A new bill filed by State Rep. Sarah Stevens in the North Carolina House seeks to strengthen penalties and registration requirements related to crimes against minors, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 449 on March 18 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Crimes Against Minors/Revise Law.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill aims to revise laws concerning crimes against minors, specifically the solicitation of minors by computer, sex offender registration, and indecent exposure offenses. It increases the punishment for the solicitation of minors by computer, elevating a first offense to a Class H felony and a subsequent offense or a first violation with a prior similar conviction to a Class D felony. The bill mandates that certain sex offender registration petitions be placed on the criminal docket. Additionally, it establishes the offenses of habitual indecent exposure and aggravated habitual indecent exposure, classifying them as Class F and Class E felonies, respectively, and requiring offenders to register as sex offenders. Sections of the bill will take effect Dec. 1, 2025, applying to offenses and petitions filed on or after that date.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Charles W. Miller proposed the most bills (26) 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.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Stevens, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 449 | 03/18/2025 | Crimes Against Minors/Revise Law. |
| Sarah Stevens, Brian Biggs, Laura Budd, and Ya Liu | HB 431 | 03/18/2025 | Preventing Deed Fraud. |
| Sarah Stevens, Cody Huneycutt, Hugh Blackwell, and Kyle Hall | HB 443 | 03/18/2025 | Const. Amendment: Council of State Vacancies. |
| Sarah Stevens and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 426 | 03/17/2025 | Workforce Diploma Program. |
| Sarah Stevens | HB 388 | 03/12/2025 | Amend Business Corporations Act. |
| Sarah Stevens | HB 377 | 03/11/2025 | Changes to Estates and Trusts Statutes. |
| Sarah Stevens | HB 334 | 03/06/2025 | GSC Unif. Community Prop. Disp. at Death Act. |
| Sarah Stevens | HB 307 | 03/05/2025 | Various Criminal Law Revisions. |
| Sarah Stevens | HB 308 | 03/05/2025 | Criminal Law Changes. |
| Sarah Stevens | HB 237 | 02/26/2025 | Child Welfare. |
| Sarah Stevens, Hugh Blackwell, Kyle Hall, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 182 | 02/24/2025 | Rev. Law Perm. Protect Order/Child Abuse. |
| Sarah Stevens and Keith Kidwell | HB 188 | 02/24/2025 | Automatic Renewal of Contracts. |
| Sarah Stevens, Carson Smith, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 164 | 02/21/2025 | Parental Consent to Release Child Autopsies. |
