Bill > H501

This bill modifies North Carolina's domestic violence protection order law to remove gender-specific language, explicitly allowing same-sex couples to seek protective orders. Specifically, the bill eliminates the phrases "of opposite sex" when describing who can file for a protective order, thereby expanding the definition of "personal relationship" to include same-sex couples who live together, have a child in common, or are in a dating relationship. The bill retains the existing definitions of personal relationships, which include current or former spouses, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and household members. The changes ensure that domestic violence protective orders are available to all couples regardless of gender, addressing potential discrimination in the previous version of the law. The bill becomes effective immediately upon becoming law and applies to domestic violence protective orders issued on or after that date, providing broader legal protections for individuals experiencing domestic violence across all types of intimate relationships.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H501