North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee 2 D cosponsors

SB 788 — Guarding Freedoms and Public Safety Act.

Last action — Withdrawn From Com

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 21, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

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

Stalled 18% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    0 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

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

15 added · 16 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Senate Bill 788 has clarified and simplified some of the language regarding the definitions related to private firearm transfers and the information required during these transactions. Specifically, it maintains the focus on preventing the transfer of firearms through illegal means and ensures all sales require a universal background check. These changes are important because they aim to tighten regulations on firearm sales, ultimately enhancing public safety by making it more difficult for individuals with criminal backgrounds to obtain firearms.

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FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA Apr 21, 2026 S.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 S 1 SENATE BILL 788 Short Title:
788 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS35339-NQa-21 Short Title:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A PERSON CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSE FROM PURCHASING OR POSSESSING A FIREARM;
Rules and Operations of the Senate April 22, 2026 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A PERSON CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSE FROM PURCHASING OR POSSESSING A FIREARM;
TOREQUIREAUNIVERSALBACKGROUNDCHECK FOR THESALEOF A FIREARM;
TOREQUIRE AUNIVERSALBACKGROUNDCHECK FOR THESALE OF A FIREARM;
*DRS35339-NQa-21* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 The following definitions apply in this Article:
*S788-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 The following definitions apply in this Article:
(3) Materially false information.
(3) Materiallyfalse information.
–A person,firm, or corporation whois not a federally licensed firearm dealer acting in accordance with federal law.
–A person,firm, or corporation whois not a federallylicensed firearm dealer acting in accordance with federal law.
(1) One who is under an indictment or information for, or has been convicted in any state orin any courtofthe UnitedStates of,a felony (otherthan an offense pertaining to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, or restraints of trade).
(1) One who is under an indictment or information for, or has been convicted in anystate orin anycourtofthe UnitedStates of,a felony(otherthan anoffense pertaining to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, or restraints of trade).
(d) It is unlawful for a federally licensed firearm dealer to sell, transfer, or deliver any firearm to any other person if a NICS check reveals that the possession of any firearm by the person would violate State or federal law or if the federally licensed firearm dealer knows or has Page 2 DRS35339-NQa-21 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 reason to know that the private person is prohibited from possessing any firearm by State or federal law.
(d) It is unlawful for a federally licensed firearm dealer to sell, transfer, or deliver any firearm to any other person if a NICS check reveals that the possession of any firearm by the person would violate State or federal law or if the federally licensed firearm dealer knows or has Page 2 Senate Bill 788-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 reason to know that the private person is prohibited from possessing any firearm by State or federal law.
(d) A private person who transfers any firearm in a transaction subject to the requirement set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall keep an accurate record of all transfers thereof, including the name and place of residence of each person, firm, or corporation to whom or which such transfers are made.
(d) A private person who transfers anyfirearm in a transaction subject to the requirement set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall keep an accurate record of all transfers thereof, including the name and place of residence of each person, firm, or corporation to whom or which such transfers are made.
REQUIRE CERTIFICATION OF SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS BY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS DRS35339-NQa-21 Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 4.(a) Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
REQUIRE CERTIFICATION OF SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS BY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS Senate Bill 788-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 4.(a) Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
Page 4 DRS35339-NQa-21
Page 4 Senate Bill 788-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Withdrawn From Com

  2. Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget

  3. Passed 1st Reading

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

  5. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 177 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (177)

177 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 177 →

"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
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 SB 788?
SB 788 is sponsored by Joyce Waddell (Democratic) and Woodson Bradley (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 788?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 21, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 788?
Track SB 788 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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