North Carolina 2025 Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 27 R · 3 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 52 — Protect Those Who Serve and Protect Act of 2025.

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 February 04, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 58% · 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.

  • 32 sponsors

    3 primary, 29 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (27 R · 3 D · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    1 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes 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

28 added · 30 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to House Bill 52 included the removal of definitions for "public safety officer" and "search and rescue animal," which were previously in the bill. This simplifies the language and focuses on the misconduct concerning these individuals and animals without needing to define them again. By streamlining the bill, it may help expedite the legislative process, allowing for clearer enforcement and understanding of the penalties associated with the offenses outlined.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 2 HOUSE BILL 52 Committee Substitute Favorable 2/25/25 Short Title:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 52 Short Title:
Representatives Hastings, Cotham, Miller, and Pyrtle (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
February 5, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ENACTING THE PROTECT THOSE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT ACT OF 2025.
State and Local Government, if favorable, Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House February 5, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ENACTING THE PROTECT THOSE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT ACT OF 2025.
A telecommunicator employed by a law enforcement agency.
e.
f.
e.
g.
f.
h.
g.
i.
h.
j.
i.
k.
j.
An emergency management worker, as defined in G.S.
166A-19.60(e).
l.
*H52-v-2* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (b) Offense and Punishment.
*H52-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (b) Offense and Punishment.
Page 2 House Bill 52-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (e) AnyUnless covered undersomeotherprovision of lawproviding greaterpunishment, any person who assaults an emergency worker a public safety officer with a deadly weapon with intent to kill shall be punished as a Class D felon.
Page 2 House Bill 52-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (e) AnyUnless covered undersomeotherprovision of lawproviding greaterpunishment, any person who assaults an emergency worker a public safety officer with a deadly weapon with intent to kill shall be punished as a Class D felon.
(a) Any person who commits an assault with a firearm upon a law enforcement officer, probation officer, or parole public safety officer (i) while the officer is in the performance of his or her duties or (ii) because of the victim's status as a public safety officer is guilty of a Class D Class C felony.
(a) Any person who commits an assault with a firearm upon a law enforcement officer, probation officer, or parole public safety officer (i) while the officer is in the performance of his or her duties or (ii) because of the victim's status as a public safety officer is guilty of a Class D felony.
(a1) Unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a personis guiltyofaClass Efelonyifthepersonassaults amemberoftheNorth CarolinaNational House Bill 52-Second Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Guard while he or she is discharging or attempting to discharge his or her official duties and inflicts serious bodily injury on the member.
(a1) Unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a personis guiltyofaClass Efelonyifthepersonassaults amemberoftheNorth CarolinaNational House Bill 52-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Guard while he or she is discharging or attempting to discharge his or her official duties and inflicts serious bodily injury on the member.
– A Unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a person is guilty of a Class E felony if (i) the person commits a felony under Article 15 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes and a firefighter, law enforcement officer, public safety officer or fire investigator, or emergency medical technician investigator suffers serious bodilyinjury while discharging or attempting to discharge official duties on the property, or proximate to the property, that is the subject of the firefighter's, law enforcement officer's, fire investigator's, or emergency medical technician's public safety officer's or fire investigator's discharge or attempt to discharge his or her respective duties.duties or(ii)thepersoncommits afelonyunderArticle15 ofChapter14oftheGeneral Statutesbecause of the victim's status as a public safety officer or fire investigator and the public safety officer or fire investigator suffers serious bodily injury.
– A Unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a person is guilty of a Class E felony if (i) the person commits a felony under Article 15 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes and a firefighter, law enforcement officer, public safety officer or fire investigator, or emergency medical technician investigator suffers serious bodilyinjury while discharging or attempting to discharge official duties on the property, or proximate to the property, that is the subject of the firefighter's, law enforcement officer's, fire investigator's, or emergency medical technician's public safety officer's or fire investigator's discharge or attempt to discharge his or her respective duties.duties or(ii)thepersoncommits afelonyunderArticle15 ofChapter14ofthe General Statutesbecause of the victim's status as a public safety officer or fire investigator and the public safety officer or fire investigator suffers serious bodily injury.
– A Unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a person is guiltyof a Class F felonyif (i) the person commits a felonyunder Article 15 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes and a firefighter, law enforcement officer, public safety officer or fire investigator, or emergency medical technician investigator suffers serious injurywhile dischargingor attempting to discharge official duties on the property, or proximate to the property, that is the subject of the firefighter's, law enforcement officer's, fire Page 4 House Bill 52-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 investigator's, or emergency medical technician's public safety officer's or fire investigator's discharge or attempt to discharge his or her respective duties.duties or (ii) the person commits a felony under Article 15 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes because of the victim's status as a public safety officer or fire investigator and the public safety officer or fire investigator suffers serious injury." SECTION 11.
– A Unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a person is guiltyof a Class F felonyif (i) the person commits a felonyunder Article 15 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes and a firefighter, law enforcement officer, public safety officer or fire investigator, or emergency medical technician investigator suffers serious injurywhile dischargingor attempting to discharge official duties on the property, or proximate to the property, that is the subject of the firefighter's, law enforcement officer's, fire Page 4 House Bill 52-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 investigator's, or emergency medical technician's public safety officer's or fire investigator's discharge or attempt to discharge his or her respective duties.duties or (ii) the person commits a felony under Article 15 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes because of the victim's status as a public safety officer or fire investigator and the public safety officer or fire investigator suffers serious injury." SECTION 11.
14-34.7 committed against a person listed in sub-subdivisions e.
14-34.7 committed against a person listed in sub-subdivisions d.
through g.
through f.
House Bill 52-Second Edition Page 5
House Bill 52-First Edition Page 5
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View plain text versions (4)

How this bill changes current law

8 changes Share ↗

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

This bill establishes new offenses related to assaults on public safety officers and specific animals, while also amending existing laws for consistency and clarity.

  • Article 8 of Chapter 14

    § 14-34.7A. Assault on a public safety officer, law enforcement agency animal, or search and rescue animal by throwing, spraying, or otherwise projecting water or other substances.

    This adds a new section defining an offense related to assaults on public safety officers and certain animals.

  • G.S. 14-34.7

    Emergency worker → public safety officer

    This change redefines 'emergency worker' as 'public safety officer' for clarity in referencing roles.

  • G.S. 14-34.8

    Emergency worker → public safety officer

    This aligns the definition of 'public safety officer' within the context of assault with a laser device.

  • G.S. 14-32

    emergency worker → public safety officer

    The term 'emergency worker' is replaced with 'public safety officer' to maintain consistency in terminology.

  • G.S. 14-34.5

    emergency worker → public safety officer

    The terminology is updated to replace 'emergency worker' with 'public safety officer.'

  • G.S. 14-34.6

    Repealed.

    This section is repealed; the content is no longer needed or has been redefined elsewhere.

  • G.S. 14-34.2

    The term 'public safety officer' is as defined in G.S. 14-34.7A.

    This adds a clearer definition reference for public safety officer within the context of assault laws.

  • Defined 'public safety officer' to include various roles such as law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel, and others.

    This broadens the definition of public safety officer to encompass multiple roles for better legal protection.

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. Amend Failed A1

  6. Passed 2nd Reading

  7. Passed 3rd Reading

  8. Reptd Fav

  9. Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)

  10. Placed On Cal For 03/11/2025

  11. Reptd Fav Com Sub 2

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

  13. Withdrawn From Com

  14. Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  15. Reptd Fav Com Substitute

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

  17. Withdrawn From Com

  18. Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  19. Passed 1st Reading

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

  21. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 29 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 47 voted No

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (29)

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"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

A1 Rubin Second Reading

Failed 45 Yea · 69 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 40202
Unaffiliated 3300
U 1001
Republican 16403
Total 456906
% of votes cast 38%58%0%5%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
CharlesSmith — Yea
vonHaefen — Yea
Campbell — Nay
Reeder — Nay
C. Smith — Nay
F. Jackson — Yea
Abe Jones Democratic Yea
Aisha O. Dew Democratic Not Voting
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 Nay
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 Nay
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 Nay
Allen Chesser Republican Nay
Ben T. Moss, Jr. Republican Nay
Bill Ward Republican Nay
Blair Eddins Republican Nay
Brenden H. Jones Republican Nay
Brian Biggs Republican Nay
Brian Echevarria Republican Nay
Celeste C. Cairns Republican Nay
Charles W. Miller Republican Nay
Chris Humphrey Republican Nay
Cody Huneycutt Republican Nay
David Willis Republican Nay
Dean Arp Republican Nay
Dennis Riddell Republican Nay
Destin Hall Republican Nay
Diane Wheatley Republican Nay
Donna McDowell White Republican Nay
Donnie Loftis Republican Nay
Donny Lambeth Republican Nay
Dudley Greene Republican Nay
Edward C. Goodwin Republican Nay
Erin Paré Republican Nay
Frank Iler Republican Not Voting
Harry Warren Republican Nay
Heather H. Rhyne Republican Nay
Howard Penny, Jr. Republican Nay
Hugh Blackwell Republican Nay
Jarrod Lowery Republican Not Voting
Jay Adams Republican Nay
Jeff Zenger Republican Nay
Jeffrey C. McNeely Republican Nay
Jennifer Balkcom Republican Nay
Jerry "Alan" Branson Republican Nay
Jimmy Dixon Republican Nay
John A. Torbett Republican Nay
John M. Blust Republican Nay
John R. Bell, IV Republican Nay
John Sauls Republican Nay
Jonathan L. Almond Republican Nay
Joseph Pike Republican Nay
Julia C. Howard Republican Nay
Karl E. Gillespie Republican Nay
Keith Kidwell Republican Nay
Kelly E. Hastings Republican Nay
Kyle Hall Republican Nay
Larry C. Strickland Republican Nay
Larry W. Potts Republican Nay
Mark Brody Republican Nay
Mark Pless Republican Nay
Matthew Winslow Republican Nay
Mike Clampitt Republican Nay
Mike Schietzelt Republican Nay
Mitchell S. Setzer Republican Nay
Neal Jackson Republican Nay
Paul Scott Republican Nay
Phil Shepard Republican Nay
Ray Pickett Republican Nay
Sam Watford Republican Not Voting
Sarah Stevens Republican Nay
Stephen M. Ross Republican Nay
Steve Tyson Republican Nay
Ted Davis, Jr. Republican Nay
Todd Carver Republican Nay
Todd Johnson Republican Nay
Tricia Ann Cotham Republican Nay
William D. Brisson Republican Yea
Wyatt Gable Republican Nay
Carla D. Cunningham U Not Voting
Nasif Majeed U Yea

Official roll call →

Second Reading

Passed 105 Yea · 9 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 35702
U 2000
Unaffiliated 5100
Republican 63104
Total 105906
% of votes cast 88%8%0%5%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
CharlesSmith — Yea
Campbell — Yea
Reeder — Yea
vonHaefen — Nay
C. Smith — Yea
F. Jackson — Yea
Abe Jones Democratic Yea
Aisha O. Dew Democratic Not Voting
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 Nay
Eric Ager Democratic Yea
Garland E. Pierce Democratic Yea
Gloristine Brown Democratic Yea
James Roberson Democratic Yea
Jordan Lopez Democratic Nay
Julia Greenfield Democratic Yea
Kanika Brown Democratic Yea
Laura Budd Democratic Yea
Lindsey Prather Democratic Yea
Marcia Morey Democratic Nay
Maria Cervania Democratic Yea
Mary Belk Democratic Nay
Mike Colvin Democratic Yea
Monika Johnson-Hostler Democratic Nay
Phil Rubin Democratic Yea
Pricey Harrison Democratic Nay
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 Nay
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 Nay
Erin Paré Republican Yea
Frank Iler Republican Not Voting
Harry Warren Republican Yea
Heather H. Rhyne Republican Yea
Howard Penny, Jr. Republican Yea
Hugh Blackwell Republican Yea
Jarrod Lowery Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Sam Watford Republican Not Voting
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 veterans healthcare
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 52?
HB 52 is sponsored by Matthew Winslow (Republican), David Willis (Republican), Shelly Willingham (Democratic), Donna McDowell White (Republican), Harry Warren (Republican), Bill Ward (Republican), Larry C. Strickland (Republican), Paul Scott (Republican), Dennis Riddell (Republican), Reeder, Larry W. Potts (Republican), Garland E. Pierce (Democratic), Howard Penny, Jr. (Republican), Ben T. Moss, Jr. (Republican), Jeffrey C. McNeely (Republican), Nasif Majeed (U), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Donnie Loftis (Republican), Frank Iler (Republican), Dudley Greene (Republican), Edward C. Goodwin (Republican), Todd Carver (Republican), Celeste C. Cairns (Republican), Jerry "Alan" Branson (Republican), Brian Biggs (Republican), Jennifer Balkcom (Republican), Jonathan L. Almond (Republican), A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (Republican), Charles W. Miller (Republican), Tricia Ann Cotham (Republican), Kelly E. Hastings (Republican), and Jake Johnson (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 52?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 04, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 52?
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