Bill > S791

This bill amends North Carolina law to increase the penalties for assault by strangulation, a form of domestic violence where a person impedes another's breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to their neck or obstructing their nose and mouth. Specifically, it reclassifies assault inflicting serious bodily injury by strangulation from a Class H felony to a Class G felony, and assault inflicting physical injury by strangulation from a Class H felony to a Class G felony, while also establishing a new Class H felony for any assault by strangulation. The bill also clarifies the definition of "serious bodily injury" to include conditions like a substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement, coma, extreme pain, or loss of bodily function, and defines "strangulation" as impeding breathing or circulation. To support these changes, three million dollars in recurring funds are appropriated to the Department of Justice for a public awareness campaign about the increased punishments, with the act taking effect on December 1, 2026, and applying to offenses committed on or after that date.