Rep. Howard files bill in North Carolina House to address economic abuse

A new bill filed by State Rep. Howard in the North Carolina House seeks to protect domestic violence survivors by establishing legal remedies for coerced debt and economic abuse, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 515 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘North Carolina Economic Abuse Prevention Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, effective July 1, 2025, establishes the North Carolina Economic Abuse Prevention Act to provide remedies for economic abuse against domestic violence survivors. It offers legal avenues to address coerced debt, defined as a debt acquired through duress or undue influence faced by victims of domestic violence, domestic abuse, or former foster care children. The bill outlines procedures for victims to dispute such debt, including providing adequate documentation like police reports or court orders. It requires claimants to cease collection activities upon receiving sworn certification from the debtor of coerced debt, pending a review. If a debt is verified as coerced, a debtor can be relieved from liability, and creditors can pursue repayment from the person responsible for the coercion. The bill also allows debtors to take legal action to have coerced debt officially recognized and reclaim any wrongly collected debts. The legislation does not apply to secured debts or require refunds for coerced debts settled before this determination.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Mitchell S. Setzer proposed the most bills (21) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Howard graduated from Salem College in 2003 with a BA.

Howard, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 77th House district, replacing previous state representative Harry Warren.