North Carolina bill elevates assault on school employees and volunteers to a Class I felony

Original title: Increase Punishment for Assaulting Teachers.

Last action · April 17, 2025: Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 3, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Tricia Cotham and 17 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina House Bill 985 establishes that assaulting a school employee or volunteer while they are performing their duties is a , and shields school personnel from liability when intervening in student fights in good faith. The measure takes effect on December 1, 2025.

Why it matters

Changes criminal penalties for individuals who commit assaults against public, charter, or nonpublic school personnel, raising certain offenses from a misdemeanor to a felony while establishing civil and criminal immunity for staff breaking up student altercations.

Background

North Carolina General Statutes govern misdemeanor and felony assaults, including specific penalty enhancements for attacks on public officials and certain frontline workers. 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

School employees and volunteers

Individuals face higher criminal penalties for assaults committed against them and receive explicit civil and criminal immunity when breaking up student fights.

Directly affected

Students

Individuals who commit assaults against school personnel face elevated criminal charges as a Class I felony.

Directly affected

School supervisors and administrators

Supervisors are mandated to report assaults resulting in physical injury to the principal and are barred from intimidating employees who report assaults to law enforcement.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new criminal penalty for assaulting a teacher in North Carolina under this bill?

The bill establishes that assaulting a school employee or volunteer while they are performing their duties is a .

Are teachers protected from liability if they break up a fight between students?

Yes. School personnel who take reasonable actions in good faith to end a fight or altercation between students will not incur any civil or criminal liability.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

5 actions

Apr 17, 2025House
Re-ref to the Com on Judiciary 3, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 17, 2025House
Withdrawn From Com
Apr 14, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Judiciary 3, if favorable, 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.

View official text →