Bill > S431

This bill expands protections for law enforcement officers (LEOs) who report misconduct or excessive force, creating a legal framework that requires officers to intervene and report inappropriate actions while safeguarding them from retaliation. Specifically, the bill mandates that law enforcement and justice officers who observe violations of laws, fraud, misappropriation of resources, dangerous activities, or gross mismanagement must attempt to intervene safely and report such conduct to supervisors within 72 hours. The legislation provides explicit protection against termination, discipline, or other retaliatory actions for officers making good-faith reports, while still allowing agencies to take disciplinary action for any pre-existing misconduct. To ensure compliance, the bill makes knowingly filing a false report a Class 2 misdemeanor and appropriates $50,000 each to the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission to train officers on these new statutory requirements. The bill will become effective on December 1, 2025, and will apply to offenses and retaliatory actions occurring on or after that date, representing a significant step toward accountability and transparency in law enforcement.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S431