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

Track

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

passed both · North Carolina · House Jun 25, 2026

HB 34: Strengthen Medicaid Provider Controls.

HB 34 creates a new criminal offense for stealing or misusing someone else's mail, directly affecting individuals who unlawfully take, control, or transfer mail intended for others. The bill defines "mail" broadly to include letters, packages, or valuable items sent to another person and prohibits two specific actions: stealing mail to deprive the owner, or transferring mail to benefit someone not entitled to it. Punishments range from a Class A1 misdemeanor for first-time, low-value thefts (under $200) to a Class D felony for repeat offenses or high-value thefts (over $2,000). This law, effective December 1, 2025, applies to offenses committed after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for mail theft, expanding criminalization which aligns with 'oppose' indicators per bill's explicit focus on theft penalties.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

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 · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 164: Theft of Temporary Housing During Emergency.

SB 164 creates a new Class F felony offense for entering someone's property without legal justification during a declared emergency in an emergency area and taking, damaging, or destroying *temporary shelter* - such as tents, trailers, mobile homes, or vehicles used as living quarters. It directly affects individuals who might loot temporary housing following disasters like floods or storms, where standard security is compromised. The law specifies that victims can sue offenders for triple their actual damages plus legal fees. This amendment to North Carolina law (effective December 2025) targets the specific act of stealing or damaging emergency housing, not general property crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new Class F felony for theft of emergency housing, expanding criminalization. Matches 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization in criminal justice context.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProtects temporary housing (tents, trailers) from theft during emergencies, ensuring shelter availability for displaced residents during disasters.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

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

Track

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

signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 9, 2025

SB 429: 2025 Public Safety Act.

SB 429 creates new criminal offenses for knowingly exposing children under 16 to controlled substances (like drugs or opioids), with penalties ranging from a Class H felony (exposure alone) to a Class B1 felony (if exposure causes death). It also revises rules for sharing autopsy records: medical examiners must provide finalized toxicology and autopsy reports to prosecutors during criminal investigations, but public disclosure is restricted to specific recipients like family members or estate representatives. The law applies to offenses occurring on or after December 1, 2025, and excludes cases where a medical professional administers prescribed medication to a child. This bill directly affects caregivers, medical examiners, and prosecutors handling child exposure cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offenses for drug exposure to minors with enhanced penalties (Class B1 felony for causing death), expanding criminalization and increasing sentencing severity, opposing reform efforts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice