North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 6 D cosponsors

SB 722 — Children's Online Safety Act/Funds.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    2 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 D).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

22 added · 23 removed

Plain-language change summary

The main changes in Senate Bill 722 include the establishment of an independent regulatory office within the Department of Justice that will focus on online safety for children. The bill now emphasizes the importance of protecting digital well-being while also respecting the fundamental rights of minors. This shift is significant because it outlines a clear commitment to ensuring children's safety in digital environments, potentially leading to improved regulations and practices that can better protect youth from online harm.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Mar 25, 2025 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 722 Short Title:
722 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS35251-LRa-120B Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ENACTING SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE, ESTABLISHING THE ONLINE SAFETY DIVISION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE CYBERBULLYING UNIT AT THE STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, CREATING THE ONLINE CHILD SAFETY COMMISSION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ENACTING SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE, ESTABLISHING THE ONLINE SAFETY DIVISION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE CYBERBULLYING UNIT AT THE STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, CREATING THE ONLINE CHILD SAFETY COMMISSION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
The attorneys assigned to this Division shall function as an independent regulatory office within the Department of Justice focusing on online safety, with an emphasis on the protection of children online.
The attorneys assigned to this Division shall function as an independent regulatoryoffice within the Department of Justice focusing on online safety, with an emphasis on the protection of children online.
(4) Facilitating advisory panels on internet safety, including child development experts, technology specialistsparent representativescommunity stakeholders, and industry representatives." SECTION 1.(b) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Justice the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and the sum of four million five hundred thousand dollars ($4,500,000) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to establish the Child Safety Division as enacted by this section.
(4) Facilitating advisory panels on internet safety, including child development experts, technology specialistsparent representativescommunity stakeholders, and industry representatives." SECTION 1.(b) Effective July1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Justice the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and the sum of four million five hundred thousand dollars ($4,500,000) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to establish the Child Safety Division as enacted by this section.
*DRS35251-LRa-120B* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) Age-appropriate design.
*S722-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) Age-appropriate design.
(a) It is the public policy of this State that its children are owed a duty of care with regard to their online activities in order to limit foreseeable harm and their exposure to dark patterns and harmful content on covered platforms.
(a) It is the public policyof this State that its children are owed a duty of care with regard to their online activities in order to limit foreseeable harm and their exposure to dark patterns and harmful content on covered platforms.
In any suit instituted by the Attorney General, in which the defendant is found to have violated this Chapter Page 2 DRS35251-LRa-120B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 and the acts or practices which constituted the violation were, when committed, knowingly violative of a statute, the court may, in its discretion, impose a civil penalty against the defendant of up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each violation.
In any suit instituted by the Attorney General, in which the defendant is found to have violated this Chapter Page 2 Senate Bill 722-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 and the acts or practices which constituted the violation were, when committed, knowingly violative of a statute, the court may, in its discretion, impose a civil penalty against the defendant of up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each violation.
In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the court shall consider all relevant circumstances, including, but notlimitedto,theextent oftheharmcausedbytheconduct constituting a violation, the nature and persistence of such conduct, the length of time over which the conduct occurred, the assets, liabilities, and net worth of the defendant, and any corrective action taken by the defendant.
In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the court shall consider all relevant circumstances, including, but not limitedto,theextentoftheharmcaused bytheconduct constituting a violation, the nature and persistence of such conduct, the length of time over which the conduct occurred, the assets, liabilities, and net worth of the defendant, and any corrective action taken bythe defendant.
(b) In addition to any other duties assigned by law, the Unit shall operate a toll-free number and website on online child safety and cyberbullying jointly with the Department of Justice." SECTION 3.(b) Effective July 1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to create the Cyberbullying Unit at the SBI.
(b) In addition to any other duties assigned by law, the Unit shall operate a toll-free number and website on online child safety and cyberbullying jointly with the Department of Justice." SECTION 3.(b) Effective July1, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to create the Cyberbullying Unit at the SBI.
The Commission shall serve as the state's foremost authority on online child safety, advancing the digitalwellbeingofminorswhilerespectingfundamentalrights.TheCommissionshallbeguided by the best interests of the child, the recognition that digital safety is fundamental to childhood development, the understanding that technology must adapt to children's needs rather than the reverse, and the principle that powerful digital platforms must be held accountable for the safety of young users.
The Commission shall serve as the state's foremost authority on online child safety, advancing the digitalwellbeingofminorswhilerespectingfundamentalrights.TheCommissionshallbe guided by the best interests of the child, the recognition that digital safety is fundamental to childhood development, the understanding that technology must adapt to children's needs rather than the reverse, and the principle that powerful digital platforms must be held accountable for the safety of young users.
DRS35251-LRa-120B Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) One (1) member with expertise in child development and psychology (2) One (1) member with expertise in digital technology and data ethics (3) One (1) member representing parents or guardians (4) One (1) member with expertise in cybersecurity and privacy (5) One (1) member with expertise in education (6) One (1) member with legal expertise in child protection (7) One (1) youth advocate between the ages of 18-25" Commission members shall serve four-year staggered terms, with initial appointments varying in length to ensure continuity.
Senate Bill 722-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) One (1) member with expertise in child development and psychology (2) One (1) member with expertise in digital technology and data ethics (3) One (1) member representing parents or guardians (4) One (1) member with expertise in cybersecurity and privacy (5) One (1) member with expertise in education (6) One (1) member with legal expertise in child protection (7) One (1) youth advocate between the ages of 18-25" Commission members shall serve four-year staggered terms, with initial appointments varying in length to ensure continuity.
Page 4 DRS35251-LRa-120B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Collaborate with federal authorities including the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice.
Page 4 Senate Bill 722-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Collaborate with federal authorities including the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice.
(f) TransparencyReporting.–TheCommissionshallpublishannualtransparencyreports detailing:
(f) TransparencyReporting.
–TheCommissionshallpublishannualtransparencyreports detailing:
DRS35251-LRa-120B Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) Penalties assessed and collected.
Senate Bill 722-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) Penalties assessed and collected.
(3) Employ experts capable ofevaluatingplatformalgorithms and safety systems.
(3) Employexperts capable ofevaluatingplatform algorithms andsafetysystems.
Page 6 DRS35251-LRa-120B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) Hire key staff and establish organizational structure.
Page 6 Senate Bill 722-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) Hire key staff and establish organizational structure.
DRS35251-LRa-120B Page 7
Senate Bill 722-First Edition Page 7
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

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

  3. Withdrawn From Com

  4. Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget

  5. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 173 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (173)

173 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 173 →

"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

Subjects

public-safety education technology
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 SB 722?
SB 722 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic), Woodson Bradley (Democratic), Sydney Batch (Democratic), Michael Garrett (Democratic), Terence Everitt (Democratic), and Kandie D. Smith (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 722?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 722?
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