HB 217 — Driver Education/18 Years and Older and Unlicensed.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 21 HOUSE BILL 217 Committee Substitute Favorable 4/9/25 Short Title:

Representatives Lowery, Biggs, and Charles Smith (Primary Sponsors).

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

Transportation, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House February 27, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED ANANACT ACTTOREQUIRE TO REQUIRE A DRIVERCOURSE EDUCATIONIN COURSE,ALCOHOLAND INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND DRUG USEABUSE AWARENESS,AWARENESS FOR UNLICENSED PERSONS EIGHTEEN YEARS AND OLDER.OLDER THAT ARE NOT LICENSED.

G.S.Article 2 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

20-7"§ is20-11.2. amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(a4)Mandatory Drivercourse Education.in drug and alcohol abuse awareness for unlicensed drivers 18 years and older.

–(a) ToMandatory obtainCourse. a drivers license from the Division, an applicant must complete a course of driver education prescribed in G.S.

20-330.– All applicants for a drivers license who are 18 years and older, including those who have been licensed in another country, must complete a course in alcohol and drug abuse awareness, unless the applicant is licensed in another state or has satisfactorily completed a Department of Education driver education course offered pursuant to Article 14 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.

Completion(b) ofCourse theRequirements. course is not required prior to obtaining a learner's permit under subsection (l) of this section.

This– subsectionThe doescourse notshall applybe tothree anhours applicantin wholength, (i)may currentlybe holdsoffered online or hasin previouslyperson, heldand ashall driverspromote licensetraffic issuedsafety byand thisprovide Stateinstruction oron another(i) statethe orphysiological and psychological consequences of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, (ii) hasthe satisfactorilyeffects completedof alcohol and drug abuse on the driver of a coursemotor vehicle, (iii) the laws of driverthis educationState prescribedrelating into G.S.the operation of a motor vehicle, and (iv) high-risk driving behaviors, such as fatigued driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving, including the use of electronic devices while driving.

115C-215."(c) SECTIONThird-Party 2.Vendors.

Article– 14The ofDivision Chaptershall 20utilize ofthird-party thevendors Generalto Statutesoffer isthe amendedcourse byin addingalcohol aand newdrug sectionabuse toawareness. read:

"§Each 20-330.third-party vendor shall obtain a certification from the Division that the third-party vendor's course complies with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.

MandatoryThe driverDivision educationshall course,maintain includingoversight drugof andthe alcoholcourses useestablished awareness,and forconducted unlicensedby driversthe 18third-party yearsvendors. and older.

(a)Each Theperson Commissionerwho shallattends adoptthe rulescourse toshall establishpay a coursefee ofin driverthe educationamount toset be offered by licensedthe commercialDivision." driverSECTION training2. schools for unlicensed individuals aged 18 and older to prepare them for licensure in this State.

TheThis courseact shallbecomes promoteeffective trafficOctober safety1, and2025. provide three hours of instruction on topics including (i) the laws of this State relating to the operation of a motor vehicle, (ii) the physiological and psychological consequences of the use of alcohol and other drugs and their effects on the driver of a motor vehicle, and (iii) high-risk driving behaviors, such as fatigued driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving, including the use of electronic devices while driving.

(b)*H217-v-1* Regulations adopted by the Commissioner shall ensure that the course is offered both online and in person and that a method is provided to demonstrate successful completion of the course." SECTION3.

This act becomeseffectiveOctober 1,2025, and applies to applications for drivers licenses submitted on or after that date.

*H217-v-2*