New NC laws take effect including stricter immigration enforcement, public safety act changes

NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) — Several new laws set to take effect in North Carolina on Wednesday, October 1. The laws hit several areas including immigration enforcement, foster care and adoption, care for the elderly and disabled and support for military service members.

Tougher immigration enforcement

Changes to House Bill 318 require law enforcement agencies in North Carolina to further cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The bill expands earlier efforts to force sheriffs to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before releasing anyone in their custody who is being held on an immigration detainer, a temporary request issued by ICE.

Sheriffs are now be required to attempt to determine the immigration status of anyone charged with a felony or drunken driving. It also requires agencies to hold people with ICE detainers in jail for 48 hours past the point when they would otherwise be released.

Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the bill in June calling this requirement “unconstitutional.” Stein says officers cannot keep people in custody solely based on a suspected immigration violation. Stein said that he supported portions of the bill requiring sheriffs to contact ICE about people charged with violent crimes. Republican lawmakers, with help of one Democrat, overrode Stein’s veto of the bill in August.

Public Safety Act

Senate Bill 429 is a big bill that covers a lot of areas related to the criminal laws of North Carolina. Changes and revisions include making it easier for domestic violence victims to obtain a restraining order even if they live in another state. There are now revised requirements under the Crime Victims Compensation Act and revised criminal offense of secret peeping into a room occupied by another person. Some parts of this massive bill take effect in December.

Gov. Stein said this about the bill when he signed into law in July. “This bill makes it easier for certain victims of domestic violence to have their day in court and obtain a restraining order, and it increases penalties for the sale of fentanyl to get this deadly drug off our streets. It also makes clear that, just as with other organizations, religious organizations can be held liable for sexual abuse by their employees.

“I am concerned that this bill increases penalties on people for their addiction when it is already a felony to possess narcotics and that it punishes organizations providing civil legal services to low-income North Carolinians. I urge the General Assembly to responsibly address addiction and to protect funding for Legal Aid and other organizations.”

Military and Veteran Support Act

Senate Bill 118 make various modifications to laws that pertain to military service members and veterans. It also authorizes remote driver licenses renewal for active members and their families.

The law also prohibit discriminatory admissions policies regarding active-duty service members and veterans, require military admissions deferment for certain persons admitted to the UNC system, and provide in-state tuition to certain honorably discharged veterans.

Support for community pharmacies

Senate Bill 479, also known as The Script Act, supports community retail pharmacies and enhances transparency and access to affordable medications.

“No matter where you live in North Carolina, you should be able to access affordable health care and medications. This bill increases accountability and protects community pharmacies from Pharmacy Benefit Managers unfair business practices that make prescription drugs more expensive for patients. It will help independent pharmacies promote access to health care, particularly in rural areas.And critically, it will lower the amount consumers pay at the pharmacy counter by making sure discounts are passed on to them,” Gov. Stein said about the law.

Foster care and adoption changes

After sweeping, bipartisan changes to foster care and adoption laws, some take effect this month. House Bill 612 largely deals with investigating child abuse and neglect cases, enforcing shorter deadlines and creating new procedures to avoid conflicts of interest or other issues. The bill also requires any city or county employees who work with children to receive a background check.

The bill passed unanimously and got Stein’s approval, who said it “protects our most vulnerable children and strengthens our child welfare system.”

Modernize NC S.A.F.E. Act/2d Mortgage Fee Act

The primary goal of House Bill 762 is to protect consumers seeking residential mortgage loans and to ensure that the mortgage lending industry operates without unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practices on the part of mortgage loan originators.

Teams to help disabled and elderly adults

Senate Bill 400 allows counties to create new teams to help older adults or people with disabilities who are being served by adult protective services.

All counties in the state are allowed create “case review multidisciplinary teams” which would include professionals from social services, law enforcement and health care. These teams would review active cases of disabled or elderly adults and make recommendations to that county on how to address systemic problems and service gaps that may exist.

Revised NCDOT Laws

Senate Bill 391 is an Act to revise laws concerning The Department Of Transportation (NC DOT). The bill includes a wide range of topics including license renewal changes, toll road billing and more.

See full list of laws taking effect October 1, 2025.

SEE ALSO | New laws take effect in July 2025

SEE ALSO: New North Carolina laws that take effect in January 2025