New Laws Taking Effect in North Carolina on January 1, 2025: What You Need to Know
These laws aim to improve safety, healthcare, and justice across North Carolina, but they come with trade-offs.
Holly Springs, NC, December 31, 2024 — As the new year approaches, a range of new laws will be enacted in North Carolina starting January 1, 2025. These changes will impact everything from juvenile justice to healthcare access, road safety, and building regulations. Here’s what’s happening—and how it might affect you.
Juvenile Justice Reforms
Two new laws aim to reform the way juveniles are handled in the justice system:
Raise the Age Law (House Bill 186):
Juveniles charged with violent crimes will now undergo mental competency evaluations before being tried as adults.Pro: Protects young offenders with developmental issues from unnecessarily harsh penalties in adult court.
Con: Could delay justice for victims due to the time required for evaluations.
Juvenile Fingerprinting and DNA Collection (House Bill 834):
Juveniles aged 10 and older arrested for serious offenses will be fingerprinted and have DNA collected.Pro: Aids in solving and preventing crimes involving juveniles.
Con: Raises privacy concerns for families and young offenders.
Firearm Regulations
Domestic Violence Firearm Ban (House Bill 50):
Individuals convicted of domestic violence will be prohibited from owning firearms.Pro: Provides critical protection for victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of offenders.
Con: Raises concerns about enforcement and potential disputes over due process.
Healthcare and Public Safety
Medicaid Expansion (House Bill 76):
Expands Medicaid to include more low-income residents, giving thousands access to healthcare.Pro: Improves healthcare access for uninsured North Carolinians.
Con: Increased state spending could lead to higher taxes or budget cuts elsewhere.
Safe Infant Surrender Law (Senate Bill 20):
Parents have up to 30 days (instead of seven) to safely surrender a newborn without facing charges.Pro: Provides more time for parents in crisis to make a safe decision.
Con: It could be misused by individuals who avoid legal responsibilities.
School Safety Omnibus (House Bill 605):
Requires schools to conduct mandatory safety drills and establish threat assessment teams.Pro: Enhances preparedness for emergencies, potentially saving lives.
Con: Frequent drills may disrupt learning and cause stress for students.
Transportation and Construction
Hands-Free Driving Law (Senate Bill 157):
Bans handheld phone use while driving to reduce distractions and accidents.Pro: Promotes road safety and reduces distracted driving incidents.
Con: Fines for minor infractions could disproportionately impact low-income drivers.
Building Code Reforms (Senate Bill 166):
Reduces backflow preventer requirements and streamlines temporary occupancy permits for model homes.Pro: Lowers costs for construction and speeds up home availability.
Con: May reduce oversight in areas critical to safety.
Worker and Medicaid Provider Provisions
Workers’ Compensation Benefits Increase:
Raises the maximum weekly benefit for injured workers to $1,380.Pro: Provides more significant financial relief for workers recovering from injuries.
Con: This could lead to higher insurance premiums for businesses, potentially affecting wages or jobs.
Medicaid Provider Fee Adjustment:
Increases provider enrollment fees from $709 to $730.Pro: Ensures adequate funding for Medicaid program administration.
Con: This may discourage smaller healthcare providers from participating in Medicaid.
What This Means for You
These new laws aim to improve safety, healthcare, and justice across North Carolina, but they come with trade-offs. Advocates highlight their potential to save lives and support vulnerable populations, while critics caution about costs, enforcement challenges, and unintended consequences.
For example, the Hands-Free Driving Law will likely reduce accidents but may burden drivers with fines. Meanwhile, Medicaid expansion will provide healthcare access for many but could strain the state budget.
As these changes take effect, North Carolinians should stay informed about how the laws might affect their daily lives. Visit the North Carolina Legislature’s website for more details.