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Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate2025-03-13

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill repeals North Carolina's existing 'Crime Against Nature' law and creates a new, separate criminal offense specifically for bestiality (sexual acts with animals), classified as a Class I felony. The bill updates related statutes to replace references to the old law with the new bestiality offense.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that the old 'Crime Against Nature' law is outdated and was historically used to criminalize consensual sexual conduct between adults.
• •By repealing it and replacing it with a narrowly-defined bestiality statute, the law would focus criminal penalties specifically on animal abuse while removing restrictions on consensual adult behavior.
• •This modernizes the law to align with current constitutional standards and public health understanding.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that repealing the broader 'Crime Against Nature' statute removes important legal protections and could leave gaps in prosecuting harmful sexual conduct.
• •Some may be concerned that narrowing the law to only bestiality could limit prosecutorial tools or create ambiguity about what conduct is covered.
• •Additionally, some may believe the old law serves important community standards regardless of its historical origins.