Bill > S484

This bill amends North Carolina's workplace violence prevention laws to address mass picketing by expanding definitions and protections for employers and employees. The bill introduces new terms like "mass picketing" (defined as picketing that obstructs access to premises or public ways) and "obstruction" (a sustained physical blockage that significantly prevents movement). It adds several new provisions to existing law, including making it unlawful to hinder employment through mass picketing, obstruct workplace entrances, or interfere with public transportation routes during demonstrations. The bill allows employers to seek civil no-contact orders against individuals engaging in these disruptive behaviors, with provisions that protect both employers and employees. Importantly, the bill includes a critical caveat that it does not apply to peaceful demonstrations, informational picketing, or labor activities protected by the National Labor Relations Act or the North Carolina Constitution, as long as these activities do not involve violence, threats, or intentional obstruction. The legislation also includes severability provisions to ensure that if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest remains in effect, and it becomes effective immediately upon becoming law.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S484