Clarify Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws.
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SB 384 — Clarify Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws.
Last action — Signed by Gov. 7/19/2019
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 27, 2019. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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8 sponsors
0 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 R).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
22 added · 23 removedPlain-language change summary
The latest version of SB 384 clarifies the definition of "special tools" as essential equipment required for servicing vehicles sold by manufacturers. This change is important because it ensures that dealers understand which tools they are obligated to purchase and that these tools are specifically designed for the vehicles they service, making it easier for smaller dealers to comply without unnecessary financial burden. Additionally, the bill prevents manufacturers from pressuring dealers to buy tools and equipment that are not essential for vehicle maintenance or repair, promoting fairer business practices within the industry.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2019 SENATESESSION BILLLAW 3842019-125 RATIFIEDSENATE BILL 384 AN ACT TO CLARIFY VARIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER LAWS.
Eligible special tools exceed a cost of two thousand dollars ($2,000) per special tool, are easily and readily transportable, and would be *S384-v-4**S384-v-5* utilized for service on less than 10 vehicles per month at the requesting dealer's dealership.
Page 2 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 "(38) Notwithstanding the terms, provisions, or conditions of any agreement, franchise, novation, waiver, or other written instrument, to assign or change a franchised new motor vehicle dealer's area of responsibility under the franchise arbitrarily or without due regard to the present or projected future pattern of motor vehicle sales and registrations within the dealer's market and without having provided the affected dealer with written notice of the change in the dealer's area of responsibility and a detailed description of the change in writing by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
Within 60 days of the conclusion of a requested mediation process, or, if a mediationprocesshasnotbeentimelyrequestedunderthissubdivision,within Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 3 days of receivingnotice from the manufacturer, factorybranch, distributor, or distributor branch of the manufacturer's rejection, in whole or in part, of the dealer's request for the elimination of the contested territory from the dealer's area of responsibility, a dealer may file a petition and have an evidentiary hearingbeforetheCommissioneras providedin G.S.
Page 4 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 i.
(ii) do not consider available relevant and material local, State, State and regional Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 5 criteria, data, and facts.
"(52) To prohibit or to in any way unreasonably limit or restrict a dealer from offering for sale over the Internet, including online e-commerce marketplaces, parts and accessories obtained by the dealer from the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch, or from anysource recommended or approved by the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor Page 6 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 branch.
In the event a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 7 branch elects to perform an audit conducted for cause, the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch, simultaneously with providing the affected dealer with written notice of the audit, shall further be required to explain in detail in the notice the data or other foundation upon which the cause is based.
and (iii) the dealer is not required to allow the manufacturer or distributor or Page 8 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 any third party to have direct access to is either permitted to restrict the data fields that may be accessed in the dealer's dealer management computer system, but or the dealer is instead permitted to provide the same dealer, consumer, or customer data or information specified bythe manufacturer or distributor by timelyobtaining and pushing or otherwise furnishing the required data in a widely accepted file format such as comma delimited in accordance with subsection (g1) of this section.
Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 9 … (b1) Notwithstanding the terms of any contract or agreement with a dealer management computersystem vendor orthirdparty, forpurposes ofthis subsection,thedealer's datacontained in or on a dealer management computer system owned, leased, or licensed by a dealer located in this State is the property of the dealer.
Page 10 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 b.
(3) Fail to provide the dealer with the option and ability to securely obtain and push or otherwise distribute specified dealer data within the dealer's dealer management computer system to any third party instead of the third party Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 11 receiving the dealer data directly from the dealer's dealer management computer system vendor or providing the third party direct access to the dealer's dealer management computer system.
"(d) Any In order to prevent injury or harm to all or a substantial number of its members or to prevent injury or harm to the franchise distribution system of new motor vehicles within this State, any association that is comprised of a minimum of 400 new motor vehicle dealers, or a minimum of 10 motorcycle dealers or recreational vehicle dealers, substantially all of whom are new motor vehicle dealers located within North Carolina, and which represents the collective interests of its members, shall have standing to intervene as a party in any civil or administrative Page 12 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 proceeding in anyof the courts or administrative agencies of this State, or to file a petition before the Commissioner or a civil action or cause of action in any court of competent jurisdiction for itself, or on behalf of any or all of its members, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief.
– Every manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch of new motor vehicles, or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof, Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 13 which manufactures or distributes new motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 16,000 pounds or more shall compensate its new motor vehicle dealers located in this State for the cost of special tools, equipment, and training for which its dealers are liable when the applicable manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch sells a portion of its vehicle inventory to converters and other nondealer retailers.
20-288, or to be licensed by the Division as a Page 14 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 motor vehicle dealer, provided that this section shall not be construed to prohibit any of the following:
Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 15 c.
At the time the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, distributor branch, or subsidiary or affiliate thereof first acquires ownership or assumes operation or control with respect to any such dealership, the distance between the dealership thus owned, operated, or controlled Page 16 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 and the nearest other new motor vehicle dealership trading in the same line make of vehicle, is no less than 35 miles;
If the applicant does not currently hold a motor vehicle dealer license issued by the Division, the Commissioner determines, after an Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 17 evidentiary hearing, that the applicant qualifies under one or more of the exceptions to the prohibition against the issuance of a motor vehicle dealer license to any manufacturer, factory branch, factory representative, distributor, distributor branch, or distributor representative provided in G.S.
EFFECTIVE DATE Page 18 Session Law 2019-125 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 SECTION 13.
Hise Presiding Officer of the Senate s/ Tim Moore Speaker of the House of Representatives _____________________________________s/ Roy Cooper Governor Approved __________.m.1:27 p.m.
this ______________19 day of ___________________,July, 2019 Senate Bill 384-Ratified384 Session Law 2019-125 Page 19
Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.
The bill clarifies definitions and provisions regarding the rights and obligations of motor vehicle dealers and manufacturers concerning tools, area responsibility, and vendor selection.
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G.S. 20-286
(15a) Special tool or essential tool. – A tool designed by the manufacturer or distributor and not readily available from another source that is utilized for the purpose of performing service repairs on a motor vehicle sold by a manufacturer or distributor to its franchised new motor vehicle dealers in this State.
Introduces a new definition for 'special tool' essential for vehicle repairs, clarifying tools necessary for dealership operations.
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G.S. 20-305(9)
Notwithstanding the terms or conditions of any franchise or other agreement, in lieu of purchasing or leasing any special tools required by any manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch, a dealer may share access to special tools with other dealers; provided, however, that (i) all the participating dealers have franchises with the same manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch, (ii) the participating dealers share access to the special tools pursuant to a written agreement executed by all of the participating dealers which lists with specificity all of the special tools to be shared, (iii) all of the participating dealers are located within a 75-mile radius of one another, and (iv) the sharing of tools will not unreasonably delay completion of repairs.
Allows dealers to share special tools with other dealers under certain conditions, reducing individual costs for smaller dealers.
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G.S. 20-305(46)
For purposes of this subdivision, the term 'goods' does not include moveable displays, brochures, and promotional materials containing material subject to the intellectual property rights of a manufacturer or distributor, or special tools or parts as reasonably required by the manufacturer, or parts manufacturer to be used in repairs under warranty obligations of a manufacturer or distributor.
Excludes certain promotional materials and specified tools from the definition of 'goods', providing clarity on vendor requirements.
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G.S. 20-305(38)
A franchised new motor vehicle dealer who believes that a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch with whom the dealer has entered into a franchise has assigned or changed the dealer's area of responsibility, is proposing to assign or change the dealer's area of responsibility arbitrarily or without due regard to the present or projected future pattern of motor vehicle sales and registrations within the dealer's market, or failed to provide the dealer with the notice required under this subdivision may file a petition within 60 days of receiving notice of a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch's proposed assignment or change to the dealer's area of responsibility and have an evidentiary hearing before the Commissioner as provided in G.S. 20-301(b) contesting the franchised new motor vehicle dealer's assigned area of responsibility.
Strengthens protections for dealers against arbitrary changes to their area of responsibility by enabling them to contest such changes through a petition.
Action History
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Signed by Gov. 7/19/2019
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Ch. SL 2019-125
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Pres. To Gov. 7/9/2019
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Ratified
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Concurred In H Com Sub
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Ordered Enrolled
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Special Message Received For Concurrence in H Com Sub
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Passed 2nd Reading
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Passed 3rd Reading
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Special Message Sent To Senate
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Reptd Fav
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Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)
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Placed On Cal For 06/27/2019
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Reptd Fav Com Substitute
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Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
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Withdrawn From Com
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Re-ref to the Com on Transportation, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
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Passed 1st Reading
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Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
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Regular Message Sent To House
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Regular Message Received From Senate
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Passed 2nd Reading
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Passed 3rd Reading
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Reptd Fav
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Reptd Fav Com Substitute
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Com Substitute Adopted
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Re-ref Com On Commerce and Insurance
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Reptd Fav
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Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
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Withdrawn From Com
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Re-ref to Judiciary. If fav, re-ref to Commerce and Insurance. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate
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Passed 1st Reading
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Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
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Withdrawn From Com
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Re-ref to Commerce and Insurance. If fav, re-ref to Judiciary. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate
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Filed
Sponsors
- Jr. Danny Earl Britt · Cosponsor
- Warren Daniel · Cosponsor
- Horner · Cosponsor
- Vickie Sawyer · Cosponsor
- Woodard · Cosponsor
- D. Davis · Cosponsor
- D. Davis · Cosponsor
- Brent Jackson · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →0 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 171 not signed on
Sponsors (0)
None.
Co-sponsors (8)
- Danny Earl Britt, Jr. Republican
- Warren Daniel Republican
- Horner
- Vickie Sawyer Republican
- Woodard
- D. Davis
- D. Davis
- Brent Jackson Republican
Not signed on (171)
171 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 171 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 24 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Republican | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 42 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 0% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (47)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| deViere | — | Yea |
| Fitch | — | Yea |
| Foushee | — | Yea |
| Marcus | — | Yea |
| McKissick | — | Yea |
| Nickel | — | Yea |
| Peterson | — | Yea |
| Searcy | — | Yea |
| Smith | — | Yea |
| VanDuyn | — | Yea |
| Woodard | — | Yea |
| Ballard | — | Yea |
| J. Davis | — | Yea |
| Edwards | — | Yea |
| Gunn | — | Yea |
| Harrington | — | Yea |
| Horner | — | Yea |
| Krawiec | — | Yea |
| Newton | — | Yea |
| Perry | — | Yea |
| Steinburg | — | Yea |
| Tillman | — | Yea |
| Wells | — | Yea |
| Bishop | — | Not Voting |
| Gallimore | — | Not Voting |
| Johnson | — | Not Voting |
| D. Davis | — | Yea |
| J. Jackson | — | Not Voting |
| Dan Blue | Democratic | Yea |
| Gladys A. Robinson | Democratic | Yea |
| Jay J. Chaudhuri | Democratic | Yea |
| Joyce Waddell | Democratic | Yea |
| Michael Garrett | Democratic | Yea |
| Mujtaba A. Mohammed | Democratic | Yea |
| Paul A. Lowe, Jr. | Democratic | Yea |
| Tracy Clark | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Bill Rabon | Republican | Yea |
| Brent Jackson | Republican | Yea |
| Carl Ford | Republican | Yea |
| Danny Earl Britt, Jr. | Republican | Yea |
| Norman W. Sanderson | Republican | Yea |
| Phil Berger | Republican | Yea |
| Ralph Hise | Republican | Yea |
| Tom McInnis | Republican | Yea |
| Vickie Sawyer | Republican | Yea |
| W. Ted Alexander | Republican | Yea |
| Warren Daniel | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 53 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| U | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 31 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 110 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| % of votes cast | 92% | 1% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (120)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Autry | — | Yea |
| Beasley | — | Yea |
| Black | — | Yea |
| Brewer | — | Yea |
| Clemmons | — | Yea |
| Farmer-Butterfield | — | Yea |
| Fisher | — | Yea |
| Garrison | — | Yea |
| Gill | — | Yea |
| Harris | — | Yea |
| Holley | — | Yea |
| Hunt | — | Yea |
| Hunter | — | Yea |
| Insko | — | Yea |
| Jackson | — | Yea |
| Lucas | — | Yea |
| Martin | — | Yea |
| Montgomery | — | Yea |
| Queen | — | Yea |
| Richardson | — | Yea |
| Russell | — | Yea |
| Terry | — | Yea |
| vonHaefen | — | 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 |
| Horn | — | Yea |
| Hurley | — | Yea |
| Lewis | — | Yea |
| McElraft | — | Yea |
| McGrady | — | Yea |
| McNeill | — | Yea |
| Moore | — | Yea |
| Presnell | — | Yea |
| Rogers | — | Yea |
| Saine | — | Yea |
| Sasser | — | Yea |
| Szoka | — | Yea |
| Yarborough | — | Yea |
| Zachary | — | Yea |
| Speciale | — | Nay |
| L. Johnson | — | Not Voting |
| Floyd | — | Not Voting |
| Gailliard | — | Not Voting |
| Graham | — | Not Voting |
| Henson | — | Not Voting |
| Murphy | — | 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 | Not Voting |
| 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 | Yea |
| Jimmy Dixon | Republican | Yea |
| John A. Torbett | Republican | Yea |
| John R. Bell, IV | Republican | Yea |
| John Sauls | Republican | Yea |
| Julia C. Howard | Republican | Yea |
| Keith Kidwell | Republican | Yea |
| Kelly E. Hastings | Republican | Yea |
| Kevin Corbin | Republican | Not Voting |
| 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 | Yea |
| Sarah Stevens | Republican | Yea |
| Stephen M. Ross | Republican | Yea |
| Steve Jarvis | Republican | Yea |
| W. Ted Alexander | Republican | Not Voting |
| William D. Brisson | Republican | Yea |
| Carla D. Cunningham | U | Yea |
| Nasif Majeed | U | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 384?
- SB 384 is sponsored by Danny Earl Britt, Jr. (Republican), Warren Daniel (Republican), Horner, Vickie Sawyer (Republican), Woodard, D. Davis, and Brent Jackson (Republican).
- What is the current status of SB 384?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 27, 2019. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 384?
- Track SB 384 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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