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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2026-06-03

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill makes multiple changes to North Carolina criminal law, including increasing penalties for firearm discharge, creating a new offense for shoplifting preparation, increasing penalties for peeping offenses involving minors, raising penalties for disrupting religious services, allowing law enforcement to obtain cell phone location data in emergencies, requiring written explanations for no probable cause findings in DUI cases, increasing penalties for providing alcohol to minors, allowing oral drug screening tests, prohibiting rideshare drivers from driving after consuming alcohol, and creating pathways for license restoration for repeat DUI offenders.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue these changes enhance public safety by imposing stronger consequences for serious crimes like firearm discharge into occupied buildings and crimes against children.
• •The bill also provides law enforcement with needed tools for emergency situations, such as obtaining cell phone location data to help find missing or endangered people.
• •Additionally, supporters contend the bill balances accountability with rehabilitation by creating a pathway for repeat DUI offenders to regain driving privileges while maintaining strict monitoring through ignition interlock systems.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents raise concerns about potential privacy violations from allowing warrantless cell phone location data collection, even in emergency situations, citing Fourth Amendment protections.
• •Some argue that creating a new shoplifting preparation felony may be overly broad and could criminalize behavior by people not intending theft.
• •Critics also question whether increased penalties alone reduce crime, and express concern that expanded driver screening for rideshare services and enhanced monitoring of DUI offenders could be costly to implement and enforce.