Criminal law changes bill heads to conference committee
RALEIGH — A statewide criminal law package is headed to a conference committee after the House and Senate approved different versions of the bill.
House Bill 308, titled “2026 Criminal Law Changes,” had conference committee members appointed Aug. 6, according to the General Assembly bill record. The bill covers a wide range of criminal justice issues, including courts, law enforcement, sentencing, victims’ rights, sex offenses, motor vehicle laws, social services records and critical infrastructure.
The latest Senate amendment to the bill made changes to the fourth edition, including provisions involving ignition interlock documentation, sexual assault evidence collection kits, critical infrastructure metals, the Sentencing Commission and law enforcement certification.
One section would give sexual assault victims rights related to information about the testing status and location of a sexual assault evidence collection kit. It also would require notice before destruction or disposal of a kit and would require the Office of the Attorney General to publish a list of those rights in plain language.
Another section would raise penalties for certain conduct involving nonferrous metals used in critical infrastructure. The bill would make some conduct a Class C felony when critical infrastructure is affected, while also addressing unauthorized possession of certain metals used in infrastructure.
The bill also includes provisions related to first responders. Earlier Senate committee language would create a misdemeanor offense for approaching or remaining within 25 feet of a first responder after a warning, if done with intent to impede, threaten or harass. The language specifies that recording or photographing a first responder, without another overt act, would not constitute harassment.
Other provisions address expedited eviction in certain fraud-related lodging cases, sex offender restrictions involving seasonal child care camps, habitual indecent exposure offenses, escape from detention facilities and youth development centers, and law enforcement certification actions tied to criminal records.
Because the bill is in conference committee, final language could still change before any final vote is taken.
Editor’s note:
This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
