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 2, 2026

HB 83: Revise Laws on Minors/Human Trafficking.

HB 83 increases criminal penalties for adults who share inappropriate content with minors under 13 (Class G felony) or under 16 (Class H felony), and creates a new felony for habitual indecent exposure near minors (two prior convictions). It requires courts to consider sex offender registration for these offenses and prohibits transportation companies (like ride-share services) from serving unemancipated minors without parental consent. The bill directly affects adults sharing content with minors, individuals exposing themselves to minors, and transportation companies serving minors. It focuses on concrete policy changes to strengthen protections for minors through stricter penalties and registration requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for minor-related offenses (Class G/H felonies) and expands criminalization, directly opposing reform goals by strengthening punitive measures.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ 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 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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signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 9, 2025

SB 311: The Law and Order Act.

SB 311, titled "The Law and Order Act," increases penalties for assaulting utility and communications workers while they are identifiable in uniform and performing duties. It also creates new offenses, including criminal possession of embalming fluid, larceny of gift cards, and unlawful possession of certain explosive devices. The bill enhances punishments for reckless driving causing death, hit-and-run offenses, and firearm use by felons during crimes, while adding a mitigating factor for impaired drivers using ignition interlocks. Additional provisions revise burglary penalties, expand workplace violence prevention to cover mass picketing, and establish civil liability for gift card theft. The bill directly affects workers in essential services and individuals committing specified violent or property crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for multiple offenses, creates new crimes (e.g., embalming fluid possession), and enhances punishments without reform elements, expanding criminalization.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · North Carolina · House May 5, 2025

HB 483: Juvenile Justice Legislative Proposals.

HB 483 proposes several changes to juvenile justice procedures. The bill extends the maximum terms of probation and post-release supervision for youth adjudicated of certain violent offenses (Class A, B1, or B2 felonies) to up to three years. It clarifies a victim's right to be notified and heard regarding the termination of a juvenile's probation or post-release supervision. Additionally, the bill modifies criteria for secure custody, allowing a superior court judge to issue such an order after a case is moved to juvenile court and authorizing it for juveniles who violate domestic violence protective orders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExtends probation terms for violent juvenile offenses, increasing supervision duration and punitive sentencing measures per bill's explicit language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ 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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passed · North Carolina · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 95: Threaten Elected Official/Increase Punishment.

HB 95 increases penalties for threats against certain elected and public officials in North Carolina, making such threats a Class I felony. It directly affects individuals who make threats against legislative, executive, court, local elected, or election officials, requiring a $50,000 secured appearance bond for anyone charged with these offenses. The bill amends existing statutes to clarify that threats need not be received or believed by the targeted official, and it specifically covers threats made in retaliation for an official's duties. The law applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties to Class I felony for threats against officials, requiring $50k bond. Expands criminalization of speech, opposing reform efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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