Bill > H308

This bill makes several significant changes to North Carolina criminal law, focusing on assault, domestic violence, strangulation, and criminal record expunctions. The bill increases penalties for strangulation by creating a new Class H felony specifically for strangulation and changing the classification of serious bodily injury offenses. It clarifies and expands domestic violence-related laws by creating a new felony offense of habitual domestic violence, which applies to individuals with multiple prior convictions of domestic violence or related assaults. The bill also modifies expunction (record clearing) procedures by adding new restrictions that prevent individuals with pending criminal cases, outstanding warrants, or ongoing legal proceedings from obtaining expunctions. Additionally, the bill removes the default concurrent sentencing provision, requiring judges to explicitly state their reasoning when determining whether multiple sentences will run concurrently or consecutively. These changes aim to provide more stringent legal protections for domestic violence victims, clarify legal definitions, and create more precise sentencing guidelines. Most provisions of the bill are set to become effective on December 1, 2025, and will apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H308