As 2025 begins, several significant new laws in North Carolina will come into effect, impacting areas such as human trafficking, immigration, building codes, school vouchers, and the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the key legislation:
Building Codes (Senate Bill 166)
This law introduces various updates to North Carolina’s building codes, aiming to streamline requirements and enhance regulatory efficiency.
Key House Bills Shaping 2025 Policies
- House Bill 10: Immigration Cooperation & School Vouchers
- Requires all sheriff’s offices to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by holding suspects believed to be in the country unlawfully for up to 48 hours, allowing ICE time to take custody.
- Expands school voucher funding by allocating approximately $463 million to the Opportunity Scholarship program, enabling parents to send children to private or religious K-12 schools.
- House Bill 198: Toll Billing and Highway Billboard Rules
- Mandates toll bills to include vehicle identification numbers or other identifying information.
- Increases processing fees for unpaid tolls.
- Grants billboard companies greater freedom to cut down trees along state highways.
- House Bill 199: Digital Driver’s Licenses
- Directs the DMV to develop a plan for digital driver’s licenses by July 1, 2025.
- House Bill 237: Face Mask Restrictions and Traffic Safety
- Limits public mask-wearing to combat crimes where individuals hide their identities.
- Ends the pandemic-era exemption for mask-wearing for health reasons.
- Prohibits standing, sitting, or lying on highways or streets in ways that impede traffic.
- House Bill 591: Sexual Extortion and Exploitation Reforms
- Establishes sexual extortion as a specific offense.
- Updates laws related to the sexual exploitation of minors.
- Enhances registration requirements for sex offenders and public protection programs.
- House Bill 600: Hog Farm Regulation Adjustments
- Revises watershed provisions and narrows the scope of NCDEQ’s authority in reviewing hog farm permits.
- House Bill 834: Juvenile Justice Modifications
- Allows 16- and 17-year-olds who commit certain felonies to be tried as adults.
- House Bill 900: Youth Tobacco and Leadership Academies
- Authorizes Wake County to replace Saint Augustine’s University as the education partner for its leadership academies.
- Implements measures to reduce youth access to tobacco, nicotine, and related substances.
- House Bill 971: Human Trafficking Awareness
- Requires lodging establishments, property managers, and vacation rental facilitators to implement human trafficking awareness training.
- Updates penalties for trafficking-related offenses.
What These Laws Mean for Residents
These laws reflect North Carolina’s focus on public safety, education, environmental regulation, and modernizing state services. Residents and businesses should stay informed about these changes to ensure compliance and take advantage of the new programs.
For additional details or guidance on these laws, visit the official North Carolina legislative website.
