North Carolina 2025 Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 19 D · 16 R cosponsors

HB 21 — Drivers License Designation/Autism.

Last action — Regular Message Sent To Senate

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  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 January 29, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

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

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 36 sponsors

    1 primary, 35 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (19 D · 16 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

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

11 added · 10 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of House Bill 21, a few lines have been added to clarify the roles of sponsors and the referral process for the bill. Specifically, the inclusion of both Representatives Penny and Hawkins as primary sponsors, along with a reference to the North Carolina General Assembly website for more information, enhances transparency and accountability. This change matters because it helps ensure that the sponsors are clearly identified, making it easier for the public to understand who is advocating for the bill and track its progress.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 21 Short Title:
21 Jan 29, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH40020-NE-13 Short Title:
Representative Penny.
Representatives Penny and Hawkins (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 DIRECT THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO DEVELOP A DESIGNATION FOR DRIVERS LICENSES THAT MAY BE GRANTED UPON REQUEST TO A PERSON WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House January 30, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO DEVELOP A DESIGNATION FOR DRIVERS LICENSES THAT MAY BE GRANTED UPON REQUEST TO A PERSON WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.
Documentation of certification or examination by a medical, health, or mental health professional showing evidence of autism spectrum disorder.
Documentation of certification or examination bya medical, health, or mental health professional showing evidence of autism spectrum disorder.
*DRH40020-NE-13* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (6) Information collected under this subsection shall only be available to law enforcement and only for the purpose of ensuring mutually safe interactions between law enforcement and persons with autism spectrum disorder.
*H21-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (6) Information collected under this subsection shall only be available to law enforcement and only for the purpose of ensuring mutually safe interactions between law enforcement and persons with autism spectrum disorder.
Page 2 DRH40020-NE-13
Page 2 House Bill 21-First Edition
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View plain text versions (2)

How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds a designation for autism spectrum disorder to drivers licenses in North Carolina and outlines the process for its implementation.

  • N.C.G.S. § 20-7

    (q3) Autism Spectrum Disorder Designation. – The Division shall develop, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety, the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, and the State Highway Patrol, and pursuant to this subsection, a drivers license designation that may, upon request, be granted to a person with autism spectrum disorder, as defined in G.S. 58-3-192. The Division shall comply with the following requirements applicable to the designation: (1) At the request of a person with autism spectrum disorder, the Division shall enter the designation into the electronic record associated with the person's drivers license. (2) For the purposes of this subsection, a person shall be considered to have autism spectrum disorder if the person provides verification or documentation substantiating a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder that is recommended by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services as acceptable. The Division of Motor Vehicles shall consult with the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services to identify acceptable forms of verification that do not result in undue burden to the person requesting the designation of autism spectrum disorder. Acceptable documentation shall include any of the following: a. Documentation of certification or examination by a medical, health, or mental health professional showing evidence of autism spectrum disorder. b. Documentation deemed by the Division of Motor Vehicles to qualify as satisfactory proof of the person's autism spectrum disorder. (3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as authorizing the issuance of a drivers license to a person ineligible under G.S. 20-9. (4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting the issuance of a drivers license to a person otherwise eligible under the law. (5) Any individual who chooses to register or not to register shall not be deemed to have waived any protections under the law. (6) Information collected under this subsection shall only be available to law enforcement and only for the purpose of ensuring mutually safe interactions between law enforcement and persons with autism spectrum disorder. It shall not be accessed or used for any other purpose. (7) The right to make the decision for inclusion or removal of the designation from the database is entirely voluntary and shall only be made by the person who holds the drivers license associated with the designation. (8) The Division, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, shall develop a process for removal of the designation authorized by this subsection that is available online, by mail, or in person.

    This addition establishes a method for individuals with autism spectrum disorder to request a specific designation on their drivers license to assist in safe interactions with law enforcement.

  • N.C.G.S. § 17C-6

    (17) Establish minimum educational and training standards for employment and continuing education for criminal justice officers concerning: concerning both of the following: a. Recognizing and appropriately interacting with (i) persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; and (ii) persons with autism spectrum disorder. b. Drivers license and vehicle registration identifiers of (i) persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, as authorized by G.S. 20-7(q2), or (ii) persons with autism spectrum disorder, as authorized by G.S. 20-7(q3), including that those identifiers are optional.

    This change mandates additional training for criminal justice officers on how to interact with individuals having autism spectrum disorder.

  • N.C.G.S. § 17E-4

    (13) Establish minimum educational and training standards for employment and continuing education for officers concerning: concerning both of the following: a. Recognizing and appropriately interacting with (i) persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; and (ii) persons with autism spectrum disorder. b. Drivers license and vehicle registration identifiers of (i) persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, as authorized by G.S. 20-7(q2), or (ii) persons with autism spectrum disorder, as authorized by G.S. 20-7(q3), including that those identifiers are optional.

    This provision extends the requirement for training on interacting with persons with autism spectrum disorder to additional officers.

Action History

  1. Regular Message Sent To Senate

  2. Regular Message Received From House

  3. Passed 1st Reading

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

  5. Passed 2nd Reading

  6. Passed 3rd Reading

  7. Reptd Fav

  8. Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  9. Placed On Cal For 03/18/2025

  10. Reptd Fav

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

  12. Reptd Fav

  13. Re-ref Com On Transportation

  14. Withdrawn From Com

  15. Re-ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Transportation, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  16. Passed 1st Reading

  17. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  18. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 35 co-sponsors · 143 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (35)

Not signed on (143)

143 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 143 →

"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 118 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 43001
U 2000
Unaffiliated 6000
Republican 67001
Total 118002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
CharlesSmith — Yea
vonHaefen — Yea
Campbell — Yea
Reeder — Yea
C. Smith — Yea
F. Jackson — Yea
Abe Jones Democratic Yea
Aisha O. Dew Democratic Yea
Allen Buansi Democratic Yea
Allison A. Dahle Democratic Yea
Amber M. Baker Democratic Yea
Amos L. Quick, III Democratic Yea
B. Ray Jeffers Democratic Yea
Becky Carney Democratic Yea
Beth Helfrich Democratic Yea
Brandon Lofton Democratic Yea
Brian Turner Democratic Yea
Bryan Cohn Democratic Yea
Carolyn G. Logan Democratic Yea
Cecil Brockman Democratic Not Voting
Cynthia Ball Democratic Yea
Dante Pittman Democratic Yea
Deb Butler Democratic Yea
Eric Ager Democratic Yea
Garland E. Pierce Democratic Yea
Gloristine Brown Democratic Yea
James Roberson Democratic Yea
Jordan Lopez Democratic Yea
Julia Greenfield Democratic Yea
Kanika Brown Democratic Yea
Laura Budd Democratic Yea
Lindsey Prather Democratic Yea
Marcia Morey Democratic Yea
Maria Cervania Democratic Yea
Mary Belk Democratic Yea
Mike Colvin Democratic Yea
Monika Johnson-Hostler Democratic Yea
Phil Rubin Democratic Yea
Pricey Harrison Democratic Yea
Renée A. Price Democratic Yea
Robert T. Reives, II Democratic Yea
Rodney D. Pierce Democratic Yea
Sarah Crawford Democratic Yea
Shelly Willingham Democratic Yea
Terry M. Brown Jr. Democratic Yea
Tim Longest Democratic Yea
Tracy Clark Democratic Yea
Vernetta Alston Democratic Yea
Ya Liu Democratic Yea
Zack Hawkins Democratic Yea
A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. Republican Yea
Allen Chesser Republican Yea
Ben T. Moss, Jr. Republican Yea
Bill Ward Republican Yea
Blair Eddins Republican Yea
Brenden H. Jones Republican Yea
Brian Biggs Republican Yea
Brian Echevarria Republican Yea
Celeste C. Cairns Republican Yea
Charles W. Miller Republican Yea
Chris Humphrey Republican Yea
Cody Huneycutt 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
Heather H. Rhyne Republican Yea
Howard Penny, Jr. Republican Yea
Hugh Blackwell Republican Not Voting
Jarrod Lowery Republican Yea
Jay Adams Republican Yea
Jeff Zenger Republican Yea
Jeffrey C. McNeely Republican Yea
Jennifer Balkcom Republican Yea
Jerry "Alan" Branson Republican Yea
Jimmy Dixon Republican Yea
John A. Torbett Republican Yea
John M. Blust Republican Yea
John R. Bell, IV Republican Yea
John Sauls Republican Yea
Jonathan L. Almond 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
Mike Schietzelt Republican Yea
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Yea
Neal Jackson Republican Yea
Paul Scott 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
Todd Carver Republican Yea
Todd Johnson Republican Yea
Tricia Ann Cotham Republican Yea
William D. Brisson Republican Yea
Wyatt Gable Republican Yea
Carla D. Cunningham U Yea
Nasif Majeed U Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 21?
HB 21 is sponsored by Donna McDowell White (Republican), Diane Wheatley (Republican), Brian Turner (Democratic), Mitchell S. Setzer (Republican), Paul Scott (Republican), Dennis Riddell (Republican), Reeder, Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (Republican), Lindsey Prather (Democratic), Ben T. Moss, Jr. (Republican), Jarrod Lowery (Republican), Jordan Lopez (Democratic), Ya Liu (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Julia Greenfield (Democratic), Karl E. Gillespie (Republican), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Tricia Ann Cotham (Republican), Mike Colvin (Democratic), Bryan Cohn (Democratic), Terry M. Brown Jr. (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Brian Biggs (Republican), Mary Belk (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Jennifer Balkcom (Republican), Amber M. Baker (Democratic), Jonathan L. Almond (Republican), Eric Ager (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Howard Penny, Jr. (Republican), Neal Jackson (Republican), Charles Smith (Democratic), Julie von Haefen (Democratic), and Mike Clampitt (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 21?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 29, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 21?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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