North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 29 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 269 — Workforce Freedom and Protection Act.

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 March 03, 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.

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

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 30 sponsors

    3 primary, 27 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (29 D · 1 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

120 added · 118 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of House Bill 269 now includes explicit prohibitions against employers requiring employees to sign non-compete agreements, threatening enforcement of such agreements, or restricting franchise employees from moving between locations. Additionally, it strengthens the legal rights of employees by allowing them to take civil action if their rights are violated, including recovering damages and attorney fees. These changes are significant as they aim to promote fair employment practices and protect workers' rights in North Carolina.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 269 Short Title:
269 Mar 3, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH30124-LR-39A Short Title:
Representative Cohn.
Representatives Cohn, Crawford, K.
Brown, and Logan (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT REMOVING BARRIERS TO JOB MOBILITY, EMPOWERING WORKERS TO NEGOTIATE BETTER WAGES, AND FOSTERING A FAIRER LABOR MARKET BY BANNING EXPLOITATIVE EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND AUTHORIZING THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY STREAMLINING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Commerce and Economic Development, if favorable, Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House March 5, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT REMOVING BARRIERS TO JOB MOBILITY, EMPOWERING WORKERS TO NEGOTIATE BETTER WAGES, AND FOSTERING A FAIRER LABOR MARKET BY BANNING EXPLOITATIVE EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND AUTHORIZING THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY STREAMLINING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING IN NORTH CAROLINA.
– It is the public policy of this State that any contract by which anyone is restrained from exercising a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is to that extent void and unenforceable, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section.
– It is the public policy of this State that any contract by which anyone is restrained from exercising a lawful profession, trade, or business of anykind is to that extent void and unenforceable, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section.
(2) Require an employee to enter into a non-compete agreement as a condition of employment.
*H269-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Require an employee to enter into a non-compete agreement as a condition of employment.
*DRH30124-LR-39A* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (3) Enforce or attempt to enforce a non-compete agreement.
(3) Enforce or attempt to enforce a non-compete agreement.
Any such provision is void and unenforceable." SECTION 3.1.(b) EffectiveDate.
Any such provision is void and unenforceable." SECTION3.1.(b) EffectiveDate.
–This section becomes effective July 1, 2025,and applies to all non-compete agreements entered into on or after that date.
– This section becomes effective July1, 2025,and applies to all non-compete agreements entered into on or after that date.
– The study conducted by the LRC under this section shall examine and evaluate, at a minimum, the following criteria for each licensed profession.
– The studyconducted bythe LRC under this section shall examine and evaluate, at a minimum, the following criteria for each licensed profession.
The study shall use quantitative benchmarks, for example average licensing fees and educational requirements compared to national medians, to determine if the cost, education, experience, or examination requirements unreasonably impede individuals, particularly those with moderate or low incomes, from Page 2 DRH30124-LR-39A General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 pursuing lawful work without providing a proportional benefit to public protection.
The study shall use quantitative benchmarks, for example average licensing fees and educational requirements compared to national medians, to determine if the cost, education, experience, or examination requirements unreasonably Page 2 House Bill 269-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 impede individuals, particularly those with moderate or low incomes, from pursuing lawful work without providing a proportional benefit to public protection.
The LRC shall recommend repeal or modification of any licenses that have minimal documented public safety benefits but impose significant barriers to employment.
The LRC shall recommend repeal or modification of anylicenses that have minimal documented public safety benefits but impose significant barriers to employment.
SECTION4.1.(d) Report andLegislativeAction.
SECTION4.1.(d) Reportand LegislativeAction.
The General Assembly shall be required to hold a public hearing on the LRC's recommendations within six months of receiving the final report, ensuring legislative consideration and potential action on identified licensing reforms.
House Bill 269-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 The General Assembly shall be required to hold a public hearing on the LRC's recommendations within six months of receiving the final report, ensuring legislative consideration and potential action on identified licensing reforms.
DRH30124-LR-39A Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 4.1.(e) Effective Date.
SECTION 4.1.(e) Effective Date.
Page 4 DRH30124-LR-39A
Page 4 House Bill 269-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref to the Com on Commerce and Economic Development, if favorable, Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 27 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (27)

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"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

labor
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 269?
HB 269 is sponsored by Phil Rubin (Democratic), James Roberson (Democratic), Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Lindsey Prather (Democratic), Rodney D. Pierce (Democratic), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Jordan Lopez (Democratic), Ya Liu (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Julia Greenfield (Democratic), Julie von Haefen (Democratic), Aisha O. Dew (Democratic), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Mike Colvin (Democratic), Tracy Clark (Democratic), Maria Cervania (Democratic), Becky Carney (Democratic), Deb Butler (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Mary Belk (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Amber M. Baker (Democratic), Eric Ager (Democratic), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Kanika Brown (Democratic), Sarah Crawford (Democratic), Bryan Cohn (Democratic), and Neal Jackson (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 269?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 03, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 269?
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