North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 21 R · 1 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 164 — Parental Consent to Release Child Autopsies.

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 February 21, 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.

  • 24 sponsors

    3 primary, 21 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (21 R · 1 D · 1 I) — 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

94 added · 91 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to House Bill 164 clarify definitions regarding how confidential materials related to a deceased child can be disclosed or released. Notably, the revised bill includes a process for individuals to petition the court if consent for disclosure is denied by the child's parents or guardian. This change is significant as it establishes a legal pathway for obtaining sensitive information when consent is not granted, ensuring that the needs for transparency and investigation can be balanced with the rights of the family.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 164 Short Title:
164 Feb 21, 2025 SESSION 2025 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH30064-MG-22 Short Title:
Representative Balkcom.
Representatives Balkcom, Campbell, Carson Smith, and Stevens (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR THE DISCLOSURE OR RELEASE OF CHILD AUTOPSY INFORMATION COMPILED OR PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER.
Judiciary 2, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House February 24, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR THE DISCLOSURE OR RELEASE OF CHILD AUTOPSY INFORMATION COMPILED OR PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER.
(1) The custodian of the finalized autopsy report may release a copy at a time and location determined bythecustodial agency to a personal representativeof the decedent's estate to enable the personal representative to fulfill his or her duties under the law.
(1) The custodian of the finalized autopsy report may release a copy at a time and location determined bythecustodial agencyto a personal representativeof the decedent's estate to enable the personal representative to fulfill his or her duties under the law.
130A-382, an investigating medical examiner,or anautopsy centeris not prohibited from disclosing or releasing information or reports when necessary to address public health or safety concerns;
130A-382, an investigatingmedical examiner,or an autopsycenteris not prohibited from disclosing or releasing information or reports when necessary to address public health or safety concerns;
As used in this subsection, the term "disclose" means the act of making materials designated as confidential under this subsection available for viewing or listening by a person or entity upon request, at a time and location chosen by the custodial agency, and the term "release" means the *DRH30064-MG-22* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 act of the custodial agency in providing a copy of materials designated confidential under this subsection.
As *H164-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 used in this subsection, the term "disclose" means the act of making materials designated as confidential under this subsection available for viewing or listening by a person or entity upon request, at a time and location chosen by the custodial agency, and the term "release" means the act of the custodial agency in providing a copy of materials designated confidential under this subsection.
A party aggrieved by an order of the superior court authorized by this subsection may appeal in accordance with Article 27 of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes." SECTION 2.
A party aggrieved by an order of the superior court authorized bythis subsection mayappeal in accordance with Article 27 of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes." SECTION 2.
130A-385(d1), any person may inspect and examine original photographs or video or audio recordings of an autopsy performed pursuant to G.S.
130A-385(d1), anyperson mayinspect and examine original photographs or video or audio recordings of an autopsy performed pursuant to G.S.
… (d) A person who is denied access to copies of photographs or video or audio recordings, or who is restricted in the use the person may make of the photographs or video or audio recordings under this section, may commence a special proceeding in accordance with Article 33 of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes.
… (d) A person who is denied access to copies of photographs or video or audio recordings, or who is restricted in the use the person may make of the photographs or video or audio recordings under this section, maycommence a special proceeding in accordance with Article 33 of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes.
Upon a showing of good cause, the clerk may issue an order authorizing the person to copy or disclose a photograph or video or audio recording of an autopsy andmayprescribeany restrictionsorstipulationsthattheclerkdeemsappropriate.Indetermining good cause, the clerk shall consider whether the disclosure is necessary for the public evaluation Page 2 DRH30064-MG-22 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 of governmental performance;
Upon a showing of good cause, the clerk mayissue an order Page 2 House Bill 164-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 authorizing the person to copyor disclose a photograph or video or audio recordingof an autopsy andmayprescribeanyrestrictionsorstipulationsthattheclerkdeemsappropriate.Indetermining good cause, the clerk shall consider whether the disclosure is necessary for the public evaluation of governmental performance;
DRH30064-MG-22 Page 3
House Bill 164-First Edition Page 3
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 21 co-sponsors · 155 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (21)

Not signed on (155)

155 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 155 →

"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 healthcare
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 164?
HB 164 is sponsored by David Willis (Republican), Shelly Willingham (Democratic), Bill Ward (Republican), Stephen M. Ross (Republican), A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (Republican), Joseph Pike (Republican), Charles W. Miller (Republican), Jeffrey C. McNeely (Republican), Donnie Loftis (Republican), Keith Kidwell (Republican), Neal Jackson (Republican), Frank Iler (Republican), Carla D. Cunningham (U), Tricia Ann Cotham (Republican), Todd Carver (Republican), William D. Brisson (Republican), Jerry "Alan" Branson (Republican), Brian Biggs (Republican), Jonathan L. Almond (Republican), Campbell, Jennifer Balkcom (Republican), Carson Smith (Republican), Jake Johnson (Republican), and Sarah Stevens (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 164?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 21, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 164?
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