North Carolina 2025 Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 28 D · 3 R · 2 I cosponsors

HB 515 — North Carolina Economic Abuse Prevention Act.

Last action — Passed 2nd Reading

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

This bill has passed the House. Introduced March 25, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 33 sponsors

    3 primary, 30 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (28 D · 3 R · 2 I) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

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

237 added · 210 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill HB 515 clarifies the types of documentation that can be used to support claims of being coerced into debt. The updated version broadens the criteria by allowing reports from police and federal agencies that indicate coercion, rather than solely focusing on domestic violence or elder abuse as the previous draft did. This change is important because it provides individuals who may have faced various forms of coercion—beyond just domestic situations—with additional avenues to prove they were unjustly burdened with debt.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 2 HOUSE BILL 515 Committee Substitute Favorable 4/29/25 Short Title:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 515 Short Title:
Representatives T.
Brown, Howard, Setzer, and Carney (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ENACT THE NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC ABUSE PREVENTION ACT.
Judiciary2, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House March 26, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ENACT THE NORTH CAROLINA ECONOMIC ABUSE PREVENTION ACT.
Apolicereport indicatingthedebtorwas avictim ofdomesticviolence or elder abuse.
A police report.
A Federal Trade Commission identity theft report indicating that the debtor has been the victim of identity theft that identifies a particular debt, or portion thereof, as coerced, but not as identity theft.
A Federal Trade Commission identity theft report identifying a particular debt, or portion thereof, as coerced, but not as identity theft.
A court order issued under Chapter 50 or Chapter 50B of the General Statutes stating that the debtor incurred debts as a result of abusive coercion from any of the following:
A court order issued under Chapter 50 or Chapter 50B of the General Statutes relating to domestic violence, Chapter 7B of the General Statutes relating to an abused, neglected, or dependent juvenile, or G.S.
1.
108A-106 relating to disabled adults.
A current or former spouse.
2.
An individual with whom the debtor has a child in common.
3.
An individual with whom the debtor is or was in a dating relationship.
4.
A current or former resident of the debtor's household.
This documentation shall be signed bya qualified third-party *H515-v-2* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 professional anddisplaytheletterhead, address, andtelephone number of the office, institution, center, or organization, as appropriate, that engages or employs, whether financially compensated or not, the qualified third-party professional, or, if the qualified third-party professional is self-employed, the documentation shall display the letterhead, address, and telephone number of the qualified third-party professional.
This documentation shall be signed bya qualified third-party professional anddisplaytheletterhead, address, andtelephone number of the office, institution, center, or organization, as appropriate, that engages or employs, whether financially compensated or not, the qualified third-party professional, or, if the qualified third-party *H515-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 professional is self-employed, the documentation shall display the letterhead, address, and telephone number of the qualified third-party professional.
– A right to payment for any debt, excluding secured debt, whether or not that right is liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, or equitable.
– A right to payment, whether or not that right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, or equitable.
This definition includes a debt collector or a debt buyer.
This definition includes, but is not limited to, a debt collector or a debt buyer.
A board-certified psychiatrist or psychologist.
A guardian ad litem or attorney appointed in accordance with G.S.
1A-1, Rule 17 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, or G.S.
7B-601.
A licensed marriage and family therapist.
A board-certified psychiatrist or psychologist.
A licensed professional clinical counselor.
A licensed marriage and family therapist.
A clinical social worker or a domestic violence professional.
A licensed professional clinical counselor.
A licensed clinical social worker.
g.
g.
h.
A noncredentialed domestic violence worker.
A non-licensed or credentialed domestic violence professional who otherwise meets the criteria of G.S.
(11) Secured debt.
8-53.12(a)(1).
– An obligation for which the payment or performance of is secured by a security interest in real or personal property.
(11) Sworn written certification.
Any actions for collection to obtain a final judgment, an order for possession of collateral securing the debt, or to collect any deficiency balance owing after the liquidation of collateral pledged to secure the debt are included in this definition.
(12) Sworn written certification.
Page 2 House Bill 515-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 b.
b.
An express statement that the debtor did not willingly authorize the use of the debtor's name or personal information for incurring the coerced debt, and specific facts supporting the claim of coerced debt, if available, and, if not all of the debt was coerced, a statement identifying the portion thereof that was coerced.
An express statement that the debtor did not willingly authorize the use of the debtor's name or personal information for incurring the coerced debt, and specific facts supporting the claim of coerced debt, Page 2 House Bill 515-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 if available, and, if not all of the debt was coerced, a statement identifying the portion thereof that was coerced.
Information, if known by the debtor, including a credit card number or loan number, that can be used by the claimant to identify the account associated with the coerced debt and the person or persons in whose name the debt was incurred.
Information, if known by the debtor, including, but not limited to, a credit card number or loan number, that can be used by the claimant to identifythe account associated with the coerced debt and the person or persons in whose name the debt was incurred.
(a) This Chapter does not apply to secured debt.
(a) This Chapter does not apply to secured debts.
(c) This Chapter shall not applyto anydebts which have been reduced to a civil judgment or other court order.
(c) This Chapter does not diminish the rights of a claimant to recover payment for a coerced debt from the person or persons who coerced a debtor into incurring that debt.
(e) This Chapter shall not apply to consumer finance companies licensed and doing business under Article 15 of Chapter 53 of the General Statutes.
House Bill 515-Second Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (b) If a debtor notifies a claimant orally that a particular debt, or portion thereof, being collectedis coerced debt, theclaimantshall notifythedebtor,orallyorin writing,thatthedebtor's notification must be in writing.
(b) If a debtor notifies a claimant orally that a particular debt, or portion thereof, being collectedis coerced debt, theclaimantshall notifythedebtor,orallyorin writing, that thedebtor's notification must be in writing.
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(c) Within 10 business days of receiving the complete statement and information described in subsection (a) of this section, the claimant shall, if the claimant furnished adverse information about the debtor to a consumer credit reporting agency, notify the consumer credit reporting agency that the account is disputed.
(c) Within 10 business days of receiving the complete statement and information described in subsection (a) of this section, the claimant shall, if the claimant furnished adverse House Bill 515-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 information about the debtor to a consumer credit reporting agency, notify the consumer credit reporting agency that the account is disputed.
(e) A claimant that ceases collection activities under this section and does not recommence those collection activities shall do both of the following:
(e) At least 30 days before filing an action pursuant to G.S.
(1) If the claimant has furnished adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agencyregardingthe debtor and a particular debt, or portion thereof, notifytheagencyto deletethatinformationnolaterthan10business days after making its determination.
1H-6 or other action against a claimant in connection with an allegedly coerced debt, a debtor shall submit notice of the debtor's intent to file an action against the claimant and documents that comply with subsection (a) of this section in writing to the claimant.
(2) If the claimant is a debt collector, notify the creditor no later than 10 business days after making its determination that collection activities have been terminated based upon the debtor's assertion that a particular debt, or portion thereof, being collected is coerced debt.
This 30-day period shall begin to run when the claimant receives this written notice.
This written notice shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) The notice shall be sent by certified mail, overnight delivery, or other method that allows for confirmation of the delivery date.
(2) The notice shall be sent to an address made available to the debtor by the claimant for receipt of the notice, or, if an address has not been identified by the claimant, to the claimant's principal place of business as identified by the Secretaryof State.
If an address is unavailable through the Secretaryof State's website, the debtor may use the correspondence address of the claimant, or in the case of a debt collector, the address on file with the Department of Insurance for licensing purposes.
(f) The debtor shall not commence an action described in G.S.
1H-6 or other action against a claimant in connection with an allegedlycoerced debt if the claimant informs the debtor that it has ceased all efforts to collect on the particular debt, or portion thereof, identified in the written notice pursuant to subsection (e) of this section and the debtor receives written notice of this cessation before the expiration of the 30-day period.
(g) The debtor may commence an action described in G.S.
1H-6 or other action against a claimant in connection with an allegedly coerced debt if either of the following conditions is satisfied:
(1) The 30-day period described in subsection (e) of this section expires and the collection activities have not ceased or the debtor has not received written notice that collection activities have ceased.
(2) The debtor receives written notice pursuant to subsection (c) of this section of the claimant's good-faith determination that the information does not establish that the particular debt, or portion thereof, is coerced debt.
(h) A claimant that ceases collection activities under this section and does not recommence those collection activities shall do both of the following:
(1) If the claimant has furnished adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agencyregardingthe debtor and a particular debt, or portion thereof, notifytheagencyto deletethatinformationnolaterthan 10business days after making its determination.
(2) If the claimant is a debt collector, notify the creditor no later than 10 business days after making its determination that collection activities have been Page 4 House Bill 515-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 terminated based upon the debtor's assertion that a particular debt, or portion thereof, being collected is coerced debt.
Affirmative defense.
(a) In an action against a debtor to satisfy a debt, it is an affirmative defense that the debtor incurred a coerced debt.
(b) A debtor shall plead the allegations of coerced debt with particularity and shall attach the documents identified in G.S.
1H-5(a) to any responsive pleading raising the affirmative defense of coerced debt.
(c) A debtor who files knowingly false motions, pleadings, or other papers or engages in other tactics that are frivolous or intended to cause unnecessary delay against a claimant shall be liable for the claimant's attorneys' fees and costs in defending the lawsuit.
"§ 1H-7.
(a) If a court determines that the debtor has established by a preponderance of the evidence that the particular debt, or portion thereof, is coerced debt, the debtor shall be entitled to the following relief:
(a) A debtor may bring an action against a claimant to establish that a particular debt, or portion thereof, is coerced debt.
(b) In an action brought by a claimant to recover a particular debt against the debtor, the debtor may file a cross-complaint to establish that the particular debt, or portion thereof, is coerced debt.
The notice described in G.S.
1H-5(c) shall not be required as a prerequisite to filing across-complaint.
Adebtorshall pleadtheallegations ofcoerceddebt with particularityandshall do either of the following:
(1) Attach the documents provided to the claimant pursuant to G.S.
1H-5(a) to any complaint.
(2) Attach the documents identified in G.S.
1H-5(a) to any cross-complaint.
(c) If the debtor establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the particular debt, or portion thereof, is coerced debt, the debtor shall be entitled to the following relief:
Page 4 House Bill 515-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) An order dismissing any cause of action brought by the claimant to enforce or collect on the particular debt from the debtor or, if only a portion of the debt is established as coerced debt, an order directing that the complaint and judgment, if any, in the action be amended to reflect only the portion of the particular debt that is not coerced debt.
(3) An order dismissing any cause of action brought by the claimant to enforce or collect on the particular debt from the debtor or, if only a portion of the debt is established as coerced debt, an order directing that the complaint and judgment, if any, in the action be amended to reflect only the portion of the particular debt that is not coerced debt.
(b) If the debtor establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the particular debt, orportionthereof,iscoerceddebt,thecourtshallissueajudgmentinfavoroftheclaimantagainst the person or persons who coerced the debtor into incurring the debt in the amount of the debt, or portion thereof, that is coerced debt, provided that the person or persons who coerced the debtor into incurring the debt or debts has been brought within the jurisdiction of the court and joined as a party to the action and the evidence supports such a judgment.
(c1) If the debtor establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the particular debt, orportionthereof,iscoerceddebt,thecourtshallissueajudgmentinfavoroftheclaimantagainst the person or persons who coerced the debtor into incurring the debt in the amount of the debt, or portion thereof, that is coerced debt, provided that the person or persons who coerced the debtor into incurring the debt or debts has been brought within the jurisdiction of the court and joined as a party to the action and the evidence supports such a judgment.
The court presiding over the action shall take the appropriate steps necessary to prevent abuse of the debtor or an immediate family member of the debtor, including sealing court records, redacting personally identifiable information about the debtor and any immediate family member of the debtor, and directing that any deposition or evidentiary hearing be conducted remotely.
The court presiding over the action shall take the appropriate steps necessary to prevent abuse of the debtor or an immediate family member of the debtor, including, but not limited to, sealing court records, redactingpersonallyidentifiableinformation about thedebtorand anyimmediatefamilymember of the debtor, and directing that any deposition or evidentiary hearing be conducted remotely.
(c) The claimant maymove the court to make written findings regarding evidence related to the person who caused the coerced debt to be incurred.
(d) A debtor who files knowingly false motions, pleadings, or other papers or engages in other tactics that are frivolous or intended to cause unnecessary delay against a claimant shall be liable for the claimant's attorneys' fees and costs in defending the lawsuit.
"§ 1H-8.
(e) The claimant maymove the court to make written findings regarding evidence related to the person who caused the coerced debt to be incurred.
"§ 1H-7.
(a) Where some or all of a claim is established as having arisen from coerced debt, a claimant shall have standing, and mayuse all rights and remedies, to collect by anylawful means that claim, or portion thereof, from the person or persons determined to have coerced the debt, or against a person, other than the debtor, who used or possessed money, goods, services, or property obtained through coerced debt.
(a) Where some or all of a claim is established as having arisen from coerced debt, a claimant shall have standing, and mayuse all rights and remedies, to collect byany lawful means that claim, or portion thereof, from the person or persons determined to have coerced the debt, or against a person who used or possessed money, goods, services, or property obtained through coerced debt.
(b) The statute of limitations for a claimant to bringan action to collect coerced debt from any person determined to have coerced the debt shall run from the date of the court's determination that the person caused the duress, intimidation, threat of force, force, fraud, or undue influence giving rise to the coerced debt at issue and shall be brought within five years of that determination." SECTION 2.
(b) The statute of limitations for a claimant to bringan action to collect coerced debt from any person determined to have coerced the debt shall run from the date of the court's determination that the person caused the duress, intimidation, threat of force, force, fraud, or House Bill 515-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 undue influence giving rise to the coerced debt at issue and shall be brought within five years of that determination.
If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and, to this end, the provisions of this act are severable.
(c) If any provision of this Chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and, to this end, the provisions of this Chapter are severable.
SECTION 3.
(d) This Chapter applies only to debts incurred on or after July 1, 2025, except that a debtor may file a cross-complaint described by subsection (b) of this section in an action filed by aclaimantto collectadebtincurredpriortoJuly1,2025,unlessafinaljudgmenthasbeenentered in that action." SECTION 2.
This act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies to debts incurred or actions filed on or after that date.
This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.
House Bill 515-Second Edition Page 5
Page 6 House Bill 515-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Passed 2nd Reading

  2. Passed 3rd Reading

  3. Special Message Sent To Senate

  4. Special Message Received From House

  5. Passed 1st Reading

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

  7. Placed On Cal For 05/07/2025

  8. Reptd Fav

  9. Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  10. Withdrawn From Com

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

  12. Reptd Fav Com Substitute

  13. Re-ref Com On Finance

  14. Withdrawn From Com

  15. Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 3, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  16. Passed 1st Reading

  17. Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  18. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 30 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 13 voted No

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (30)

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"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 71 Yea · 43 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 13201
Unaffiliated 16902
Republican 54003
U 0200
Total 714306
% of votes cast 59%36%0%5%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
Wray — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Cleveland — Yea
Crutchfield — Yea
Elmore — Yea
Faircloth — Yea
Fontenot — Yea
Hardister — Yea
Lowery — Yea
Mills — Yea
Moore — Yea
Saine — Yea
Sasser — Yea
CarsonSmith — Yea
Sossamon — Yea
Autry — Nay
Clemmons — Nay
Gill — Nay
Harris — Nay
Rudow — Nay
CharlesSmith — Nay
Staton-Williams — Nay
vonHaefen — Nay
Lucas — Not Voting
Reeder — Not Voting
F. Jackson — Nay
K. Baker — Yea
Abe Jones Democratic Nay
Allen Buansi Democratic Nay
Allison A. Dahle Democratic Nay
Amber M. Baker Democratic Nay
Amos L. Quick, III Democratic Nay
B. Ray Jeffers Democratic Nay
Becky Carney Democratic Nay
Brandon Lofton Democratic Nay
Carolyn G. Logan Democratic Nay
Cecil Brockman Democratic Not Voting
Cynthia Ball Democratic Nay
Deb Butler Democratic Nay
Eric Ager Democratic Nay
Garland E. Pierce Democratic Nay
Gloristine Brown Democratic Nay
James Roberson Democratic Nay
Joe John Democratic Nay
Kanika Brown Democratic Nay
Laura Budd Democratic Nay
Lindsey Prather Democratic Nay
Marcia Morey Democratic Nay
Maria Cervania Democratic Nay
Mary Belk Democratic Nay
Pricey Harrison Democratic Nay
Renée A. Price Democratic Nay
Robert T. Reives, II Democratic Nay
Sarah Crawford Democratic Nay
Shelly Willingham Democratic Yea
Terence Everitt Democratic Nay
Terry M. Brown Jr. Democratic Nay
Tim Longest Democratic Nay
Vernetta Alston Democratic Nay
Ya Liu Democratic Nay
Zack Hawkins Democratic Nay
A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. Republican Yea
Allen Chesser Republican Yea
Ben T. Moss, Jr. Republican Not Voting
Bill Ward Republican Yea
Brenden H. Jones Republican Yea
Brian Biggs Republican Yea
Celeste C. Cairns Republican Yea
Charles W. Miller Republican Yea
Chris Humphrey Republican Yea
David Willis Republican Yea
Dean Arp Republican Yea
Dennis Riddell Republican Yea
Destin Hall Republican Yea
Diane Wheatley Republican Yea
Donna McDowell White Republican Yea
Donnie Loftis Republican Yea
Donny Lambeth Republican Yea
Dudley Greene Republican Yea
Edward C. Goodwin Republican Yea
Erin Paré Republican Yea
Frank Iler Republican Yea
Harry Warren Republican Yea
Howard Penny, Jr. Republican Yea
Hugh Blackwell Republican Yea
Jake Johnson Republican Yea
Jay Adams Republican Yea
Jeff Zenger Republican Yea
Jeffrey C. McNeely Republican Yea
Jennifer Balkcom Republican Yea
Jimmy Dixon Republican Not Voting
John A. Torbett Republican Yea
John R. Bell, IV Republican Yea
John Sauls Republican Yea
Joseph Pike Republican Yea
Julia C. Howard Republican Yea
Karl E. Gillespie Republican Yea
Keith Kidwell Republican Yea
Kelly E. Hastings Republican Yea
Kyle Hall Republican Yea
Larry C. Strickland Republican Yea
Larry W. Potts Republican Yea
Mark Brody Republican Yea
Mark Pless Republican Yea
Matthew Winslow Republican Yea
Mike Clampitt Republican Yea
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Yea
Neal Jackson Republican Yea
Phil Shepard Republican Yea
Ray Pickett Republican Yea
Sam Watford Republican Yea
Sarah Stevens Republican Yea
Stephen M. Ross Republican Yea
Steve Tyson Republican Yea
Ted Davis, Jr. Republican Yea
Tricia Ann Cotham Republican Yea
W. Ted Alexander Republican Not Voting
William D. Brisson Republican Yea
Carla D. Cunningham U Nay
Nasif Majeed U Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety finance civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 515?
HB 515 is sponsored by Jordan Lopez (Democratic), Tim Longest (Democratic), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Brandon Lofton (Democratic), Monika Johnson-Hostler (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Julia Greenfield (Democratic), Aisha O. Dew (Democratic), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Carla D. Cunningham (U), Tracy Clark (Democratic), Deb Butler (Democratic), Kanika Brown (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), John M. Blust (Republican), Mary Belk (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Vernetta Alston (Democratic), Eric Ager (Democratic), Becky Carney (Democratic), Mitchell S. Setzer (Republican), Julia C. Howard (Republican), Terry M. Brown Jr. (Democratic), Phil Rubin (Democratic), James Roberson (Democratic), Robert T. Reives, II (Democratic), Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Lindsey Prather (Democratic), Nasif Majeed (U), Julie von Haefen (Democratic), and Beth Helfrich (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 515?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced March 25, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 515?
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