North Carolina Directs Legislative Research Commission to Study Abolishing Contributory Negligence

Original title: Study the Abolition of Contrib. Negligence.

Last action · April 14, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Tim Longest and 6 others

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina directs the to study the abolition of and report its findings and recommendations to the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

Why it matters

The study will evaluate potential financial shifts for individuals, businesses, and insurance providers, setting the stage for future legal reforms regarding how fault is assigned in civil lawsuits.

Background

North Carolina is currently one of a small number of states that follows the strict contributory negligence rule, which bars plaintiffs from recovering damages if they are partially at fault. 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.

Directly affected

Legislative Research Commission

The commission is required to conduct a study and submit a report with legislative recommendations.

Directly affected

Businesses and Insurance Providers

Their costs and fiscal impacts under a potential new negligence framework will be evaluated as part of the study.

Key Facts

The Legislative Research Commission is directed to study the abolition of contributory negligence in North Carolina.
The study must determine whether abolishing contributory negligence would improve citizen outcomes and whether maintaining it causes harm.
The evaluation must include an analysis of fiscal impacts and costs for individuals, consumers, businesses, and insurance.
The Commission must recommend a preferred negligence framework, including modified and pure comparative negligence options.

Show all 6 facts

A formal report including legislative recommendations must be submitted to the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly upon its convening.
The act becomes effective immediately upon becoming law.

Frequently Asked Questions

What entity is responsible for conducting the study?

The is directed to conduct the study.

When is the report due?

The report and any legislative recommendations must be submitted to the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly upon its convening.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

3 actions

Apr 14, 2025House
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 14, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Apr 10, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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