Bill > H538

This bill expands and clarifies anti-discrimination protections across multiple areas of North Carolina law, including housing, employment, public accommodations, credit, insurance, education, and jury service. The bill introduces a comprehensive definition of "protected status" that now includes sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, military or veteran status, and genetic information, in addition to existing protected categories like race, color, national origin, religion, age, and disability. It modifies existing statutes to prohibit discrimination based on these expanded protected characteristics in areas such as housing transactions, employment practices, access to public accommodations, lending, insurance, educational institutions, and jury selection. The bill empowers the North Carolina Human Relations Commission to receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve discrimination complaints, with the option to pursue enforcement actions if conciliation efforts fail. A key provision ensures that public accommodations must provide access to facilities based on a person's gender identity, while also allowing separate facilities based on gender. The bill is set to become effective on July 1, 2025, and represents a significant broadening of anti-discrimination protections for North Carolina residents across various sectors of public and private life.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H538