Criminal Justice

failed · North Carolina · House Aug 6, 2026

HB 308: 2026 Criminal Law Changes.

HB 308 reclassifies strangulation as a Class H felony (up from Class G) and clarifies "serious bodily injury" to include permanent disfigurement or prolonged hospitalization. It clarifies that certain domestic violence misdemeanors cannot be treated as lesser offenses under related statutes and creates a new "habitual misdemeanor assault" offense for repeat offenders involving domestic violence. The bill prohibits expunging criminal records for individuals with pending charges and requires judges to review criminal history when setting pretrial release conditions in domestic violence cases. Judges must also impose specific conditions like staying away from victims' homes or abstaining from alcohol for those charged under domestic violence laws.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies strangulation as higher felony, prohibits expungement for pending charges, creates habitual offender provision - increases penalties and restricts defendant rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · North Carolina · House Jul 7, 2026

HB 1173: Jaleeyah's Law.

This bill, known as Jaleeyah's Law, strengthens North Carolina's anti-gang laws by updating definitions of criminal gangs and increasing penalties for soliciting minors to participate in gang activity. It creates new offenses for encouraging people under 18 to join gangs and for gang members possessing firearms, with stricter penalties for those under 18. The legislation also allocates funding to hire additional prosecutors and investigators specifically focused on criminal gang cases. These changes will take effect in 2026 and aim to provide clearer legal tools for prosecuting gang-related crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens anti-gang laws, increases penalties for gang solicitation of minors, and allocates funding for prosecutors and investigators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 484: Clarify Tourism-Related Expenditures.

This bill amends North Carolina's workplace violence prevention laws to include "mass picketing" as a form of unlawful conduct. It defines mass picketing as any picketing that obstructs entry to or exit from a workplace or public roads. The bill expands the definition of "unlawful conduct" to include hindering work or blocking access through mass picketing. This allows employers to seek civil no-contact orders against individuals engaging in these newly defined unlawful acts. The legislation explicitly states it does not apply to union activities or labor disputes protected by federal law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCriminalizes protest activities under CRIMES, expanding criminalization of mass picketing as unlawful conduct per bill's definition.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts worker organizing by criminalizing mass picketing (a labor protest tactic) and enabling employer lawsuits against protesters, weakening collective action rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · North Carolina · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 315: Prohibit Litigation Investments/Amend Workers' Compensation Benefits.

HB 315 creates new criminal offenses for wrongfully entering restricted business areas (like secure storage rooms) and for stealing or fraudulently obtaining gift cards. It directly affects businesses (by protecting secure areas), gift card holders (by criminalizing theft of their cards), and individuals who commit these acts. Key provisions include classifying unauthorized building entry as a misdemeanor or felony based on prior offenses, defining gift card theft as a Class 1 misdemeanor for cards under $1,000 (or felony for higher value), and expanding "organized retail theft" to include conspiracy around gift cards with penalties tied to total value stolen. The law takes effect December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offenses for gift card theft and unauthorized entry, expanding criminalization per bill's provisions and subjects list.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · North Carolina · House May 14, 2026

HB 1219: Memorandums of Understanding Tennessee Counties/Madison.

This bill allows Madison County in North Carolina to sign agreements with sheriff's offices in three neighboring Tennessee counties for joint law enforcement work. These agreements would enable the sheriff's offices to cooperate on special operations and other crime-fighting activities across state lines. The bill also requires that any such agreement include a plan for sharing liability for damages and mandates an annual report to the state Department of Justice.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables cross-state law enforcement cooperation and crime-fighting activities, directly strengthening criminal justice efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed both · North Carolina · House Sep 22, 2025

HB 42: Back the Blue Pay Act.

This bill revises North Carolina's burglary and breaking-and-entering laws to increase penalties when a firearm or deadly weapon is used. It raises the felony classification by one level for offenses like burglary (first/second degree), breaking out of a dwelling at night, or entering a building with intent to commit a felony or terrorize occupants, if a weapon was present during the crime. The law directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses when a firearm was involved, not the general public. It does not change sentencing for weapon-free offenses or address police pay, despite the title "Back the Blue Pay Act" suggesting otherwise. The changes take effect December 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for weapon-assisted burglaries by raising felony classifications - directly expanding criminalization and mandatory sentencing per bill summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · North Carolina · House May 5, 2025

HB 789: Mitigating Factor/Pretrial Use of Ignition Interlock Device.

HB 789 creates a new mitigating factor for individuals charged with impaired driving offenses in North Carolina. This factor applies if the defendant voluntarily equips their vehicle with an approved ignition interlock system within 45 days of being charged and uses it for at least six months prior to trial, without violations. The bill aims to incentivize early intervention and responsible behavior by offering a potential reduction in sentencing for eligible defendants who meet specific criteria. It also allows individuals who voluntarily install the system and meet certain requirements to apply for a waiver of a portion of the costs if they cannot afford it.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates sentencing mitigation for DWI offenders who voluntarily use ignition interlocks, incentivizing responsible behavior and reducing recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · North Carolina · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 771: Criminal Law Procedures.

House Bill 771 modifies criminal law procedures by expanding the ability to preserve witness testimony through depositions. It authorizes the State to take depositions from material witnesses in criminal cases under specific conditions, such as when a witness is in danger, elderly, or unlikely to be available for trial. Defendants already have the right to depose witnesses who are infirm, incapacitated, or non-residents. The bill outlines procedures for these depositions, ensuring defendants receive notice, have the right to be present, and can have legal counsel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands State's ability to preserve witness testimony under specific conditions, enhancing procedural fairness in criminal cases without restricting defendant rights.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · North Carolina · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 246: Liam's Law.

HB 246, also known as "Liam's Law," increases penalties for specific driving offenses. The bill elevates reckless driving that causes serious bodily injury to a Class I felony. For street racing, it establishes new felony classifications for causing serious injury (Class F felony) or death (Class B2 felony), and mandates longer driver's license revocations, including permanent revocation for fatalities. Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for hit-and-run offenses that result in death to a Class D felony. These provisions directly affect drivers involved in such incidents.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases felony classifications and penalties for traffic offenses, expanding criminalization rather than promoting reform or rehabilitation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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passed · North Carolina · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 330: Controlled Substances Act - Updates.

HB 330 updates North Carolina's Controlled Substances Act by adding specific synthetic drugs and chemical structures to Schedule I, making them illegal without exception. It directly affects law enforcement, healthcare providers, and individuals using these substances, as it automatically controls new variants of fentanyl derivatives (like 4-fluorofentanyl), nitazenes, synthetic cannabinoids (including indole carboxamides), and other novel psychoactive substances based on their chemical structure - not just named compounds. Key mechanisms include defining "structurally derived" compounds (e.g., fentanyl modifications) and listing specific examples to close loopholes where manufacturers alter molecules slightly to evade existing laws. This policy change aims to address emerging drug threats by expanding the legal definition of controlled substances.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds synthetic drugs to Schedule I, expanding criminalization of substances under controlled substances law without exceptions, increasing enforcement focus on possession/use.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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