Bill > H969

This bill directs the Legislative Research Commission (LRC), a legislative research and study group, to conduct a comprehensive examination of contributory negligence, a legal doctrine that currently prevents plaintiffs from recovering damages if they are found to be even minimally at fault in a legal case. The study will specifically investigate whether abolishing this doctrine would improve legal outcomes for North Carolina citizens, assess potential harm caused by the current contributory negligence framework, and evaluate the fiscal impacts of changing the negligence standard on individuals, businesses, insurance companies, and other stakeholders. The LRC will explore alternative negligence frameworks such as modified and pure comparative negligence, which would allow plaintiffs to recover damages proportional to their level of fault. The commission is required to submit a detailed report with legislative recommendations to the 2025 General Assembly's 2026 Regular Session, providing insights that could potentially lead to significant legal reform in the state's approach to negligence cases. The bill becomes effective immediately upon becoming law.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H969