Bill > H827

This bill establishes an annual fee for individuals required to register as sex offenders in North Carolina, calculated at 1.25% of the federal poverty level for a one-person household. The fee will be collected by the county sheriff each year and is intended to support local responsibilities related to maintaining the sex offender registry, such as verifying registrant information and managing records. Sheriffs can choose whether to collect the fee annually, and must make this decision by January 1st of each year. The bill includes provisions for potential fee waivers, allowing registrants to request an indigency review, with the sheriff's office required to make a determination within 10 business days and document their findings. Registrants who are currently incarcerated or under community supervision will be automatically deemed indigent and exempt from the fee. Importantly, failure to pay the fee will not impact a registrant's ability to comply with registration requirements, though the county may seek to collect unpaid fees. The annual fee is limited to once per calendar year, and the proceeds will supplement the sheriff's office local funds. The bill is set to become effective on January 1, 2026.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H827