North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 18 D · 4 R cosponsors

HB 845 — Reduce Drowning Risk/Public Docks.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

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

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 09, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Odds of enactment

Low chance

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

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

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 22 sponsors

    3 primary, 19 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (18 D · 4 R) — cross-party backing.

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

39 added · 38 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of House Bill 845, specific details about the requirements for public rescue equipment at water access facilities were clarified. For instance, the bill emphasizes that the ring life buoys must be clearly visible, must have a buoyant line attached, and must meet certain safety standards. These changes aim to enhance safety measures for individuals using these facilities, ensuring that rescue equipment is not only present but also effective in emergencies. This matters because it helps prevent drowning incidents and promotes a safer environment for recreational activities in North Carolina's waterways.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 845 Short Title:
845 Apr 9, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH10395-MHa-104 Short Title:
Representative Helfrich.
Representatives Helfrich, Setzer, Torbett, and Rhyne (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF WATER SAFETY RESCUE EQUIPMENT AT PIERS AND PUBLIC WATER ACCESS FACILITIES OWNED BY STATE AGENCIES AND UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 10, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF WATER SAFETY RESCUE EQUIPMENT AT PIERS AND PUBLIC WATER ACCESS FACILITIES OWNED BY STATE AGENCIES AND UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
– A pier or access point that is (i) open to the public and (ii) owned or operated by the Commission, any other State agency, or a unit of local government.
– A pier or access point that is (i) open to the public and (ii) owned or operated bythe Commission, anyother State agency, or a unit of local government.
(a) The owner or operator of a covered water access facility located in or adjacent to waters ofthis Stateshall install publicrescueequipment,including, at aminimum,ringlifebuoys meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, on each covered water access facility located in waters of this State.
(a) The owner or operator of a covered water access facility located in or adjacent to waters ofthis Stateshall install publicrescueequipment,including,at aminimum, ringlifebuoys meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, on each covered water access facility located in waters of this State.
Each ring life buoy must be stowed inside a station to protect it from constant weather exposure.
Each ring life buoy must be stowed inside a station to protect it from *H845-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 constant weather exposure.
*DRH10395-MHa-104* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (b) The owner or operator of the covered water access facility shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the public rescue equipment and shall also provide public education regarding the public rescue equipment.
(b) The owner or operator of the covered water access facility shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the public rescue equipment and shall also provide public education regarding the public rescue equipment.
(2) A buoyant line of at least 100 feet in length with a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons must beattached to eachringlifebuoy.Theend ofthelinemust not be secured to the shore or the pier.
(2) A buoyant line of at least 100 feet in length with a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons must beattached to eachringlifebuoy.
The endofthelinemust not be secured to the shore or the pier.
(5) Each piershall havearinglifebuoyinstalled withappropriatesignagealerting the public to its availability and use." SECTION 2.
(5) Each piershall havearinglifebuoyinstalled with appropriatesignage alerting the public to its availability and use." SECTION 2.
Page 2 DRH10395-MHa-104
Page 2 House Bill 845-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

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

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 19 co-sponsors · 157 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (19)

Not signed on (157)

157 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 157 →

"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 environment transportation
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 HB 845?
HB 845 is sponsored by Bill Ward (Republican), Phil Rubin (Democratic), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Garland E. Pierce (Democratic), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Jordan Lopez (Democratic), Tim Longest (Democratic), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Julia Greenfield (Democratic), Aisha O. Dew (Democratic), Sarah Crawford (Democratic), Mike Colvin (Democratic), Tracy Clark (Democratic), Maria Cervania (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Mary Belk (Democratic), Heather H. Rhyne (Republican), John A. Torbett (Republican), Mitchell S. Setzer (Republican), and Beth Helfrich (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 845?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced April 09, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 845?
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