North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 7 D · 2 R cosponsors

SB 704 — The Ronnie Long No Cap Act.

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

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    2 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

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

15 added · 16 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate Bill 704, known as The Ronnie Long No Cap Act, maintains its focus but has seen some technical adjustments. Notably, certain lines have been removed that may have referenced procedural details or outdated sections, streamlining the bill for clarity. These changes matter because they simplify the language and may help ensure that the bill more directly addresses the needs of those who have been wrongfully imprisoned, enhancing the bill's overall effectiveness.

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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 704 Short Title:
704 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS35239-ND-74 Short Title:The Ronnie Long No Cap Act.
The Ronnie Long No Cap Act.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO SUPPORT PERSONS ERRONEOUSLY CONVICTED OF FELONIES, TO BE KNOWN AS THE RONNIE LONG NO CAP ACT.
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO SUPPORT PERSONS ERRONEOUSLY CONVICTED OF FELONIES, TO BE KNOWN AS THE RONNIE LONG NO CAP ACT.
and Whereas, NorthCarolina has recentlyseenthe exonerationof men whohavelost their liberty for decades to wrongful incarceration, including, among others, Ronnie Long (44 years of incarceration), Charles Ray Finch (43 years), Montoyae Dontae Sharpe (25 years), and Howard Dudley (24 years);
and Whereas, NorthCarolina has recentlyseenthe exoneration of men whohavelost their liberty for decades to wrongful incarceration, including, among others, Ronnie Long (44 years of incarceration), Charles Ray Finch (43 years), Montoyae Dontae Sharpe (25 years), and Howard Dudley (24 years);
15A-1469 and also finds that the claimant was imprisoned and has been vindicated in connection with the alleged offense for which he or she was imprisoned, the Industrial Commission shall award to the claimant an amount equal to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for *DRS35239-ND-74* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 each year or the pro rata amount for the portion of each year of the imprisonment actually served, including any time spent awaiting trial.
15A-1469 and also finds that the claimant was imprisoned and has been vindicated in connection with the alleged offense for which he or she was imprisoned, the Industrial Commission shall award to the claimant an amount equal to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for *S704-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 each year or the pro rata amount for the portion of each year of the imprisonment actuallyserved, including any time spent awaiting trial.
This change to Medicaid eligibilityshallbeginassoonaspracticableonlyafterapprovalisreceivedfromCMS.Ifapproval is not received from CMS by June 30, 2027, then the report due under subsection (b) of this section upon a denial shall be due as though a denial of this Medicaid eligibility change had been received and this subsection shall expire on that date.
This change to Medicaid eligibilityshallbeginassoonaspracticableonlyafterapprovalisreceivedfromCMS.Ifapproval is not received from CMS by June 30, 2027, then the report due under subsection (b) of this section upon a denial shall be due as though a denial of this Medicaid eligibilitychange had been received and this subsection shall expire on that date.
(a) UponreleasefromthecustodyoftheDepartmentofAdult Correction,theDepartment shall provide transition services to any person meeting the criteria of a petitioner under Page 2 DRS35239-ND-74 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 subsections (a) or (b) of G.S.
(a) UponreleasefromthecustodyoftheDepartmentofAdultCorrection,theDepartment shall provide transition services to any person meeting the criteria of a petitioner under Page 2 Senate Bill 704-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 subsections (a) or (b) of G.S.
(b) The Department of Adult Correction may contract with other public or private entities for the provision of services required by subsection (a) of this section, though the ultimate responsibility to provide those services shall remain with the Department.
(b) The Department of Adult Correction maycontract with other public or private entities for the provision of services required by subsection (a) of this section, though the ultimate responsibility to provide those services shall remain with the Department.
DRS35239-ND-74 Page 3
Senate Bill 704-First Edition Page 3
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

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

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 170 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (170)

170 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 170 →

"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 healthcare health-insurance
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 704?
SB 704 is sponsored by DeAndrea Salvador (Democratic), Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Julie Mayfield (Democratic), Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Sydney Batch (Democratic), Val Applewhite (Democratic), Danny Earl Britt, Jr. (Republican), Jim Burgin (Republican), and Graig Meyer (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 704?
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 704?
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