Rep. Stevens files bill in North Carolina House to amend criminal law provisions

A new bill filed by State Rep. Stevens seeks to amend North Carolina’s criminal laws, aiming to update procedures and classifications related to controlled substances and court processes, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 307 on March 5 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Various Criminal Law Revisions.’

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

In essence, this bill seeks to amend various aspects of North Carolina’s criminal law. It modifies the time limits for filing motions for appropriate relief in noncapital cases and schedules xylazine and kratom as controlled substances. The bill introduces a new felony offense for exposing a child under 16 to controlled substances, with penalties escalating based on the consequences of exposure. It mandates the recording of all district court criminal proceedings and outlines conditions for disclosure of these recordings. The bill revises regulations related to the release of autopsy information by the Chief Medical Examiner to treat these records as confidential unless specified otherwise. It also amends laws on granting witness immunity and clarifies the district attorney’s standing in appeals. Various sections have specific effective dates, ranging from Dec. 1, 2025, to June 1, 2026.

Stevens proposed another five bills 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.

Stevens graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1981 with a BS and again in 1986 from Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law with a JD.

Stevens, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2009 to represent the state’s 90th House district, replacing previous state representative Jim Harrell.