New Laws and Regulations for 2025
Notable Pieces Of Legislation Set To Take Effect In 2025
Toll Rate Increases (House Bill 198)
Beginning January 1, 2025, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority will implement higher toll rates. To mitigate these costs, drivers can obtain an NC Quick Pass, which offers a 50% discount on tolls, an increase from the current 35% discount. The Authority is distributing 300,000 free transponders to recent invoiced customers between November 11, 2024, and February 28, 2025, and has reduced the prepaid balance for new accounts from $20 to $10. Details Here.
Building Codes (House Bill 166)
Various changes to current requirements on building codes will take effect, including the implementation of the 2024 suite of codes, which will become mandatorily effective on July 1, 2025. Details Here.
Immigration Law (House Bill 10)
Sheriff’s offices across the state are required to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They must hold a suspect thought to be in the country unlawfully for up to 48 hours to allow ICE to take custody. This also includes provisions impacting school vouchers.
school voucher expansion (House Bill 10)
Allocates approximately $463 million to the Opportunity Scholarship program, effectively eliminating the waitlist for families seeking grants to attend private or religious K-12 schools. This expansion removes previous income caps, making the scholarships accessible to families across all income levels and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
NCDOT Laws on Billboards (Senate Bill 198)
This bill allows billboard companies to remove up to 15 trees per year per billboard structure without a permit if the trees are within 500 feet and less than 30 inches in circumference. The legislation reflects a compromise between business interests in maintaining effective advertising and preserving the visual appeal and environmental health of North Carolina’s roadways.
DMV digital licenses Plan (HOuse Bill 199)
Starting July 1, 2025, the DMV will begin planning for the introduction of digital licenses, aiming to bring North Carolina into the digital age with more convenient identity verification methods.
Face Mask Regulations (House Bill 237)
This law restricts when a person can wear a face mask in public, aiming to make it easier to prosecute individuals trying to hide behind a mask while committing a crime. It repeals the pandemic-era exemption for mask-wearing for health reasons and includes laws about not impeding traffic on highways. Most aspects of this law took effect in 2024.
Hog Farm Regulations (House Bill 600)
Changes to watershed provisions could limit how the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) reviews hog farm permits.
Juvenile Justice (House Bill 834)
This law allows 16 and 17-year-olds who commit certain felony crimes to be tried as adults.
Human Trafficking Awareness (House Bill 971)
The Department of Labor is directed to develop human trafficking awareness training for lodging establishments and related entities. This is to be implemented by July 1, 2025.
Healthcare Certificate of Need (HB76-2023)
Starting in late November 2025, North Carolina will no longer require a Certificate of Need (CON) for “qualified urban ambulatory surgical facilities” in counties with populations over 125,000. To qualify, these facilities must be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers and commit at least 4% of their total earned revenue to charity care.