SB 503 North Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Session

A More Efficient Office of Vital Records.

This bill, SB 503, aims to improve efficiency within the Office of Vital Records. It establishes a 30-calendar-day deadline for the Office of Vital Records and local register of deeds offices to process requests for birth and death certificate amendments, directly affecting individuals seeking these changes. Additionally, the bill prohibits employees of the Office of Vital Records from teleworking, except during declared disasters or emergencies as determined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 25, 2025 Last action Jun 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was amended to allow employees of the Office of Vital Records to telework unless it negatively impacts the state-mandated deadline for processing birth and death certificate amendments. This change shifts the policy from a strict ban on remote work to a performance-based exception, ensuring that administrative efficiency goals are met even when staff work from home.

Scope change

The scope of the telework prohibition was narrowed by adding a specific exception based on the impact on processing timelines.

REQUIREMENT

The absolute ban on telework for Office of Vital Records employees was modified to permit remote work unless it causes delays in meeting the statutory deadline for processing vital record amendments.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2025

How they voted

46–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 51

May 6, 2025

D Democratic20

17 Yea 3

85% Yea

R Republican31

29 Yea 2

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 8, 2026

Committee

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

lower

May 6, 2025

Committee

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

lower

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed 3rd Reading

upper

May 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reptd Fav

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Com Substitute Adopted

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Health Care

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reptd Fav

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

Re-ref to State and Local Government. If fav, re-ref to Health Care. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

Filed

upper

2 primary · 3 co-sponsors