Bill > H206

This bill modifies two key areas of North Carolina law: firearm retrieval procedures for domestic violence protective orders and access to emergency call recordings. Regarding firearm retrieval, the bill provides detailed procedures for how defendants under a domestic violence protective order must surrender firearms, ammunition, and firearms permits to the sheriff. The bill clarifies the conditions under which defendants can request the return of surrendered firearms, including requiring a criminal background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and prohibiting firearm return if the defendant has pending criminal charges. The bill also establishes a process for third-party owners to request the return of firearms and provides guidelines for the sheriff to dispose of firearms if they are not retrieved within 90 days. For emergency call recordings, the bill modifies public records law to explicitly protect the identity of callers, victims, and witnesses, and adds a new provision that completely prohibits the release of emergency call recordings where the caller is under 18 years old. The firearm retrieval provisions will become effective on December 1, 2025, with a transition period for previously surrendered items, while the emergency call recording provisions will take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H206