North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 7 D cosponsors

SB 634 — Kayla's Act: Protecting Dom. Violence Victims.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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  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

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    1 primary, 6 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (7 D).

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

In the latest version of Senate Bill 634, specific language was added to clarify the use of remote testimony in court proceedings. The changes ensure that remote testimony can still be permitted even if one party objects, as long as the court deems it appropriate. This is important because it allows for greater flexibility in and access to the courtroom, especially when a witness cannot be physically present. Overall, these updates aim to modernize court procedures and improve the efficiency of legal processes.

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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 634 Short Title:
634 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS45182-ND-80 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO MODIFY LAWS PERTAINING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO BE KNOWN AS KAYLA'S ACT:
Rules and Operations of the Senate March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO MODIFY LAWS PERTAINING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO BE KNOWN AS KAYLA'S ACT:
– A statement offered against a party that wrongfully caused, oracquiescedin wrongfullycausing,thedeclarant'sunavailabilityasawitness and did so intending that result." SECTION 1.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to trials beginning on or after that date.
– A statement offered against a party that wrongfully caused, oracquiescedin wrongfullycausing, thedeclarant'sunavailabilityasawitness and did so intending that result." SECTION 1.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to trials beginning on or after that date.
– All cases in which the defendant is charged with assault on, stalking, communicating a threat to, or committing a crime provided in Article 7B, 8, 10, or 15 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes upon a spouse or former spouse, a person with whom the defendant lives or has lived as if married, or a person with whom the defendant is or has been in a dating *DRS45182-ND-80* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 relationship as defined in G.S.
– All cases in which the defendant is charged with assault on, stalking, communicating a threat to, or committing a crime provided in Article 7B, 8, 10, or 15 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes upon a spouse or former spouse, a person with whom the defendant lives or has lived as if married, or a person with whom the defendant is or has been in a dating *S634-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 relationship as defined in G.S.
– If a defendant's attorney of record, or the defendant, objects to remote testimony as provided for in subsection (c) of this section, the court may authorize remote testimony over the objection if the court determines each of the following:
– If a defendant's attorney of record, or the defendant, objects to remote testimony as provided for in subsection (c) of this section, the court may authorize remote testimonyover the objection if the court determines each of the following:
– Upon motion of a party or the court's own motion, and for good cause shown, the court shall hold a separate evidentiary hearing on a date prior to the proceeding at which the remote testimony is proposed to be allowed to determine whether to allow remote testimony.
– Upon motion of a partyor the court's own motion, and for good cause shown, the court shall hold a separate evidentiary hearing on a date prior to the proceeding at which the remote testimony is proposed to be allowed to determine whether to allow remote testimony.
Hearings in thesuperiorcourtdivision shall berecorded.Thepresenceofthe domestic violence victim witness is not required at the hearing unless ordered by the presiding judge.
Hearings in thesuperiorcourtdivision shall berecorded.
Thepresenceofthe domestic violence victim witness is not required at the hearing unless ordered by the presiding judge.
Page 2 DRS45182-ND-80 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) State the method by which the domestic violence victim witness is to testify.
Page 2 Senate Bill 634-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (1) State the method by which the domestic violence victim witness is to testify.
The court shall ensure that the physical location where the domestic violence victim witness testifieshas been mutually agreed to byboth thedefendant andtheState or approved by thecourt.
The court shall ensure that the physical location where the domestic violence victim witness testifieshas been mutuallyagreed to byboth thedefendant andtheState or approvedbythecourt.
(1) Prohibit the use or application of any other method or procedure authorized or required by statute, common law, or rule for the introduction into evidence of the statements or testimony of a domestic violence victim in a criminal or noncriminal proceeding.
(1) Prohibit the use or application of anyother method or procedure authorized or required by statute, common law, or rule for the introduction into evidence of the statements or testimony of a domestic violence victim in a criminal or noncriminal proceeding.
DRS45182-ND-80 Page 3
Senate Bill 634-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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1 sponsors · 6 co-sponsors · 172 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (6)

Not signed on (172)

172 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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 civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 634?
SB 634 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic), DeAndrea Salvador (Democratic), Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Val Applewhite (Democratic), Lisa Grafstein (Democratic), Woodson Bradley (Democratic), and Kandie D. Smith (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 634?
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 634?
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