Bill > S637

This bill amends North Carolina's domestic violence protective order law to explicitly include same-sex couples by removing language specifying "opposite sex" when defining personal relationships eligible for protective orders. Specifically, the bill modifies the existing statute to eliminate gender-specific references in sections describing who can seek a protective order, such as people who live together, have a child in common, or are in a dating relationship. The changes ensure that same-sex couples have the same legal protections against domestic violence as heterosexual couples. The bill becomes effective immediately upon becoming law and will apply to domestic violence protective orders issued from that point forward. By removing gendered language like "of opposite sex," the legislation broadens the legal definition of personal relationships to be more inclusive and provide equal protection under the law for same-sex couples experiencing domestic violence.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S637