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SB 836 North Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Session

Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act.

This bill amends North Carolina's divorce laws to allow victims of domestic violence to file for divorce immediately without waiting the standard one year and six months of separation. It also eliminates the requirement to prove that the separation lasted for six months prior to filing the divorce complaint and removes defenses like recrimination that could block a divorce. Additionally, the legislation abolishes the outdated legal claims of alienation of affection and criminal conversation, which previously allowed lawsuits against third parties for interfering in a marriage. A separate provision in the bill appropriates $3 million in state and federal funds to expand the NC Medicaid Family Planning Program, effective in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes barriers for domestic violence victims to access courts and eliminates outdated defenses, strengthening protections for victims within the criminal justice and family law system.85% confidence
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Apr 27, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Filed → Edition 1 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill text has been updated from a draft version to the official 'First Edition' for the 2025 session, reflecting the formal introduction of Senate Bill 836. The changes include updating the bill number identifier, adding the official short title 'Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act,' and recording the referral to the Senate Rules and Operations committee. No substantive policy changes, funding adjustments, or eligibility criteria were altered in this update.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged as this update is purely procedural, transitioning the document from a filed draft to the official first edition.
TECHNICAL

Added the official short title 'Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act' and the bill identifier 'S836-v-1'.

Recorded the referral to the Rules and Operations of the Senate committee with the date April 28, 2026.

Removed draft identification codes (DRS45466-NJa-51) and the unmarked 'Filed' header.

Updated page headers and footers to reflect the official 'First Edition' status instead of the draft version.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Apr 28, 2026
Committee
Re-ref to Appropriations/Base Budget. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
Apr 28, 2026
Committee
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Introduced
Filed
upper
0 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.