North Carolina House Bill HB246

North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

Caption

House Bill 246

Summary

HB246, titled “Liam’s Law,” increases criminal penalties for certain dangerous driving offenses in North Carolina. The bill raises penalties for reckless driving when it causes serious injury, and it creates higher felony levels for unlawful street racing when the conduct causes serious injury, serious bodily injury, or death. It also strengthens penalties for hit-and-run offenses by expanding license revocation consequences and making failure to stop and remain at the scene after a crash involving serious bodily injury or death a more serious felony offense. The bill revises several sections of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes, including reckless driving, unlawful racing, and duties after a crash. It changes the classification of offenses, adds or increases felony penalties, and lengthens or makes permanent driver’s license revocations in the most serious cases. It also preserves and updates limited driving privilege rules for some lesser violations, while tightening post-conviction restoration standards for revoked licenses. The act applies only to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2025.

Impact

HB246 would amend North Carolina motor vehicle and criminal law by increasing penalties in G.S. 20-140, G.S. 20-141.3, G.S. 20-166, and related license-restoration provisions in G.S. 20-179.3. It would create more severe misdemeanor and felony exposure for reckless driving, street racing, and hit-and-run conduct that results in injury or death, and it would expand mandatory driver’s license revocation periods, including permanent revocation in some fatal crash cases. The bill also affects vehicle forfeiture/sale procedures tied to street racing and preserves limited driving privilege eligibility for certain lower-level offenses.

Sentiment

The available record suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, as reflected by its committee substitute favorable report and progression through the House before referral to the Senate Rules and Operations Committee. No committee transcript or recorded vote is provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or debate in the supplied materials. The bill’s framing as a public safety measure and its focus on serious injury and death likely contributed to support.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the bill’s tougher criminal penalties, longer and sometimes permanent license revocations, and expanded vehicle forfeiture consequences for street racing and hit-and-run offenses. Supporters would likely view these changes as necessary deterrents for reckless and deadly driving behavior, while opponents could argue that the bill increases punishment substantially and may reduce judicial flexibility, especially in cases involving permanent revocation or aggravated sentencing. The limited driving privilege provisions for some lesser offenses may also be a point of interest in balancing punishment with mobility needs.