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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina Enacts Government Agency Forum Selection Act and Restricts Attorney General Litigation
Last action · May 6, 2025: Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Hugh Blackwell and 5 others
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What This Bill Would Do
North Carolina requires state and local government agencies to file civil lawsuits in state court whenever concurrent federal jurisdiction exists, bans the removal of state-defendant cases to federal court, and prohibits the Attorney General from arguing for the invalidation of state statutes in out-of-state litigation.
State and local government entities must alter where they initiate civil litigation, and the Attorney General is restricted from advancing legal arguments in other jurisdictions that would invalidate North Carolina statutes.
- The North Carolina General Assembly periodically enacts statutory updates governing civil litigation involving state agencies and the scope of the Attorney General's legal representation. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State of North Carolina
State agencies must file civil lawsuits in state court rather than federal court when concurrent jurisdiction exists and are barred from removing cases.
local political subdivisions
Local government entities must abide by state court forum selection rules for civil actions and cannot remove cases to federal court.
Attorney General
The Attorney General is restricted from advancing arguments in out-of-state litigation that would invalidate any North Carolina statute.
Key Facts
- State and local political subdivisions must bring civil actions in State court when concurrent jurisdiction exists with a federal court.
- State and local agencies may file in federal court only when the federal court has exclusive jurisdiction over the subject matter.
- State and local entities named as defendants in civil actions are prohibited from seeking or consenting to removal from State court to federal court.
- The Government Agency Forum Selection Act exempts agents of the State acting under G.S. 1-72.2 or G.S. 120-32.6.
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- The Attorney General is prohibited from advancing any argument in out-of-state state or federal court litigation that would invalidate any statute enacted by the General Assembly.
- The provisions of the newly enacted Article are declared to be severable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the State remove a civil lawsuit from State court to federal court if it is a defendant?
What restrictions are placed on the Attorney General regarding out-of-state litigation?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
5 actions- May 6, 2025HouseRe-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- May 6, 2025HouseReptd Fav Com Substitute
- Apr 14, 2025HouseRef to the Com on Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 14, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Apr 9, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory State Court Forum Selection
The legislation establishes a strict public policy requiring state and local entities to prioritize state courts for civil litigation when concurrent jurisdiction exists.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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