North Carolina 2019-2020 Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 7 D · 4 R · 1 I cosponsors

HB 715 — SHRA/Stronger Whistleblower Protection.

Last action — Regular Message Received From House

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019-2020 Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

51 added · 52 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill HB 715 strengthen protections for State employees who report misconduct, ensuring they won't face retaliation for doing so. The changes clarify that their identities will remain confidential until the case is resolved or they choose to make it public, which encourages more employees to come forward without fear. Additionally, the bill defines "good faith" to mean honest reporting, reinforcing the commitment to protect whistleblowers and promote accountability within State agencies. This matters because it fosters a safer environment for employees to voice concerns about inappropriate practices without risking their jobs.

→
Previous
Latest
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2019 H 1 HOUSE BILL 715 Short Title:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2019 H 2 HOUSE BILL 715 Committee Substitute Favorable 4/26/19 Short Title:
Representatives Cleveland, Stevens, Warren, and Riddell (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Judiciary, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 15, 2019 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN STATE HUMAN RESOURCES ACT WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.
April 15, 2019 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN STATE HUMAN RESOURCES ACT WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.
(5) Gross mismanagement, a gross waste of monies, or gross an abuse of authority.
(5) Gross mismanagement, a gross waste of monies, or gross abuse of authority.
(e) For the purposes of this Article, "good faith" means honesty in fact with the goal of complying with the duties imposed by this section." SECTION 2.
(e) In addition to its investigative authorityunder G.S.
147-64.6B, the State Auditor shall assist State employees in making reports under this section directly to the State Auditor as an alternative to making reports to the employing State department, agency, or institution.
(f) For the purposes of this Article, "good faith" means honesty in fact with the goal of complying with the duties imposed by this section." SECTION 2.
(a) No head of any State department, agency or institution or other State employee exercising supervisory authority shall discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate against a State employee regarding the State employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment because the State employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, reports oris about to report, in goodfaith, verballyorin writing, anyactivitydescribed *H715-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 in G.S.
(a) No head of any State department, agency or institution or other State employee exercising supervisory authority shall discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate against a State employee regarding the State employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment because the State employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, reports oris about to report, in goodfaith, verballyorin writing, anyactivitydescribed *H715-v-2* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2019 in G.S.
120-36.12(10).
120-36.12(10)." SECTION 3.
(d) In addition to its investigative authorityunder G.S.
147-64.6B, the State Auditor shall assist State employees in making reports under this section directly to the State Auditor as an alternative to making reports to the employing State department, agency, or institution." SECTION 3.
Page 2 House Bill 715-First Edition
Page 2 House Bill 715-Second Edition
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Regular Message Received From House

  2. Passed 1st Reading

  3. Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  4. Regular Message Sent To Senate

  5. Passed 2nd Reading

  6. Passed 3rd Reading

  7. Reptd Fav

  8. Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  9. Placed On Cal For 04/30/2019

  10. Reptd Fav Com Substitute

  11. Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  12. Passed 1st Reading

  13. Ref to the Com on Judiciary, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  14. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

3 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 161 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (161)

161 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 161 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Second Reading

Passed 113 Yea · 1 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 56003
Democratic 25000
Republican 30102
U 2000
Total 113105
% of votes cast 95%1%0%4%
How each member voted (119)
Member Party Vote
Richardson — Yea
Russell — Yea
Terry — Yea
vonHaefen — Yea
Autry — Yea
Beasley — Yea
Black — Yea
Clemmons — Yea
Farmer-Butterfield — Yea
Fisher — Yea
Floyd — Yea
Gailliard — Yea
Garrison — Yea
Gill — Yea
Graham — Yea
Harris — Yea
Holley — Yea
Hunt — Yea
Hunter — Yea
Jackson — Yea
Lucas — Yea
Martin — Yea
Montgomery — Yea
Queen — Yea
Wray — Yea
Boles — Yea
Bumgardner — Yea
Carter — Yea
Cleveland — Yea
Conrad — Yea
Davis — Yea
Dobson — Yea
Elmore — Yea
Faircloth — Yea
Fraley — Yea
Grange — Yea
Hardister — Yea
Henson — Yea
Horn — Yea
Hurley — Yea
Lewis — Yea
McElraft — Yea
McGrady — Yea
McNeill — Yea
Moore — Yea
Presnell — Yea
Rogers — Yea
Saine — Yea
Sasser — Yea
Speciale — Yea
Szoka — Yea
Yarborough — Yea
Zachary — Yea
Murphy — Not Voting
Insko — Not Voting
L. Johnson — Not Voting
C. Smith — Yea
K. Smith — Yea
R. Smith — Yea
Allison A. Dahle Democratic Yea
Amos L. Quick, III Democratic Yea
Becky Carney Democratic Yea
Brandon Lofton Democratic Yea
Brian Turner Democratic Yea
Brian Turner Democratic Yea
Carolyn G. Logan Democratic Yea
Cecil Brockman Democratic Yea
Cynthia Ball Democratic Yea
Dante Pittman Democratic Yea
Deb Butler Democratic Yea
Eric Ager Democratic Yea
Gale Adcock Democratic Yea
Garland E. Pierce Democratic Yea
Graig Meyer Democratic Yea
Joe John Democratic Yea
Marcia Morey Democratic Yea
Mary Belk Democratic Yea
Pricey Harrison Democratic Yea
Robert T. Reives, II Democratic Yea
Shelly Willingham Democratic Yea
Sydney Batch Democratic Yea
Terence Everitt Democratic Yea
Tracy Clark Democratic Yea
Zack Hawkins Democratic Yea
Bobby Hanig Republican Yea
Brenden H. Jones Republican Yea
Chris Humphrey Republican Yea
Dean Arp Republican Yea
Dennis Riddell Republican Yea
Destin Hall Republican Yea
Donna McDowell White Republican Yea
Donny Lambeth Republican Yea
Edward C. Goodwin Republican Yea
Frank Iler Republican Yea
Harry Warren Republican Yea
Hugh Blackwell Republican Yea
Jay Adams Republican Nay
Jimmy Dixon Republican Yea
John A. Torbett Republican Yea
John R. Bell, IV Republican Yea
John Sauls Republican Not Voting
Julia C. Howard Republican Yea
Keith Kidwell Republican Yea
Kelly E. Hastings Republican Yea
Kevin Corbin Republican Yea
Kyle Hall Republican Yea
Larry C. Strickland Republican Yea
Larry W. Potts Republican Yea
Lisa S. Barnes Republican Yea
Mark Brody Republican Yea
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Yea
Phil Shepard Republican Not Voting
Sarah Stevens Republican Yea
Stephen M. Ross Republican Yea
Steve Jarvis Republican Yea
W. Ted Alexander Republican Yea
William D. Brisson Republican Yea
Carla D. Cunningham U Yea
Nasif Majeed U Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 715?
HB 715 is sponsored by Cleveland, Dennis Riddell (Republican), Autry, Black, Deb Butler (Democratic), Carla D. Cunningham (U), Farmer-Butterfield, Fisher, Graham, Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Brian Turner (Democratic), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Joe John (Democratic), Edward C. Goodwin (Republican), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Harry Warren (Republican), and Sarah Stevens (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 715?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 715?
Track HB 715 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 715

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 715

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →